134th Birthday of President Ho Chi Minh: May Remembers Uncle Ho

During his lifetime, on every occasion of Uncle Ho's birthday, compatriots, comrades and international friends sent him their deepest feelings, best wishes and everyone wanted to have a gift to give him.

Uncle Ho always took the initiative to contact and understand the people's thoughts and aspirations, thereby reaching their hearts with a benevolent heart. In the photo: Uncle Ho visited farmers of Hung Son cooperative, Dai Tu district, Thai Nguyen province during the harvest season (1954). (Photo: VNA)

On the historic May days, every Vietnamese person remembers the birthday of beloved Uncle Ho. During his lifetime, on every occasion of his birthday, compatriots, comrades and international friends sent him their deepest feelings, best wishes and everyone wanted to have a gift to give him.

But for Uncle Ho, as he once said, "the most precious gift for me is the reports on patriotic emulation achievements," that's why, every time on his birthday, we see the shining simplicity and humility of that great man.

First time celebrating Uncle Ho's birthday

On September 2, 1945, in front of tens of thousands of people, President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence, giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. This was also the first time he officially appeared before the people.

Before that, due to the country being still in slavery, revolutionary activities had to be kept secret, so information about him was very limited.

On May 18, 1946, on the front page of the newspaper Cuu Quoc published in Hanoi, there was a special article with the title: "Uncle Ho Chi Minh and the Vietnamese people."

President Ho Chi Minh visited a kindergarten and distributed candy to children of workers at Du Phong Pottery Factory and Soay Nguon Agricultural Cooperative in Mong Cai town (now Mong Cai city, Quang Ninh province). (Photo: VNA)

In the article, for the first time, information about President Ho Chi Minh's birthday, May 19, 1890, was made public for the people to know. Since then, May 19 has become an important day for our nation, our people and international friends.

1946 was also the first time our people celebrated Uncle Ho's birthday. The congratulatory activities not only expressed the people's affection for Uncle Ho, but also demonstrated the great solidarity of the entire army and people around the leader of a young nation facing enormous challenges.

That day, at the Northern Palace, Uncle Ho received children from the Capital, delegates from the South, the Central Committee for New Life... who came to wish him longevity.

"The children competed to pin the "Straight Bamboo Shoots" badge on Uncle Ho's shirt, gave him the letters "i" and "t" symbolizing the Popular Education Movement, and small books printed with the Charter and songs of the National Children's Association."

Uncle Ho's gift to the children was a cypress tree with the message: "In the future, this tree will grow a hundred branches. If you take care of it until it grows big and well, you will love Uncle very much!"

After the children's group was a group of more than 50 men and women representing the South to celebrate Uncle Ho's birthday. In the group was Ms. Nguyen Thi Dinh, who later became a heroic female general, a woman who represented the tradition of "Heroic, indomitable, loyal, and courageous" of Vietnamese women.

Touched by the affection of his compatriots and comrades, Uncle Ho said: “In fact, the newspapers here have made a big deal out of my birthday, but at the age of fifty-six, there is nothing worth celebrating, and I am still a young man, but in front of you, in front of the peaceful and joyful scene in the North, I really feel ashamed because the South is not yet at peace. Two tears flowed down his cheeks...

Memories in the "Windy Capital"

Not long after the August Revolution succeeded, the French colonialists plotted to invade our country once again. In December 1946, President Ho Chi Minh and the Party Central Committee and the Government returned to the Viet Bac base to continue leading the people in the resistance war against the French colonialists.

During the 9 years in the "windy capital", Uncle Ho's birthday celebrations were extremely simple but always warm and meaningful, with congratulations from his compatriots, comrades and wild flowers from those who served him.

In the Viet Bac resistance base during the resistance war against France, Uncle Ho lived with cadres and staff; ate, lived and worked like everyone else. (Photo: VNA)

In 1948, just a few days before Uncle Ho's birthday, comrade Loc (real name Nguyen Van Ty) - Uncle Ho's assistant and close friend who worked with Uncle Ho in Thailand and China, then followed Uncle Ho back to the country to participate in revolutionary activities - had just passed away.

Uncle Ho was very sad. When his comrades brought a bouquet of wild flowers to congratulate him on his birthday, he suggested taking the bouquet to visit Comrade Loc's grave.

At Uncle Ho's birthday celebration that year, he spent it talking about an example of loyalty to the Party, working for the Party all his life, without personal calculation or demanding status.

“A lifetime for the country and the people.” The happiest and most joyful birthday in Uncle Ho's life was probably the occasion of his 64th birthday, May 19, 1954.

After 9 years of protracted resistance with many hardships and sacrifices, our army and people achieved great victories, culminating in the "earth-shaking" Dien Bien Phu Victory on May 7, 1954, successfully ending the resistance war against French colonialism.

The news of victory came just a few days before Uncle Ho's birthday, and was the most special gift our army and people respectfully offered to our beloved Uncle Ho. Joining the joy of the whole country,

Uncle Ho wrote a letter to the cadres and soldiers at the Dien Bien Phu front:

"Letter to all officers and soldiers at the Dien Bien Phu front.

First of all, Uncle Ho sends his warmest regards to the wounded soldiers. All of you, as well as the cadres and soldiers nationwide, have determined to achieve great victory to wish Uncle Ho a long life. Uncle Ho has decided to treat you. How you treat depends on your circumstances, but we will definitely treat you.

So Uncle and I are happy together. Happy to make new efforts, to overcome new difficulties and to achieve new victories. Uncle and the government intend to award all of you with the "Dien Bien Phu Soldier" badge. Do you agree?

Uncle Ho reminded you once again: do not be arrogant because of victory, do not be subjective and underestimate the enemy, always be ready to fulfill the tasks assigned to you by the Party and the Government. Uncle Ho kissed you.

Uncle Ho Chi Minh"

On May 19, 1954, Uncle Ho met and held a banquet to honor the soldiers who had made outstanding achievements in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign and their Soviet friends. He praised and asked about their fighting life in Dien Bien Phu as well as their family circumstances.

Uncle Ho was moved when he heard about the difficult circumstances of the soldiers and encouraged them: The country will be independent, the people will certainly have enough to eat. He personally pinned a badge on Hoang Dang Vinh, the man who captured General De Castries, and suggested that Soviet director Roman Karmen take a photo with the soldiers.

He wrote the document "Top Secret"

The North was liberated. The Party Central Committee and the Government returned to the capital Hanoi. But on May 19, Uncle Ho often went to work and visit another place to avoid the complicated and costly ceremonies.

The anniversary of Uncle Ho's birthday in 1965 was a special milestone, when beloved Uncle Ho turned 75 years old, and it was also the time when he began writing his "Will" to leave to our entire Party, army and people.

President Ho Chi Minh with heroes and brave soldiers who defeated the Americans in the delegation of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam, at the Presidential Palace (February 28, 1969). (Photo: Quang Minh/VNA)

On the morning of May 10, 1965, in the office in the stilt house in the Presidential Palace, Uncle Ho wrote the first lines of the "Top Secret" document.

With modesty and simplicity, Uncle Ho did not call it a "Will," "Will," or "Testament"... but simply called it a "Document," "Letter," or "A few words... summarizing a few things."

Uncle Ho also did not want many people to know about the work of a person who was about to "go far away", afraid of leading to thoughts that were not beneficial in the situation of the whole country's resistance, so at the beginning of the article, Uncle Ho clearly wrote "On the occasion of 75 years old" and on the left margin, he added the words "Absolutely confidential."

In 1 hour (from 9 to 10 am), Uncle Ho finished writing the opening part of the Testament. On the following days, at the same time, he continued writing the remaining parts. On May 14, 1965, due to being busy with work in the morning, Uncle Ho switched to writing in the afternoon with double the time, from 2 to 4 pm.

At exactly 4 p.m., Uncle Ho finished typing the Will and put it in an envelope. At 9 p.m. that day, Uncle Ho handed the envelope to comrade Vu Ky and told him: "Keep it carefully, remember to give it back to me this time next year."

In mid-May of the following years, Uncle Ho continued to write, edit, and supplement the "Absolutely Secret" document.

According to comrade Vu Ky - Uncle Ho's personal secretary, "during a period of 4 years, from May 10, 1965 to May 19, 1969, Uncle Ho spent a total of 28 sessions, most of which lasted two and a half hours each, writing his Will."

In 1969, Uncle Ho's health was somewhat weaker. On the occasion of his birthday that year, he did not go on a "far business trip" like in previous years. On the morning of May 10, 1969, Uncle Ho rewrote the entire opening part of his Will on the back of the last page of the Special Reference News (published by Vietnam News Agency) issue on Saturday, May 3, 1969.

On the morning of his 79th birthday, Uncle Ho reviewed, edited and supplemented his Testament for the last time. His Testament, which summarizes his great thoughts, his concerns and his comprehensive vision of the struggle to unify the Fatherland and rebuild the country, has become a priceless spiritual asset, a torch to light the way for our revolutionary cause today and tomorrow.

The ceremony to celebrate Uncle Ho's 79th birthday was very simple and warm. Everyone stood around Uncle Ho. Comrade To Huu presented flowers, Comrade Le Duan read the congratulatory messages. Uncle Ho smiled happily and cordially, inviting everyone to eat candy and did not forget to remind "remember to bring some home for the girls and children at home." No one thought that this would be the last time they would celebrate Uncle Ho's birthday./.

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