Kim Lien is a familiar name that every time it is mentioned, people are filled with an indescribable emotion. That place, where the gentle Sen village lies in the middle of the sacred land of Hong Lam, is not only a simple hometown but also the cradle of a great man: President Ho Chi Minh - the beloved Father of the Vietnamese people.
In the middle of the lotus blooming season, on May 19, 1890, a precious lotus was born in the harsh but heroic land of Nghe An. He was born into a patriotic Confucian family, grew up in the days when the country was in dire straits, and soon carried in his heart a burning fire to save the country. From the poor village of Hoang Tru, he stepped out into the ocean, traveled across five continents, and sought a way to liberate the nation with his steadfast feet and wise mind.
May 19 is not only Uncle Ho's birthday, but also the day when the people of the whole country and international friends turn to him with deep respect and gratitude. And like Uncle Ho's simple personality, those birthdays are not for grand celebrations, but to look back and reflect on what he always wanted: to compete in patriotism, to strive to study, to live a decent life and to serve the people.
His life and glorious revolutionary career brought the Vietnamese people a bright light to overcome the darkness of slavery, bringing an era of peace , independence - freedom - happiness for the people, an era of rising up in the new era - the Ho Chi Minh era. Although time has always passed quietly, the love and gratitude of our people for Uncle Ho has never faded, and May 19th remains an important mark in the history and soul of the Vietnamese people.
President Ho Chi Minh was born into a patriotic Confucian family in Hoang Tru village, Kim Lien commune, Nam Dan district, Nghe An province. He was born and raised in a turbulent historical period of the country - the late 19th century, early 20th century when many heroic and indomitable uprisings for independence and national unification failed one after another and faced a profound crisis in policy. From his youth, he traveled to many countries, approached the theories and practices of struggle in many places around the world to seek the right path to save the country, liberate the Vietnamese people from the shackles of slavery, and together with the Party, set out the right strategic lines and tactics to lead and direct our people to carry out the August Revolution, establishing the Democratic Republic of Vietnam; and then successfully waged two resistance wars against French colonialism and American imperialism, completing the people's national democratic revolution, unifying the country, and leading the whole country to transition to socialism.
On May 19, 1946, for the first time, our people celebrated President Ho Chi Minh's birthday. From then on, every year on his birthday, he received thousands of letters and congratulations from the people, cadres in the country and international friends. As the President of the State and the supreme leader of the Party, but every time May 19 - the anniversary of his birthday - came, he always refused complicated ceremonies. He often advised localities and agencies not to organize lavish events because he was afraid of wasting people's time and money while the lives and struggles of our people were still full of difficulties and hardships. He once said: "The most precious gift for me is the reports on patriotic emulation achievements" and that is why, every time his birthday comes, we see the shining simplicity and humility of that great man.
President Ho Chi Minh with the Inter-zone X Children's Art Troupe and the cadet team
to celebrate Uncle Ho's 60th birthday at the Viet Bac resistance base (May 19, 1950) Photo: VNA
President Ho Chi Minh was a true patriot, a wise revolutionary, a genius leader. He devoted his whole life to the cause of national liberation of the Vietnamese people, contributing to the common struggle of nations for peace, independence, democracy and social progress. His life and revolutionary career are closely linked to the glorious history of the Vietnamese nation, and are always a shining example for us to learn and follow. Although he has passed away, the affection of the Vietnamese people and international friends for him remains unchanged. No matter how much time has passed, 50 years, 100 years or more, Uncle Ho's great contributions and sacrifices to bring freedom and happiness to the people will always be engraved in the hearts of the Vietnamese people and friends around the world. Therefore, every year when the lotus season comes in May, the Vietnamese people and international friends still celebrate Uncle Ho's birthday to review together the valuable lessons and engrave the noble deeds of the great leader who devoted his whole life to the history of the country and the world.
Another May 19th has come, in the atmosphere of the whole country celebrating major holidays such as: 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South, reunification of the country; 80th anniversary of National Day. We would like to express our love and infinite gratitude to Uncle Ho - the old father of the Vietnamese people. Today and forever, his name and career will always live forever with our country, existing in the soul of the nation and in the hearts of humanity. Uncle Ho left the Party, the people and the generations of today and tomorrow an extremely precious legacy, which is a shining example of his ideology, morality and lifestyle.
During his lifetime, President Ho Chi Minh was always interested in the cause of preserving and promoting cultural heritage. He had oriented views on preserving and promoting national cultural heritage. Throughout the process of formation and development, the Southern Women's Museum has always strived to preserve and promote the good values of Vietnamese women in general and Southern women in particular, always taking Uncle Ho's advice and actions as a guideline for the museum's career: "Developing the good traditions of national culture and absorbing new things from the world's progressive culture to build a Vietnamese culture with national, scientific and popular characteristics".
During the 40-year journey of formation and development, the museum has always been proud and honored to preserve many relics associated with Uncle Ho. On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Southern Women's Museum (April 29, 1985 - April 29, 2025), the Southern Women's Museum exhibited the theme "40-year journey - stories from artifacts", in which the museum displayed a number of artifacts associated with Uncle Ho. Among them, "Uncle Ho's gold coin" was given to Ms. Nguyen Thi Thap in 1948 to cover expenses for a business trip abroad. Because of her respect and boundless love for Uncle Ho, she did not use this coin but kept it with her until the last days of her life, then donated it to the Southern Women's Museum for preservation.
The gold coin that Uncle Ho gave to Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thap in 1948 is on display at the Southern Women's Museum. Photo: Documents of the Southern Women's Museum
This is not only a precious artifact, but also a living proof of Uncle Ho's affection and trust in revolutionary soldiers and loyal women. It is these artifacts that help the next generation to contemplate and understand more deeply about a great and close person.
Today, in the midst of the glorious May days, amidst the fragrant lotus scent throughout the mountains and rivers, millions of Vietnamese hearts beat together: remembering Uncle Ho - the man who devoted his entire life to the Fatherland and the people. Each blooming lotus is a stick of incense offered to him. Each story about Uncle Ho is a spiritual flower forming an immortal wreath in the hearts of the nation.
And we, today's generation, vow to follow Uncle Ho's example, living with ideals, responsibility, and aspirations to rise up. To bring Vietnam to sustainable development, standing shoulder to shoulder with the five continents as Uncle Ho always wished.
And every May, when the lotus blooms, people remind each other:
“Remembering Uncle Ho – remembering a lotus blooming season years ago… fragrant between the earth and sky and in each of our hearts.”
| Ho Chi Minh City, May 14, 2025 Vo Cu Department of Communications, Education and International Relations |
- References:
- Trinh Quang Phu (2020) From Sen village to Nha Rong wharf , Thanh Nien Publishing House
- Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission: Outline of propaganda to celebrate the 135th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birthday (May 19, 1890 - May 19, 2025)
Source: https://baotangphunu.com/nho-mua-sen-no-ky-niem-135-nam-ngay-sinh-chu-cich-ho-chi-minh-19-5-1890-19-5-2025/
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