Ceremony for handing over the burial attire of President Ho Chi Minh.

Attending the handover ceremony were: Major General Bui Hai Son, Acting Head of the Management Board of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum - Commander of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Protection Command; Major General Dinh Quoc Hung, Political Commissar of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Protection Command; Major General Nguyen Van Cuong, Deputy Political Commissar of the General Department of Logistics; representatives of leaders and commanders of agencies under the General Department of Logistics, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Protection Command; representatives of leaders and commanders of X20 Joint Stock Company…

Reporting at the handover ceremony, Colonel Hoang Sy Tam, General Director of X20 Joint Stock Company and Head of the Costume Sewing Steering Committee, stated that during President Ho Chi Minh's lifetime, the company had been commissioned by the Presidential Palace to sew costumes for him on numerous occasions. In early September 1969, sharing the immense loss and grief over President Ho Chi Minh's passing, the X20 workers were assigned the crucial task by the head of the General Department of Logistics: to sew the suit for him to wear at the time of his death, as well as all the military and personal belongings for the funeral ceremony. In their boundless sorrow, the X20 workers, their tears mingling with the sound of their machines, toiled day and night to successfully complete the task and deliver the finished products to the funeral organizing committee on time.

In 1975, the X10 Garment Factory (now Garment Company 10) was the first to sew the burial garments for President Ho Chi Minh's body to be used in the memorial ceremony. Since then, the X20 Joint Stock Company has had the honor of being the only unit entrusted by the Command of the Guard of President Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, and by superiors at all levels, with this extremely sacred and noble task.

In February 2023, the Command of the Guard of President Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum sent a document requesting X20 Joint Stock Company to continue sewing the clothing for President Ho Chi Minh's remains. Upon receiving the request, the company's leadership decided to establish a special task force comprised of experienced individuals, selecting those with exceptional skills and the best moral character and abilities to participate in this sacred mission.

During the execution of the task, X20 Joint Stock Company applied the research results and improved processes that the unit had collaborated with Institute 69 (Command of the Guard of President Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum) over the past period, especially in 2018, to ensure that the product achieved the highest aesthetic value and minimized the impact on President Ho Chi Minh's remains during the process of dressing him in the costume.

After a period of diligent work, with the highest sense of responsibility and determination, on the occasion of the 133rd anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birthday and the 54th anniversary of the implementation of his Last Will and Testament , X20 Joint Stock Company is honored to hand over the costumes of President Ho Chi Minh that the unit has just completed with the utmost care, meticulous attention to detail in every stitch, ensuring absolute specifications and the best quality.

In a solemn and emotional atmosphere, on behalf of the staff and employees of X20 Joint Stock Company, Colonel Hoang Sy Tam expressed: With boundless love and respect, and with our feelings and responsibility towards President Ho Chi Minh, through the Command of the Guard of President Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, X20 Joint Stock Company respectfully offers to Him the most beautiful costumes, imbued with the full affection and respect of the company's staff and employees. The entire staff and employees of X20 Joint Stock Company pledge to always be ready to perform the task of tailoring costumes for President Ho Chi Minh to the best of our ability under any conditions, hoping to contribute a small part to the long-term preservation of President Ho Chi Minh's remains and to serve visitors.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, Major General Bui Hai Son expressed his sincere gratitude for the attention, coordination, and effective implementation by the leaders and commanders of the General Department of Logistics, and directly the leaders and commanders of X20 Joint Stock Company. The leaders of the Command of the Guard of President Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum affirmed that they will use the uniforms meticulously and effectively; and expressed their hope that in the future, both sides will continue to cooperate even more effectively in carrying out this special and sacred task entrusted by their superiors.

Following the handover ceremony, the delegates visited the showroom, which displayed and introduced the garment products of X20 Joint Stock Company from the past to the present, including the outfits worn by President Ho Chi Minh.

Text and photos: VAN CHIEN

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