Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House Hanoi

The living and working place of one of the most famous and significant political figures in Vietnamese history, President Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House, also known as Uncle Ho’s Stilt House, is a must-visit destination for tourists in Hanoi.

With its simple design, peaceful and serene atmosphere, visitors can learn more about the greatness and simplicity of the person who lived here.

Location: 1 Bach Thao Alley, Ngoc Ho, Ba Dinh, Hanoi
Opening hours: 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM daily, with a break from 11:00 AM to 1:30 PM
Entrance fee: 40,000 VND (payable at the entrance)

History of Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House

The history of the stilt house begins on March 2, 1958 when President Ho Chi Minh visited the first agricultural cooperative of Thai Nguyen Province. During the trip, he saw stilt houses, reminiscent of his time at the North Base. At that time, his assistants were searching for a suitable house for him.

Since the end of the Vietnam War with France in 1954, the President returned to Hanoi. He refused to live in the luxurious Presidential Palace. President Ho Chi Minh carefully considered and told his colleagues that he wanted to build a stilt house on the other side of the pond to live and work in. Following that, the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam decided to build a stilt house for him.

The stilt house was designed by architect Nguyen Van Ninh, who was the Deputy Director of the Architecture Design Department at the Ministry of Transport and Communications. After the design was completed, construction of the stilt house began on April 15, 1958. The construction unit was Team 5, part of the Basic Construction Team of the General Department of Rear Services, comprising 30 members led by Comrade Nguyen Kim Toan.

Approximately one month later, on May 17, 1958, President Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House was completed. On May 19, 1958, the President moved to this house and lived here until August 17, 1969.

After President Ho Chi Minh’s passing, the Stilt House, as a historical relic, became a construction influenced by Vietnamese national culture. On May 15, 1975, President Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House was ranked as a special national historical and cultural relic.

More than four decades after President Ho Chi Minh’s passing, his Stilt House at the Presidential Palace has welcomed over 50 million visitors from Vietnam and more than 150 countries around the world.

Architecture and Structure

The stilt house was designed in a traditional Vietnamese architectural style, with a length of 10.5 meters and a height of 6.2 meters. It consists of two floors.

The first floor is where President Ho Chi Minh worked during the summer. This area was often used for meetings with high-ranking government officials.

The upper floor has two rooms: a folding bed room and a bedroom. Each room is only 10 square meters in size and contains essential items from President Ho Chi Minh’s daily life.

In front of the house, there’s a pond with many colorful fish. Behind the house, there is a fruit tree garden with various valuable tree species from different regions of Vietnam and abroad.

Highlights of Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House
Here are some reasons why President Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House in Hanoi is so special:

The house is primarily supported by natural wooden columns. Inside the house, you’ll find wooden flooring where President Ho Chi Minh received guests, a wooden table, and several small bamboo chairs.

The surrounding area of the house is filled with lush greenery, creating a peaceful, enchanting atmosphere. President Ho Chi Minh had a deep appreciation for poetry and nature, which inspired him to build this simple stilt house, allowing him to live in harmony with nature.

What to Do at Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House

Visitors can take photographs. You can capture images of the house, the garden, the fish pond, and the beautiful paths leading to the house, known as “Mango Alley.”

You can also feed the fish in the pond.

How to Get to Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House

By Bus:

You can take bus numbers 09, 18, 22, 33, 45, 50. All of these buses stop at Le Hong Phong Street, which is just a five-minute walk from the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex.

By Personal Vehicle:
Head to the intersection, then turn left and continue on Le Hong Phong Street (crossing the Dien Bien Phu – Hoang Dieu intersection, about 20 meters), and keep going straight on Le Hong Phong Street until you reach Ngoc Ha Street, where the entrance to Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum Complex is located.

You can find parking facilities at two locations:

1. Opposite Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum on Ong Ich Khiem Street.
2. At the entrance to the Ho Chi Minh Museum on Ngoc Ha Street.

Tips and Etiquette
Changing of the guards at Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House
Changing of the guards at Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House
Regarding attire: Dress appropriately and respectfully, avoid wearing overly short or provocative clothing during your visit. The security personnel may not permit entry if you violate this rule.
In terms of behavior and attitude: Be polite, avoid causing disruptions, speak quietly, move gently, and maintain order while in the vicinity.
Children under 3 years old are not allowed inside the house.
Follow the luggage storage guidelines provided by the management.
Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House not only depicts the Vietnam War in the past but also allows visitors to get closer to the peaceful and modest abode where Vietnam’s first President resided. If you want to learn more about Vietnam’s history, President Ho Chi Minh’s personality, and his actions, then this location is a must-visit on your journey to explore Vietnam.

We hope the information about the Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House Hanoi provided by vietnamtravellands.com is useful to you! Plan your trip and get ready to embark on an unforgettable journey!