Visitors to Hanoi's iconic landmark will be served a light meal of water, milk, and bread on Reunification Day (April 30) and International Workers' Day (May 1).

Since 2018, this has been a customary activity by the city's Department of Tourism on this day of the year, with the auspices of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Management Board and related units.

The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is one of the favorite places for young locals to get photographed. Photo: Hien Mai

It is expected that around 80,000 light meals will be served free of charge to local and foreign tourists visiting Hanoi's iconic historical site during the country's major holidays this year, including Reunification Day (April 30) and International Workers' Day (May 1); President Ho Chi Minh's birthday (May 19), and Vietnam's National Day (September 2).

Dang Huong Giang, Director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism, said this would help promote Hanoi as a "safe - friendly - quality, and attractive" tourist attraction.

According to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Management Board, the mausoleum will be open to the public from 7:15 a.m. to 11 a.m. during Reunification Day and International Workers' Day.

The holy historical site at night. Photo: Nguyen Hong Son

After that, the Mausoleum will be temporarily closed from June to August 14. However, local and international visitors can still lay flowers at the mausoleum, attend daily flag-raising and lowering ceremonies, and visit other works and tourist attractions at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Relic Sites Complex. Activities in honor of President Ho Chi Minh and the heroic martyrs will resume on August 15.

The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Guard Command said the renovation includes the reception areas, panels, posters, and slogans to ensure the best conditions for compatriots and international visitors visiting “Uncle Ho”.

Located at No.2 Hung Vuong Street, Ba Dinh District, the facility is usually open to the public from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., except on Mondays and Fridays.

Visitors to the mausoleum are served light meals. Photo: Hoai Nam

Opened in 1973, the monument was built on the spot where President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence on September 2, 1945, establishing the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

Together with the Mausoleum, some nearby religious and historical relics such as Ba Dinh Square, President Ho Chi Minh's stilt house and fish pond, a museum in his honor, and the One Pillar Pagoda, among others, make up a must-see cluster of tourist destinations in the capital.