The Road to 'Autumn of Independence'

The artifacts and images from the 1941 period recount the path to independence that leader Nguyen Ai Quoc and our Party took.

Vietnamese people all share the responsibility...

Nguyen Ai Quoc's 1941 letter, "A Message to My Compatriots," is one of the exhibits in the special exhibition "Autumn of Independence " (taking place from August 25 to December 25, 2025 at the Ho Chi Minh Museum, Hanoi ). The letter includes the passage: " Every Vietnamese person must shoulder a part of the responsibility: those with money contribute money, those with possessions contribute possessions, those with strength contribute strength, those with talent contribute talent. As for myself, I pledge to dedicate all my strength to stand with you, for the sake of our compatriots, striving for freedom and independence, even if it means sacrificing my life ."

The exhibition runs until December 2025.

PHOTO: THU DO

This 1941 letter also contains a stirring call to arms: " Let us advance! All compatriots advance! Unite to drive out the French and Japanese! Long live the successful Vietnamese revolution! Long live the successful world revolution! " Viewers can also see this spirit of advancement in many other exhibits in the exhibition, such as: the "Marching Song" by composer Van Cao, documentary photos of the Declaration of Independence , and documents from the newspaper Cuu Quoc - a newspaper that was initially published in secret, with limited resources and constant surveillance and arrests by secret police...

The "Autumn of Independence" exhibition features over 200 documents, images, and artifacts, showcasing the aspirations, will for independence and self-reliance, and the strength of national unity in the struggle for national liberation, and in building and firmly defending national independence. The exhibition is divided into two parts. Part 1, " Ba Dinh Square Shining in Autumn," includes artifacts related to the decision of young Nguyen Tat Thanh to seek a path to national salvation, his transformation into Nguyen Ai Quoc, his embrace of Marxism-Leninism, and his eventual ascension to President Ho Chi Minh – the one who read the Declaration of Independence, giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, the first people's democratic state in Southeast Asia.

Nguyen Ai Quoc's identity card

PHOTO: THU DO

Part 2, "From the Autumn of Independence to the Spring of Renovation," chronicles the journey of victory over colonialism and imperialism, and the struggle to defend the borders and maintain the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland's seas and islands. This part also recounts how the Party formulated the Renovation policy, marking a fundamental and decisive turning point in Vietnam's development.

These artifacts are being presented to the public for the first time.

The exhibition features artifacts being presented to the public for the first time. These include: a photocopy of Nguyen Ai Quoc's identity card, issued at 6 Villa des Gobelins Street on September 4, 1919, bearing his photograph, embossed seal, and signature; Nguyen Ai Quoc's photographer's business card; a letter from President Ho Chi Minh to the Central Executive Committee of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany informing and inviting delegates to attend the Party Congress and the 15th National Day celebration of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam on August 1, 1960; and a calligraphy piece with a poem celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam by the Chinese poet Huang Yanpei…

Photo album about the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam

PHOTO: THU DO

Regarding the poem celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam by poet Hoang Viem Boi, a calligrapher said: "The poem's main idea is that on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the founding of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, I wrote this poem to respectfully present to President Ho Chi Minh. Previously, when I visited Vietnam, I witnessed the tragic plight of the people, but now they have freedom. Their patriotic spirit is soaring, vast as the universe, and they have successfully built a worker-peasant system, with national unity and border unification." The calligrapher also noted that the poem was written in quite beautiful calligraphy.

A calligraphy piece by a Chinese poet presented to President Ho Chi Minh.

PHOTO: THU DO

Besides that, there are many other noteworthy artifacts, including a photo album about the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam, presented to President Ho Chi Minh by the delegation of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam on October 19, 1962. The album contains 57 black-and-white photos of various sizes, accompanied by printed captions. The photos comprehensively reflect the activities and events of the Front: the founding ceremony of the Front, the struggles of the people under the leadership of the Front...

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/duong-den-mua-thu-doc-lap-185250825224015166.htm