Visit the house where Uncle Ho wrote the Declaration of Independence

House 48 Hang Ngang is on the left, near the middle of Hang Ngang street, formerly in Dien Hung ward, Huu Tuc commune. Later changed to Dong Tho commune, Tho Xuong district, now the house belongs to Hang Dao ward, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi city. The house used to be a silk and fabric store of Phuc Loi brand, located in the middle of the bustling commercial center of old Hanoi. The owner of the house was Mr. and Mrs. Trinh Phuc Loi. In the early 20th century, Mr. and Mrs. Loi gave the house to their eldest son and his wife, Mr. Trinh Van Bo and Mrs. Hoang Thi Minh Ho, to manage and use. The house was renovated and restored by Mr. and Mrs. Bo in the modern architectural style of the French colonial period.

According to documents from the Ho Chi Minh Museum, before the August Revolution in 1945, comrade Khuat Duy Tien contacted and enlightened Mr. Trinh Van Bo about the revolution. Not long after, Mr. Bo's entire family joined the Viet Minh Front, using their house as a reliable revolutionary base right in the heart of Hanoi. In particular, the house is located on Hang Ngang Street, with a solid high-rise structure and a solid iron door system, very convenient for security work.

The house has two entrances: the main gate at 48 Hang Ngang and the back gate at 35 Hang Can. With the advantage of being a high-rise building, from the second and third floors, one can observe the entire surrounding area. Moreover, from here one can easily move to the roof of the house next door without having to go down the street, making it easier to retreat in case of an unexpected situation. Thanks to its prime location, along with the hustle and bustle of customers coming and going from the large store on the first floor, the house at 48 Hang Ngang became a safe place for Uncle Ho and the Central Party leaders to stay and work.

**Young people listen to the explanation about the relic house at 48 Hang Ngang.**

After that, the Central Party Standing Committee decided to choose house number 48 Hang Ngang as the place where President Ho Chi Minh lived and worked from August 25 to September 2, 1945. This was where an important meeting took place to establish the Provisional Government , marking a major turning point in the process of gaining national independence. At the same time, this was also the first place President Ho Chi Minh stopped when returning to Hanoi, where he made historic decisions, guiding the future of the country.

Initially, Mr. Trinh Van Bo and his wife invited Uncle Ho to the third floor to work in a quiet space. However, Uncle Ho did not want to be alone so he only stayed there for two nights. After that, the Central Committee members arranged for Uncle Ho to stay in a small room on the second floor, which was connected to the living room. This room was simply furnished with a round table, an armchair with a white cloth backrest and a long chair. It was here, taking advantage of every moment, that Uncle Ho wrote the Declaration of Independence.

With this historical significance, house number 48 Hang Ngang was ranked as a National Historical and Cultural Relic by the Ministry of Culture and Information (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) in April 1979 and became one of the typical relics of President Ho Chi Minh nationwide.

Nearly eight decades have passed, but the house still retains its ancient architecture, as a historical witness. The first floor area is currently displaying many documents and images about Uncle Ho's life and activities, along with artifacts such as: khaki clothes, rattan suitcase, documentary photos and objects of Uncle Ho and revolutionary veterans.

The second floor remains intact as it was before, where Uncle Ho and the Central Committee once worked. In the middle of the room is a rectangular, brown table with eight armchairs arranged on either side, and a large chair at the head of the table. Here, Uncle Ho and his comrades approved three important contents: the Declaration of Independence, the plan to organize the National Day celebration, and the determination of the composition of the provisional government. The other room on the second floor is where Uncle Ho drafted the Declaration of Independence and read it at the historic Ba Dinh Square, giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (September 2, 1945). In the room, there is also a small cabinet and Uncle Ho's bed.

According to some documents, after completing the Declaration, Uncle Ho held a meeting with his comrades to approve the content before officially announcing it to the people. He said: "This is the happiest moment of my life. I have written a lot, but writing the Declaration of Independence is the moment when I am happiest...". On the third floor of the house is currently the traditional exhibition area and the place to offer incense to commemorate Uncle Ho.

On the occasion of the 135th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birthday (May 19, 1890 - May 19, 2025), these days, the 48 Hang Ngang relic site has attracted a large number of people and tourists to visit, especially young people who come to learn about historical relics. Visiting the house for the first time, Nguyen Khanh Van, a first-year student at the Vietnam Youth Academy, shared: On the occasion of Uncle Ho's birthday, our class organized a tour to visit "red addresses" in Hanoi. When coming here, seeing the artifacts and feeling the space where Uncle Ho lived and worked evoked many emotions in me, helping me understand and love our Uncle Ho more.

Time has passed, but house number 48 Hang Ngang will still be a "red address" marking sacred history, preserving many relics of President Ho Chi Minh on Independence Day, to help generations understand more about the heroic history written by our ancestors for the Vietnamese people.

Gia Vinh

Source: https://baohanam.com.vn/xa-hoi/tham-can-nha-bac-ho-viet-tuyen-ngon-doc-lap-163870.html

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