The South will always be in his heart.

HNN - President Ho Chi Minh always emphasized: While the North was living and building in peace, the people of the South were bravely sacrificing themselves in glorious battles against the Americans and their henchmen. Therefore, "each of us must work twice as hard to repay our beloved compatriots in the South."

Uncle Ho with the heroes and brave fighters who defeated the Americans in the delegation of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam visiting...

North Vietnam, February 28, 1969. Photo: Archival material.

He was dedicated to organizing, motivating, and encouraging mass movements in both North and South Vietnam. In everything he did, he reminded the people to remember the South, ensuring that every action had practical significance for the liberation of the South. He was deeply concerned: "As long as the Fatherland remains ununified and our compatriots continue to suffer, I cannot eat or sleep peacefully."

His affection for the people of the South remained unwavering. Whenever a delegation from the South came, he would invite them to meet him to inquire about the war situation, the lives of the people, and the difficulties and hardships that the soldiers and people of the South had to endure.

During the war against the US, many cadres and soldiers from the South (including many from Hue ) were able to go to the North, meet Uncle Ho, and receive his care and kind inquiries. These touching stories and sacred memories are not only meaningful to each individual but have become a source of warm affection from a father figure to millions of people in the South. This served as a great source of encouragement and motivation for the people and soldiers of the South to overcome difficulties and bravely fight for independence and national reunification.

In 1962, a delegation from the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam visited North Vietnam (including the poet Thanh Hai from Hue), and had the opportunity to visit and present gifts to President Ho Chi Minh at the Presidential Palace. Upon meeting, President Ho Chi Minh was overjoyed and embraced everyone as if they were his own children returning from afar. During this intimate meeting, he placed his hand on his left chest and emotionally said: “I have nothing to give in return, only this: My beloved South Vietnam will always be in my heart.”

During a meeting with a delegation of heroic soldiers from the South visiting the North in 1965, President Ho Chi Minh was deeply moved and said, "I miss you all so much, I miss the people of the South very much." He then showed concern and affection by inquiring about the battlefield and the living conditions of the people there. Upon learning of the sentiments of the people, cadres, and soldiers of the South, who said, "We are not afraid of hardship, we are not afraid of death, but we only fear one thing… not being able to see President Ho Chi Minh again." Upon hearing this, he was moved to tears, his longing for the South unending.

Uncle Ho with young heroes from the South visiting the North on February 13, 1969. Photo: Archival material.

From 1968 onwards, noticing his declining health, Uncle Ho requested that whenever comrades from the South came to the North, they should be informed and invited to meet him. As a result, many cadres and soldiers from the South who came to the North had the opportunity to visit him. Each time they met, he would inquire meticulously about the situation in the South and was very happy when the South achieved great victories.

Every time he met with cadres and soldiers from the South, Uncle Ho always gave each of them a gift, sometimes just a flower or a piece of candy... but all those gifts became sacred mementos for each person.

There are countless stories about Uncle Ho's affection for the South, filled with profound gratitude and devotion. Especially in his final years, his unfulfilled longing to return to the South left him with an unceasing sense of regret.

In 1968, due to declining health, Uncle Ho realized that if he didn't seize the opportunity to visit the South now, he wouldn't have another chance. He repeatedly requested the Politburo to arrange for him to visit the people of the South. On March 10, 1968, he wrote a letter to Comrade Le Duan expressing his wish to visit the South. Because of his health, the Politburo members suggested postponing the trip. So, every day, Uncle Ho focused on improving his health, diligently practicing walking and mountain climbing, hoping to be fit enough to go to the South. When he felt slightly better, he mentioned going to the South again, but to ensure his safety, the Politburo members still did not agree.

The desire to visit the people of the South was always strong in him. Once, Uncle Ho said to Comrade Vu Ky: "There are three ways to get to the South now. First, there's the open route to Cambodia, but this is risky and not necessary yet. Second, we can walk across the Truong Son Mountains; although we've trained, it's still not ideal. Third, there's the sea route." Then Uncle Ho decided: "Prepare for the sea route. You disguise yourself and follow me."

Comrade Vu Ky had to report to the Politburo : "You must report to Uncle Ho that you need to prepare for his visit. If you keep refusing, Uncle Ho will prepare to go alone. Prepare thoroughly, have the engineering corps make the arrangements, so that Uncle Ho will only go to one place in the South, he won't be traveling everywhere. There, representatives of soldiers and people from all over will come to meet Uncle Ho, because Uncle Ho wants to travel to and from places safely."

But that last wish of his was never fulfilled. On August 24, 1969, Uncle Ho suffered a sudden heart attack. He was very tired during those days, but beside his bed, he still kept a map of the South. When comrades monitoring the situation in the South came to visit, he would ask, "Where did the South win today?"

In his final days, when he couldn't eat, Uncle Ho told Comrade Vu Ky: "I want to drink a sip of coconut water, from the coconut tree that the people of the South gave me." Those were the moments when he intensely missed the people of the South.

Amidst the great victories in building socialism and the struggle for the liberation of South Vietnam and the reunification of the country, at 9:47 AM on September 2, 1969, his heart stopped beating, leaving behind immeasurable grief for the entire Vietnamese people and international friends. The most sorrowful days had arrived for the entire nation.

Transforming grief into action, the entire Vietnamese nation was determined to fulfill President Ho Chi Minh's last wish to liberate the South and unify the country. Six years after his passing, on April 30, 1975, the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign achieved complete victory, bringing the nation together as one.

LE HA

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/chinh-polit-xa-hoi/theo-dong-thoi-su/mien-nam-luon-trong-trai-tim-nguoi-153735.html