Ba Dinh square is in west Hanoi and was built by the French in the early part of the 20^th century. It was called Rond Point Puginier or Round square. They built other residential and office buildings adjacent to the garden including the Governor of Indochina’s villa, which is now the Presidential Palace. The Albert Sarraunt school is now the Party Central Committee’s Office, and the Financial Department has become the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Round square was renamed Ba Dinh, after the Japanese overthrew the French to establish a collaborative Vietnamese government headed by Prime Minister Tran Trong Kim. In August, the Vietnamese revolution, under the Party’s leadership, started a general uprising to seize government across the country. On September 2, the interim revolutionary government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam made its debut at Ba Dinh square, when President Ho Chi Minh read out the famous Declaration of Independence.

The Ho Chi Minh mausoleum is situated in the centre of the square. On the right of the mausoleum are bamboo trees to remind people of the President’s home village. In front of Ba Dinh square is the Monument to Martyrs. At this time of the year, thousands of Vietnamese people from all walks of life and many from overseas visit the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum and Ba Dinh square. Nguyen Ngoc Phung a visitor from the south of the country says: “Ever since I was a little girl, my grandmother told me about the history behind September 2. At that time, she was young and able to attend the ceremony. When I visit this place, I can feel my grandma’s emotions at that time, which make me feel proud and honored.”

Ba Dinh square is 320 m long and 100 m wide with a 30 m high flag pole in the middle. The flag is hoisted at 6 a.m and lowered at 9 p.m every day. Nguyen Huy Binh studies at Ba Dinh school. “I often come to see the flag hoisting and lowering ceremonies and I sing the national anthem during them. I feel different when I salute the flag here than on Monday morning at my school. My grandfather also raises his hand to salute the flag just like the guards,” Binh says.  

Ba Dinh square is associated with many important autumn events such as the return of the capital city’s battalions in 1954, and the thousands of Vietnamese and international friends mourning President Ho Chi Minh in 1969. Although the scenery around Ba Dinh square has changed, its historic and spiritual values have remained for future next generations.

Le Phuong