The green leaves are engraved with images of President Ho Chi Minh.

Nguyen Huan Thanh was born and raised in Linh Ho commune, Tuyen Quang province, and is currently a final-year student at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy (Thai Nguyen University). Known by his teachers and friends as a diligent and determined student, Thanh is also admired by many young people for his passion in depicting images of President Ho Chi Minh on delicate, simple leaves.

The image of President Ho Chi Minh will forever endure in the hearts of the Vietnamese people and in every form of art.

Remembering Uncle Ho's teachings

What makes Nguyen Huan Thanh special in the eyes of his teachers, friends, and everyone he's met is a unique and beautiful passion: depicting images of President Ho Chi Minh on leaves. For the Vietnamese people, "He is our father, our uncle, our brother/A great heart filtering a hundred small streams of blood," but for Thanh, President Ho Chi Minh is not only the great leader of the nation, but also a symbol of simplicity, patriotism, and extraordinary willpower.

From a young age, Thanh was always impressed by stories about President Ho Chi Minh – a man who lived a simple, down-to-earth life, close to the people, yet possessed the stature of a world- renowned figure. From the stories in the book "Green Lotus Bud" published by Kim Dong Publishing House to articles about President Ho Chi Minh in the Youth Pioneer Newspaper, Thanh memorized them all. Upon entering the lecture halls of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Thanh further internalized President Ho Chi Minh's teaching: "A good doctor is like a loving mother."

Thanh knew that he, along with generations of medical students, must always uphold the noble qualities of a physician: talent, medical ethics, and compassion, loving and caring for patients as if they were his own siblings, considering their pain as his own. This teaching became a guiding principle for Huân Thanh throughout his time as a student and even afterward.

It was this profound admiration that prompted Thanh to find a truly unique way to express her feelings and gratitude towards Uncle Ho. And Thanh chose simple, everyday leaves as the material to depict his portrait.

Thanh explained simply: Leaves are a symbol of life, of vast nature, and Uncle Ho is a symbol of patriotism, of a great personality. I want to use the life of nature to preserve the immortal image of Him.

Mr. Nguyen Huan Thanh meticulously carved and engraved images of President Ho Chi Minh onto leaves.

Without a studio or a vibrant palette, Thanh chooses familiar corners of cafes with green leaves to express her passion for art and her gratitude to Uncle Ho. Each carving, each stroke is meticulously crafted by hand with unwavering concentration and boundless reverence. Uncle Ho's gentle wrinkles and distant yet warm gaze gradually emerge through each leaf – fragile yet enduring.

For Thanh, it's not simply art; it's a sacred journey to preserve memories and inspire the younger generation to live beautiful, idealistic lives.

Live to contribute.

Thanh's artwork depicting President Ho Chi Minh on leaves was initially a quiet passion, created during her free time. However, when she shared some of her work on her personal Facebook and TikTok pages, it unexpectedly garnered attention and admiration from friends and the online community. Many were deeply moved by the meticulousness, skill, and especially the profound emotion Thanh conveyed in each stroke of her artwork.

From then on, the image of the student with his unique passion – carving portraits of President Ho Chi Minh on leaves – began to spread widely, becoming a beautiful source of inspiration for many young people. Many were surprised to learn that a busy medical student could dedicate hours to completing a single leaf-carving artwork.

Many young people are fascinated by Huân Thanh's art of carving images of President Ho Chi Minh onto leaves.

While admiring the delicate leaves meticulously carved with images of President Ho Chi Minh, Le Tham from Cau Giay District, Hanoi, couldn't hide her emotion: "I'm truly surprised. Every detail is so exquisite, capturing the essence of President Ho Chi Minh. Looking at the artwork, I feel not only the talent but also the deep respect and love for President Ho Chi Minh from young people like Thanh."

Just like Tham, Cao Hang, from residential group 41, Phan Dinh Phung ward, shared her thoughts upon holding the leaves bearing the image of President Ho Chi Minh: "This artwork is not only a unique piece of art, but also a way to express gratitude and respect for the beloved leader of our nation. A small leaf, yet it contains the dedication and profound gratitude of the younger generation. This is not just art, but a very special way to preserve the image of President Ho Chi Minh in everyone's hearts."

Each leaf – a work of art by Thanh, however small, carries a profound message about love for the homeland and deep gratitude. By depicting President Ho Chi Minh on leaves, Thanh's quiet yet inspiring journey makes us understand that youth is not just about soaring dreams, but also about the responsibility to live with ideals, to contribute, and to spread positive values.

The leaf and the image of Uncle Ho on it, depicted by Thanh, reminded me of the simple yet profound verses of poet Nguyen Si Dai: "Some mend the sky and fill the seas / Others build ramparts and fortresses / We are merely leaves / Our job is to be green." Life is a multicolored painting, and each person can choose their own way of life and goals. Let's live like leaves, though fragile, still retaining their green color. And let's engrave kindness into our lives, just as Nguyen Huan Thanh is quietly telling a beautiful story amidst everyday life.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/van-hoa/202509/nhung-chiec-la-xanh-khac-anh-bac-ho-4386c73/