The book President Vo Van Thuong gave to US President Joe Biden

President Vo Van Thuong presented US President Joe Biden with a book of letters written by President Ho Chi Minh to Americans over 50 years.

On September 11,President Vo Van Thuong met with President Biden at the Presidential Palace. On this occasion, Mr. Vo Van Thuong presented the US President with the book One Man, One Road, and One History: Ho Chi Minh - Letter to America, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs .

The 125-page book introduces President Ho Chi Minh's letters to Americans, from students, citizens, journalists to officers, senators, secretaries of state and presidents.

The first letter was written in 1919 under the name of young man Nguyen Ai Quoc and the last letter was written in 1969 and signed by Ho Chi Minh, President of an independent country. Among them, there is the letter from President Ho Chi Minh to US President Harry Truman on January 18, 1946 and the reply letter to President Richard Nixon on August 25, 1969. The letter to President Richard Nixon was written by Uncle Ho eight days before his death. In the letter, the President expressed his determination to ask the US to end the war in Vietnam.

President Biden respectfully accepted the gift, saying he would take time to read President Ho Chi Minh's letters in the book, to better understand a historical period in the relationship between the two countries.

Cover of the book "A man, a path and a history: Ho Chi Minh - Letter to America". Photo: Duong Minh Long

The book is bilingually printed by the Writers Association Publishing House, with translations taken from sources such as the Ho Chi Minh Museum, the Ho Chi Minh Institute, the Central Party Office Archives, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The editorial team used old translations, with a style appropriate to the context and political and social situation at that time, most of which did not include the translator's name.

For some letters that have not been translated yet, translator Tuyet Ngan and American poet Bruce Weigl were in charge of translating. The font used in the book is the same typeface as the typewriter that President Ho Chi Minh used.

Book box made of blue glazed ceramic. Photo: Duong Minh Long

In addition, the book includes many photos of President Ho Chi Minh through many stages, when he was a patriotic young man, the days of wandering abroad, the years of being imprisoned, or the President's presence at a number of events at home and abroad. Poet Nguyen Quang Thieu - Chairman of the Vietnam Writers' Association, Director of the Writers' Association Publishing House - said: "Most of these photos were taken by international reporters, with a fresh perspective, exuding the spirit of a leader but also a culturalist and philosopher".

Photographer Duong Minh Long designed the book cover and box. The cover is made of imported Hermes leather. The cover features a black and white portrait of President Ho Chi Minh taken in 1946 on canvas. The photo frame is made of hand-stitched leather. The book title is made of fired bronze, then molded and embossed. The printed pages are hand-bound. To create a mark of Vietnamese cultural beauty, the designers made the box from blue-glazed ceramic, made by Hue artisans. Mr. Thieu said this part had to be tested several times before it was successful.

US President Joe Biden paid a state visit to Vietnam on September 10-11. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong held talks with President Biden on the afternoon of September 10 after the official welcoming ceremony, announcing the establishment of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and the US for peace, cooperation and sustainable development.

At the reception on September 11, the US President quoted Kieu when responding to President Vo Van Thuong. Mr. Biden mentioned two verses of Nguyen Du "Honh hoa bo luc phong tran. Chu tinh ngay lai than xuan mot ngay" and said: "This is the day we can feel the glory and warmth of the limitless opportunities opening up before our eyes".

Vnexpress.net