Built in a neoclassical beaux arts style with elements of Italian Renaissance, the 3-story, mustard yellow building features 30 rooms. The palace stands behind wrought iron gates flanked by guard boxes and features a grand staircase. The extensive palace grounds include well-tended gardens, fruit orchards, the 300-foot-long (91-meter-long) Mango Alley, a carp pond, and the Ho Chi Minh Residence, where Ho Chi Minh lived instead of in the Presidential Palace.
Most sightseeing tours stop at the Ho Chi Minh Complex and can be combined with visits to other top sites, such as Hoan Kiem Lake, One Pillar Pagoda, or the Temple of Literature. Opt for a motorbike tour to experience Hanoi like a local, and consider add-on activities such as a water-puppet show or a cooking class.