This place is pretty cool but there are some serious drawbacks that just make it not reach its potential.

The grounds are large, clean, impressive and peaceful. It's worth visiting for sure but the experience is a bit of a mess all things considered.

So before we get into issues, just know that yes it is worth the issues for the visit, but it could be improved.

Before we get onto the bag checking mess I'll cover the main issues.

1. You get ushered around like sheep until after you exit the mausoleum, but you don't get any time to really observe Ho Chi Minh because you can't stop, look and reflect. You are basically walked through the room where he sits as you try to get a good glimpse without being able to stop, turning your neck to the side but making sure to be moving. I don't need a photo but it would be nice to get 10 seconds to just stop and observe in silence.

2. The mausoleum is linked to the Presidential Palace and the museum but the museum closes for 2 hours from 12:00-14:00 and any bags that you have checked you're expected to pick up at the luggage retrieval centre before 12:00. This is infuriating because that whole process is a pain in itself, so if you want to take in everything slowly, getting photos of the mausoleum and then reading all the plaques at the presidential palace you will likely be left with only 1-2 hours to both see the museum and then also get back to the building to collect your bag. The museum is the kind of place you'd ideally spend multiple hours but you can't if you have taken your time with the two previous attractions on the grounds. If you rush around and don't really read anything it's doable.

Otherwise you have to get your bags and leave for 2 hours and then come back, but I am not sure it's worth it as it takes so much time out of your day and you have to go through the security stuff again.

An alternate is visiting the museum first, but the body of Ho Chi Minh is only open to see until 11am from what I can gather so you'd want to spend less time in the museum to make sure you see the body.

As for the bag checks, I had my bag searched before lining up, then got told all good to go through security. Then at the other side of security was told to check the bag and separate the camera from it. So I can take photos on the other side of the mausoleum, but can't carry a miniscule gimbal with me? It makes no sense at all. I can take photos and videos with the camera but I put the camera, taking two lenses also not an issue.

Then I have to check the little red bag again at another window and pick it up later. It's just a mess and doesn't really follow any logic to me.