55 years of President Ho Chi Minh Relic Site at the Presidential Palace (1969-2024): A place to gather and deeply spread Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and style

After President Ho Chi Minh passed away, with infinite gratitude to the genius leader of the nation, following the wishes of the entire Party, the entire army and the entire people, especially the compatriots and soldiers in the South, the Politburo of the Central Party decided to protect, preserve and keep intact the place where he lived and worked at the Presidential Palace. After 55 years (1969-2024), this place has become a "red address", a "sacred address" that converges and deeply spreads Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and style.

Tourists visit Uncle Ho's stilt house in the Presidential Palace Relic Site. (Photo: DANG KHOA)

The President Ho Chi Minh Relic Site at the Presidential Palace is one of the first 10 relics in the country to be honored by the Prime Minister as a special national relic (phase 1, 2009). Over the years, all relics, documents, and artifacts of President Ho Chi Minh at this place have been preserved intact as when he lived and worked.

Deeply converging the ideological, moral and lifestyle values of Ho Chi Minh

During President Ho Chi Minh's entire revolutionary career, the Presidential Palace in Hanoi was the place where he spent the longest time - the last 15 years of his entire journey for the country and the people (December 19, 1954 - September 2, 1969). During those 15 years, he and the Party Central Committee and the Government set out the correct strategic guidelines and policies for the Vietnamese revolution; led the people to carry out two important tasks simultaneously: Building socialism in the North, fighting against the US imperialists and their henchmen, liberating the South, and moving towards national reunification; actively contributing to the struggle for independence, nationhood, democracy, peace and social progress in the world .

Since September 2, 1969, the historical relic complex of President Ho Chi Minh was formed in the Presidential Palace area. Generations of cadres have diligently preserved and maintained the relics and artifacts of President Ho Chi Minh in the Presidential Palace area day and night. The doors are still open, the clocks are still running, the furniture is still neatly arranged, welcoming domestic and international delegations to visit every day.

The Relic Complex at the Presidential Palace includes 13 relic houses; 1,738 documents and artifacts; 7 outdoor relics, 50 relic trees that Uncle Ho planted and cared for. Uncle Ho's stilt house is a national and ethnic symbol, a shining symbol of international solidarity, and has entered the subconscious of every Vietnamese person and international friends.

Over the past 55 years, the Relic Site has effectively carried out two parallel political tasks entrusted to it by the Party, the State, and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism: Preserving and maintaining the original state of his residence and workplace at the Presidential Palace; effectively promoting the legacy of President Ho Chi Minh at the Presidential Palace. The simple, familiar campus, close to nature, the small-scale architectural works, the treasured artifacts, all are associated with touching and humane stories about a historical period, spreading profound meaning about his intellectual qualities, ideology, and noble style.

The President Ho Chi Minh Relic Site at the Presidential Palace, together with the profound and rich spiritual heritages he left behind, have converged into a complete, original, and everlasting “historical-cultural memory field”, as Prime Minister Pham Van Dong affirmed: “Ho Chi Minh’s ideology and Ho Chi Minh’s morality are eternal values of humanity, humanity in Vietnam as well as everywhere in the world, humanity today as well as in the past; and people also expressed their belief that these values will be respected, inherited, and developed by future generations” (1).

Spread and connect the feelings of comrades, compatriots, and friends around the world

In the early days, before the official opening, the Relic Site welcomed a number of special delegations. These were groups and individuals with many achievements in production, combat and study. In particular, the army units before leaving for the South to fight were all allowed to visit the place where Uncle Ho lived and worked, to better understand Uncle Ho's feelings for the people of the South, to feel more clearly his determination to fight to liberate the South, to unify the country, in his wish. Over the years, when visiting the Relic Site, every Vietnamese person met each other in sentiment, realizing that his noble life forever goes hand in hand with the country's mountains and rivers, in the hearts of the people and humanity. Every person who comes here shares the same feelings and loves him more, at the same time contemplating the good things, the spiritual values and the goals they aspire to reach. With deep affection that has entered the subconscious of the entire nation, the desire to visit his residence and workplace at the Presidential Palace seems to have become a natural need, a vivid expression of the morality of "When drinking water, remember its source".

On the 85th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birthday, May 19, 1975, when the South was completely liberated, the Relic Site was officially opened to welcome compatriots from all over the country and international friends to visit, research and study. The political mission for the Relic Site is to best meet the sentiments and sacred aspirations of millions of Vietnamese people and international friends.

Over the past 55 years, the President's Relic Site at the Presidential Palace has welcomed nearly 90 million visitors from all over Vietnam and about 160 countries and territories around the world. Along with the Vietnamese people, friends from all continents have gathered at the Relic Site to express their love and respect for him. The emotions are all in praise of the international communist soldier, national liberation hero, and outstanding cultural figure. Poet Rone de Petro (Haiti) wrote: "Those who want to know what a real person is, where the beauty of the world is, where the victory of truth is, where there is spring, please visit Vietnam, visit the life of President Ho Chi Minh". Vice President of the European Commission - Frans Timmermans recorded his feelings: “It is hard to believe that I am sitting here next to the table where President Ho Chi Minh used to sit. This place is truly inspiring because it reflects the modesty and tireless dedication of President Ho Chi Minh to the Vietnamese people and the future of his country” (2).

During the celebration of major national holidays, the Relic Site often welcomes tens of thousands of visitors every day. The Relic Site has proactively coordinated with central agencies and Hanoi to build a series of political activities to spread the meaning of the "red address", "sacred address" and the values of Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and style. Applying digital transformation solutions, the Relic Site has actively researched and implemented experiential education programs. The Relic Site's website has been upgraded with rich content and an attractive interface, meeting the needs of learning and increasing the ability to interact with the public. In the period of 2018-2023, the Relic Site has organized and coordinated the organization of nearly 60 domestic and international exhibitions and displays on President Ho Chi Minh; published and republished nearly 50 books on President Ho Chi Minh and the Relic Site; Scientific staff have written about 800 propaganda articles, introducing the life, career, ideology, morality of Ho Chi Minh and the Relic Site.

With great and proud contributions, the Relic Site has been awarded the Ho Chi Minh Medal, the Independence Medal, the Labor Medal, the Certificate of Merit from the Prime Minister, the Emulation Flag from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism over the years and many other noble titles ■

Source: https://baolangson.vn/55-year-old-khu-di-tich-chu-cich-ho-chi-minh-tai-phu-chu-cich-1969-2024-noi-hoi-tu-va-lan-toa-sau-sac-tu-tuong-dao-duc-phong-cach-ho-chi-minh-5019194.html