55 years after President Ho Chi Minh’s Will became known, his thought remains powerful

It’s been 55 years since President Ho Chi Minh’s Will was made public, his ideas are still relevant to the national building.

To honor  the  publication of President Ho Chi Minh’s Will and his death, a national exhibition entitled “President Ho Chi Minh’s Will – Value and Everlasting Vitality” opened on the occasion of National Day [September 2]. The exhibition will run for one month until September 30, 2024.

The exhibition, which includes over 200 documents, photos, and charts, is divided into three sections: The life and revolutionary career of President Ho Chi Minh, the Outstanding Cultural Figure and Hero of the Vietnamese National Liberation; (2) the circumstances surrounding the  drafting of the Will, the central ideas and profound theoretical and practical values contained in the Will; and (3) the Will’s implementation over the course of the last 55 years, marked by significant accomplishments, important lessons learned, and ongoing promotion in the new era.

It is a lesson in the revolutionary scientific prowess and optimistic spirit of the Party; in the Party’s unity; in the widespread, regular, and serious practice of democracy; in the importance of criticism and self-criticism; in the need of giving particular attention to the younger generation, who will eventually govern the nation; in the continual improvement of people’s lives; and in the spirit of unswerving devotion to revolutionary ideals.

The exhibition’s organizing committee hopes to provide the public with access to priceless records and photos, particularly for those conducting research on President Ho Chi Minh’s Will, a national treasure.

It serves as a source of pride as well as motivation to strengthen national unity and build an increasingly prosperous, civilized, heroic, and cultured Vietnam.

To meet the needs of the public in the future, a video based on the exhibition’s display and explanatory materials will be made and uploaded to the website of the President Ho Chi Minh Relic Site at the Presidential Palace after it closes.

The event was attended by Nguyen Van Phong, Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee;  Hoang Dao Cuong, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Le Thi Phuong, Director of the President Ho Chi Minh’ Relic Site at the Presidential Palace, among others.

Shortly after the opening, a number of visitors, including many foreigners, came to the exhibition. Among the visitors, Tomás Arias from Spain expressed his admiration for President Ho Chi Minh and his journey to become an honorable leader for Vietnam and an example for the world’s revolution.

Tomás Arias told The Hanoi Times: “I am deeply impressed by President Ho Chi Minh – the great leader of the Vietnamese people and the working people of the world. As a communist myself, I understand his ideals and his lifelong and tireless struggle for the independence and freedom of the nation and for a better future for the country.”

He emphasized “Vietnam is a heroic nation that has never bowed to any enemy. Your spirit of overcoming difficulties and your unity is a constant reminder to us to teach our children about a powerful example of rising from the ashes. That is why I am determined to come to Vietnam after my retirement to witness the resurrection of a country that never succumbs to adversity.”

He said this was his second visit to Vietnam and Hanoi. “The last time I was here for a month and traveled all over the place like Sa Pa, Ha Long Bay, Danang, and so on. This time we have less time, only about 10 days, but we are trying to visit Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, and Danang again.”

“Everyone in our group loves Vietnam and is deeply impressed Hanoi for its ancient charm and its cultural and historical values. Your country is very beautiful, and your people even more so that’s what makes us want to come back. We are certain that in the future, we will return to Vietnam to explore more of this beloved country.”

Meanwhile, historian Pedro Da Oliveira, Secretary General of the Brazil-Vietnam Friendship Association (ABRAVIET), is impressed by Vietnam’s socio-economic development achievements, with its stable political situation and significant improvements in all aspects of people’s lives. This aligns with President Ho Chi Minh’s aspiration for “a peaceful, unified, independent, democratic, and prosperous Vietnam will make a significant contribution to the global revolutionary movement.”

These achievements were made possible by the efforts of the Vietnamese people, who overcame countless challenges, rebuilt the country, and launched the Doi Moi (Renovation) process in 1986 after enduring various struggles for national liberation.

“President Ho Chi Minh was not only an exceptional political and military leader, and a great cultural figure, but he was also a visionary,” he said in an interview with the Vietnam News Agency (VNA).

The Brazilian historian emphasized that with his vast knowledge and deep understanding of the era, President Ho Chi Minh’s words and assessments were always ahead of their time, and his decisions were consistently wise and sagacious. Despite numerous hardships, Vietnam’s revolution and struggle for independence always emerged victorious.

President Ho Chi Minh affirmed that the Vietnamese people would achieve independence and freedom to build a peaceful, unified, and strong Vietnam. This has indeed proven to be true.

Vietnam’s history shows that under the leadership of the Party and President Ho Chi Minh, the entire nation rose up together and launched a general uprising to seize power. The success of the August Revolution secured independence for the nation.

The Brazilian historian highlighted President Ho Chi Minh’s teachings on the spirit of national unity as a great internal strength.

Turning to the international communist movement, Da Oliveira praised President Ho Chi Minh for his many contributions, noting that his ideas remain relevant and valuable to this day.

Duy Khanh from The Hanoi Times takes a look at the exhibition held at the President Ho Chi Minh Relic Site in the Presidential Palace – the place where the president lived for 15 years until his death in 1969.