The protection of President Ho Chi Minh’s corpse has gone through several stages. After his 77th birth anniversary in 1967, the President became weak. The Party Politburo held an extraordinary meeting on caring for the President’s health and preparing to preserve his body after his death. Following that meeting, a number of Vietnamese doctors were sent to the Soviet Union to learn embalming techniques. After President Ho Chi Minh died, a special team of Vietnam and Russian experts gathered and embalmed the body. Bui Hai Son, Deputy Director of the President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Management Board, said: “Embalming President Ho Chi Minh’s body reflected the former Soviet Union government’s special affection for Vietnam, the Vietnamese people and President Ho Chi Minh. Despite historical changes over the last 50 years, the Russian people’s affection, solidarity, and support for Vietnam has been unchanged.”
Since the President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum was inaugurated on August 29, 1975, Vietnam has paid special attention to protecting the President’s body. In 1991, Russian experts transferred to Vietnamese experts the techniques and chemicals needed to protect the President’s body. Mr. Yuri Alekseevich, a member of the team that has helped Vietnam embalm the President’s body, said: “The Vietnamese people always pay respect to President Ho Chi Minh who devoted his life to the struggles to defend the nation against foreign invaders and gain freedom and happiness to the Vietnamese people. We’re proud to contribute to protecting the corpse of President Ho Chi Minh who lives forever in Vietnamese people’s hearts and brings eternal strength to Vietnam.”
The late Vietnamese president’s embalmed body is available for viewing at selected times of the year by visitors to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. The solemn granite structure is one of the most iconic landmarks in Vietnam’s capital.