Mrs. Phan Mai Phuong (79 years old), a retired official from the Ministry of Industry and Trade , currently residing on Hang Bac Street (Hanoi), daughter of Colonel Phan Phac (1915 - 2009), acting Deputy Chief of Staff of the Vietnam People's Army during the resistance war against France, recounted to us her memory of having the honor of meeting President Ho Chi Minh.
Special mission
"I remember on the last day of school in December 1958, Ms. Thang - our homeroom teacher of class 4G at Nguyen Du Primary School (now Trung Vuong Primary School - Ly Thai To Street, Hanoi ) - called me aside and instructed me: 'Tomorrow morning at exactly 6 o'clock, dress nicely and be at the Children's Garden (now the Children's Palace) for a special mission.'"
When I asked what the assignment was, the teacher said it was a secret. Obeying the teacher, I arrived on time and saw three other students, two boys and one girl, who had also just arrived. At that time, we were both shy and naive (not as outgoing as fourth-grade students are now), and we didn't know how to communicate, exchange ideas, chat, or ask each other's names and addresses (which is why I still regret not knowing what became of them later on...), Mrs. Mai Phuong recalled.
Ms. Phan Mai Phuong
PHOTO: KHAI MONG
In Ms. Mai Phuong's memory, those four students included: a female student from Luong Ngoc Quyen School (Hanoi), representing the Chinese-Vietnamese children; and a male student (perhaps from a school for Southern Vietnamese students in Hai Phong ), representing the Southern Vietnamese children.
The second male student represents the children of the North. Representing the children of the whole country, student Phan Mai Phuong was guided by the instructors to deliver New Year greetings to President Ho Chi Minh...
"When our delegation arrived at the Presidential Palace, we saw President Ho Chi Minh, President Ton Duc Thang, and all the leaders of the Party and State," Ms. Phan Mai Phuong continued. "We were overjoyed and so moved that we trembled. The New Year's celebration began. The four of us stood in a row with President Ho Chi Minh in the middle, while the leaders lined up in two rows on either side."
At this point, Ms. Phan Mai Phuong showed us a faded copy of the Nhan Dan newspaper from January 2, 1959, which, after more than 65 years, featured a photograph on the front page. In the photo, Phan Mai Phuong, a student in class 4G, was standing even shorter than the microphone.
"I don't remember how I wished Uncle Ho and the leaders of the Party and Government a Happy New Year, but I vividly remember Uncle Ho reminding Uncle Ton (who was then the Vice President) when Uncle Ton was speaking and reached the part about '...we are implementing the plan...'; at that point, Uncle Ton hesitated slightly, and Uncle Ho immediately reminded him, 'the first five-year plan.' Hearing Uncle Ho say that, I was very moved because I never expected the President to remind the Vice President in such a warm and simple way," Ms. Mai Phuong said.
All four students were seated next to Uncle Ho. Uncle Ho sat in the middle; the Chinese-Vietnamese girl ran to sit next to him first. Understanding the situation, the four students sat alternately, male and female, close to Uncle Ho. Phan Mai Phuong sat on the outside, separated from Uncle Ho by a male student on his left.
"When we left, Uncle Ho gave each of us two candies. I will always remember his words of advice, but I was too stingy to eat them, so I held them tightly in my hand until they melted by the time we got home. I then gave one to each of my two younger brothers (Phan Bao Khanh and Phan Tuan Khoi) as a gift from Uncle Ho - they were very precious," Mrs. Phan Mai Phuong said emotionally.
Ms. Phan Mai Phuong (far right) wishes President Ho Chi Minh a Happy New Year on January 1, 1959.
PHOTO: KHAI MONG
Later, Ms. Mai Phuong had many more opportunities to meet President Ho Chi Minh. These were occasions when high-ranking leaders from other countries visited Vietnam, and she was always chosen to be part of the Hanoi children's delegation that laid flowers, so she had the chance to meet President Ho Chi Minh on each occasion.
This honor motivated the schoolgirl from Hang Bac Street to study and train even harder to be worthy of being Uncle Ho's good grandchild. As a result, Phan Mai Phuong was an excellent student at the city level in all three levels of education: primary, secondary, and high school, and was recognized as a "Good Grandchild of Uncle Ho." At the 3rd Party Congress, she was also selected to be part of the children's delegation that came to greet and lay flowers at the Presidium.
We must learn throughout our lives.
After graduating from university, Ms. Phan Mai Phuong went to work at the Ministry of Foreign Trade (now the Ministry of Industry and Trade). By chance, she had the opportunity to participate in the construction of the Ho Chi Minh Museum.
When the building was inaugurated on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birth (1990), the Steering Committee for the construction of the Ho Chi Minh Museum presented her with his badge and a Certificate of Recognition: "A person who contributed to the construction of the Ho Chi Minh Museum".
"I remember when my mother passed away (in January 1988) in Ho Chi Minh City," Ms. Mai Phuong recounted, "after the funeral, I returned to Hanoi and was deeply moved because, for some reason, the leaders of the Ho Chi Minh Museum also knew about it and brought incense, flowers, and fruits from Uncle Ho's garden to offer to my mother's spirit..."
In 2003, after retiring, Ms. Phan Mai Phuong participated in activities at the Hang Bac 1 residential group and Party branch, later the Party branch of residential group No. 1 under the Hang Bac ward Party committee (now Hoan Kiem ward).
Even after retirement, she continues to live her daily life with her neighbors and the community with genuine affection and love. Despite her advanced age and declining health, she still participates in activities at the ward Party committee and the residential group.
Ms. Phan Mai Phuong shared: "From the bottom of my heart, I have always vowed to follow Uncle Ho's teachings, to follow his guiding light, and to always put the interests of the nation and the collective above all else. Therefore, I understand that 'Studying and following the thoughts, ethics, and style of Ho Chi Minh' is a lifelong endeavor."
I was fortunate from my childhood to live in the cradle of the revolution in the Viet Bac War Zone, to eat soldiers' meals, and to be educated in discipline, loyalty, honesty, exemplary conduct, camaraderie, obedience to Uncle Ho, and trust in the Party through the lifestyle and activities of the soldiers. This has seeped into me naturally, like breathing fresh air...
Ms. Phan Mai Phuong
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nhung-ky-niem-ve-bac-ho-khong-phai-mo-185260517183930307.htm
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