135th Birthday of President Ho Chi Minh: Following in his footsteps in Milan, Italy

It is difficult to determine who was the first Vietnamese to set foot in Italy, but there is certainly one person who has been recorded in history books and recognized by both countries as the one who laid the foundation for friendship between the two peoples - that is President Ho Chi Minh.

Portrait of President Ho Chi Minh inside Antica Trattoria della Pesa. (Photo: Thanh Hai/VNA reporter in Italy)

In May, approaching the 135th anniversary of Uncle Ho's birth (May 19, 1890 - May 19, 2025), VNA reporters in Italy had the opportunity to visit Antica Trattoria della Pesa (translated into Vietnamese as Ancient Scales Restaurant), located at 10 Pasubio Street, Milan, Northern Italy, where Uncle Ho lived and worked in the 1930s, when he traveled from Paris to Milan to meet with Communist International comrades and Italian friends.

Nearly 100 years have passed since Uncle Ho was here, but the “Ho Chi Minh space” in the restaurant is still cared for and maintained, clearly visible. Outside the Antica Trattoria della Pesa is a white stone plaque installed by the Milan city government in 1990 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh’s birthday, with the clearly engraved inscription: “This house is where President Ho Chi Minh often visited during his time abroad in the 1930s to protect the freedom of the people.”

The statue of President Ho Chi Minh has been placed solemnly in the Antica Trattoria della Pesa restaurant since 2012. (Photo: Thanh Hai/VNA reporter in Italy)

The restaurant has two rooms, in which the room where Uncle Ho often sat is named the Ho Chi Minh room with a full-body bronze statue of President Ho Chi Minh, presented by the Vietnamese State to the city of Milan in 2012, placed solemnly, along with Uncle Ho's photo and images and artifacts of Vietnam.

Placing the statue of Uncle Ho at the Antica Trattoria della Pesa has a sacred historical significance because this is the place where his footprints were deeply imprinted. The house dates back to 1880 and has gone through many events, but until now everything is still intact from the name of the restaurant to the decoration and furniture inside, especially the items related to President Ho Chi Minh. There is still the corner of the table and the chair where he often sat to read the newspaper, meet Italian and International Communist friends, along with the shelf where he often hung his umbrella and the antique scale.

The Italian people have known President Ho Chi Minh for a long time and always respected him. Therefore, the people of Milan are very honored that President Ho Chi Minh once lived and worked at the Antica Trattoria della Pesa.

The stone plaque was installed by the Milan city government outside the Antica Trattoria della Pesa restaurant since 1990. (Photo: Thanh Hai/VNA reporter in Italy)

Talking to VNA reporters, Mr. Danilo Pettinari said he often comes to the cafe because he loves Vietnam and President Ho Chi Minh. He said: “Vietnam is a heroic nation, under the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh - an outstanding international communist soldier, who drove out colonialists and imperialists. We often come to the cafe to meet each other, share our feelings for Vietnam, for President Ho Chi Minh, and memories of our visits to Vietnam.”

Antica Trattoria della Pesa has also become a destination for many delegations of leaders at all levels and Vietnamese people when visiting Italy and is also a familiar address for Italians and international friends who want to learn about President Ho Chi Minh.

In front of Antica Trattoria della Pesa. (Photo: Thanh Hai/VNA reporter in Italy)

Antica Trattoria della Pesa, the only place recognized by the Milan city government and known to the Italian public as a red address about Uncle Ho, further spreads the understanding and love of the Italian people for Vietnam and President Ho Chi Minh.

According to Tin Tuc Newspaper

https://baotintuc.vn/thoi-su/135-nam-ngay-sinh-chu-pich-ho-chi-minh-theo-chan-bac-tai-milan-italy-20250513180730441.htm

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/135-nam-ngay-sinh-chu-tich-ho-chi-minh-theo-chan-bac-tai-milan-italy-213479.html