COLLECTION AND DOCUMENTATION ROOM 55 YEARS OF COLLECTING EVERY MEMORIES, KEEPING EVERY OLD MARK

The Collection and Documentation Department, formerly the Collection Department and the Documentation and Library Department, was merged under Decision No. 2372/QD-BVHTTDL dated July 4, 2025 of the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, marking a necessary transition to continue carrying out professional tasks in the new period. Right from the early days of the establishment of the Ho Chi Minh Museum in 1970, collection and documentation and library work were identified as core tasks, playing an important role in collecting and preserving documents and artifacts associated with the life and career of President Ho Chi Minh.

In the early period (1970-1990), the collection work focused on statistics, cataloging, planning and organizing the reception of all artifacts belonging to the residence and workplace of President Ho Chi Minh at the Presidential Palace, at the same time organizing collection campaigns in localities across the country and a number of archives abroad to create the foundation for building the Museum's Base Warehouse. Since the Museum was officially inaugurated, the collection work has been oriented towards collecting, receiving, classifying and verifying documents and artifacts related to President Ho Chi Minh to supplement the Base Warehouse and serve the editing and enhancement of the Permanent Exhibition as well as exhibitions at home and abroad and serve the research work on President Ho Chi Minh.

Dr. Vu Manh Ha, Director of Ho Chi Minh Museum, received the documentary "The Development Path". Photo: BTHCM

Dr. Pham Thi Thanh Mai, Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh Museum received. Photo: BTHCM

Staff of the Collection and Documentation Department serving readers. Photo: BTHCM

The workshop “Dien Bien Phu Victory - The heroic epic of the Ho Chi Minh era” was organized by the Ho Chi Minh Museum in collaboration with the Vietnam Military History Museum, Hanoi, May 14, 2024. Photo: BTHCM

Publications about President Ho Chi Minh compiled by the Collection and Documentation Department. Photo: BTHCM

In addition, the Archives and Library currently store and preserve a large and diverse volume of documents including: works, books, newspapers, letters, telegrams, secret documents, decrees, etc. related to the life and revolutionary career of President Ho Chi Minh. Along with serving the research, exhibition, propaganda and education work of the Ho Chi Minh Museum, the documentation work and library also serve readers inside and outside the agency to research documents, books, and newspapers about Him; Organize the publication of publications, the Museum's Documentary Information Special Edition and publish documents about President Ho Chi Minh; Organize and coordinate the organization of seminars and scientific conferences with museums, agencies, units... Those activities have contributed to supporting the research, ideological education and propaganda work about the life and career of President Ho Chi Minh.

Featured Activities

In recent years, in addition to persuading and encouraging individuals and organizations to donate documents and artifacts about President Ho Chi Minh, the Ho Chi Minh Museum has implemented the method of purchasing artifacts, thanks to which it has collected many precious and valuable artifacts such as: Oil painting Portrait of President Ho Chi Minh by Bulgarian artist Petrov; Oil painting "Hand of Fatherland" by artist Van Giao;...

Handover ceremony of two paintings “Nguon Coc Bo” by artist Tran Van Can and “Nguyen Tieu Night” by artist Nguyen Thu, Hanoi, December 7, 2022. Photo: BTHCM

Along with the collection and documentation work, the library has also made many marks in propagating and promoting the value of Ho Chi Minh's heritage through the regular publication of Special Issues of Information and Documents and more than 60 publications about President Ho Chi Minh. The books meticulously and elaborately compiled by the Ho Chi Minh Museum have become a reliable source of documents for readers at home and abroad. Some publications have been translated into many languages, typically: Ho Chi Minh - Biography translated into four languages: English, French, Russian, Chinese. In particular, the Vietnamese version of this book has appeared in the bookcases of wards, communes, towns... to widely disseminate to the masses; Journey in Uncle Ho's footsteps (1911-1941)... Notably, in 2025, the publication Each relic, a story compiled by the Collection and Documentation Department of Ho Chi Minh Museum was honored to receive the Excellent Promotion Award in the Contest for composing and promoting literary, artistic and journalistic works on the theme "Studying and following Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and style" phase II, period 2021-2025 organized by the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Committee;... In parallel with publishing traditional printed publications, the Ho Chi Minh Museum has proactively innovated transmission methods, applied digital technology, coordinated with the National Political Publishing House Truth to bring publications to the digital platform in the form of an Electronic Bookcase, contributing to modernizing the form of communication, expanding access and spreading more deeply the values of Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and style to the public.

The book “Ho Chi Minh - Biography” has been translated into many languages. Photo: BTHCM

The book “Each keepsake, a story” - a publication that received the Outstanding Promotion Award from the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Committee, 2025. Photo: BTHCM

The book series “Ho Chi Minh Style” is published in the e-bookcase of the National Political Publishing House Truth. Photo: BTHCM

Current officials of the Collection and Documentation Department. Photo: BTHCM

Over the past 55 years, the staff of the Collection and Documentation Department, those who are dedicated to "collecting memories" and promoting Ho Chi Minh's heritage, have always been enthusiastic about their profession with a heart full of love and infinite gratitude to President Ho Chi Minh. They have truly been an indispensable part contributing to the overall development of the Ho Chi Minh Museum.

BBT

Source: https://baotanghochiminh.vn/phong-suu-tam-tu-lieu-55-nam-gom-tung-ky-uc-giu-tung-dau-xua.htm