Hanoi's historical sites, including the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Hoa Lo Prison, and the 80th Anniversary National Exhibition in Dong Anh district, attracted large crowds during the four-day National Day holiday from 30/8 to 2/9.
Kilometer-long queues formed at Ba Dinh Square on 31/8, with people patiently waiting to take photos from early morning until late afternoon. Hoang Thi Trinh, a visitor from Thanh Hoa province, waited two hours with her friends. She said she had visited the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum before, but had never seen such long queues.
"I would have waited 20 hours, not just two. The atmosphere during these days is so emotionally charged," she said. After taking photos at Ba Dinh Square, Trinh's group planned to "camp out" to secure a spot for the 2/9 parade instead of returning to their hotel.
Also from Thanh Hoa, sisters Bui Linh and Bui Thao waited almost an hour to enter the square. Although tired, they persisted, energized by the lively atmosphere, Thao said with a smile.
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Linh and Thao (holding a baby) queue to enter the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum on the afternoon of 31/8. Photo: Tu Nguyen |
Linh and Thao (holding a baby) queue to enter the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum on the afternoon of 31/8. Photo: Tu Nguyen
Hoa Lo Prison was also packed with visitors in the days leading up to 2/9. While official figures were unavailable, a staff member estimated that visitor numbers on 31/8 were double the usual daily average. The A80 celebrations and public interest in the nation's history drew crowds to the site. Pham Dan Phuong, a visitor from Hai Phong, chose Hoa Lo Prison as her afternoon destination after spending the morning at Hoan Kiem Lake.
"The prison's dungeons were impactful. I could sense the cruelty of the enemy in the past and the resilience of the revolutionary soldiers," she said. The surge in visitors led to overcrowding in some areas, making it difficult to fully appreciate the experience. Phuong recommended using the audio guide for a comprehensive and easy-to-understand narrative.
Another notable attraction was the 80th Anniversary National Exhibition in Dong Anh, which welcomed thousands of visitors after its opening on 28/8.
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Visitors interact with robots at the exhibition. Photo: Dang Nguyen |
Visitors interact with robots at the exhibition. Photo: Dang Nguyen
Traffic jams stretched for about 2 km on the roads leading to the exhibition. Inside, every booth was crowded, particularly the AI robot display and interaction area. A volunteer reported that the number of visitors on 31/8 was almost double that of 30/8.
Dang Trong Tuan, from Hung Yen province, said the drive to the exhibition usually takes just over an hour. However, on this day, his journey from 9 a.m. took until 1:30 p.m.
Tuan attributed the high attendance to media coverage, the exhibition's scale, and its engaging activities. He noted the long walk from the parking lot to the exhibition center was tiring, but the spacious interior and well-designed displays sparked his curiosity.
He suggested adding more directional signs to help first-time visitors navigate the exhibition.
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Visitors at the National Exhibition on the morning of 31/8. Photo: Dang Nguyen
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The "Bang oi" outdoor exhibition at Hoa Lo Prison on the afternoon of 31/8. Photo: Tu Nguyen
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Visitors queueing to enter Ba Dinh Square. Photo: Tu Nguyen
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Tour buses arrive at the Temple of Literature on the afternoon of 31/8. Photo: Tu Nguyen
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Dan Phuong reads information at the "Bang oi" exhibition at Hoa Lo Prison. Photo: Tu Nguyen
Do Thi Xuan, a resident of Thanh Xuan district, found the traffic congestion en route to the exhibition tiring. She also noted that some volunteers and staff were not fully informed, occasionally leading to ineffective guidance. However, she found the exhibition itself engaging and exceeding her expectations.
"I'm happy to see so many young people here learning about history," she said.
Other Hanoi attractions, like the Temple of Literature and the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, did not experience overcrowding. Representatives from the Temple of Literature reported approximately 9,000 visitors on 30/8 and 31/8, a 30% increase compared to regular days, but lower than the same period last year.
The decrease in visitors compared to last year's holiday was attributed to road closures on 30/8 and the concentration of visitors at sites like the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the National Exhibition.
On 2/9, Vietnam commemorated the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day (A80) with a ceremony and parade at Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi. The parade featured nearly 16,000 participants, including infantry, mechanized forces, air and naval units, comprising 43 marching blocks, 18 stationary blocks, and 14 blocks of military and special forces vehicles.
Tu Nguyen
