Visiting Uncle Ho's hometown during the lotus blooming season.

In May, the early summer sun bathes the embankments of Nghe An province in golden light, and it is also the time when the lotus ponds in Kim Lien, President Ho Chi Minh's hometown, spread their fragrant scent throughout the villages of Nam Dan.

Báo Tuổi Trẻ•19/05/2026

The Lotus Village Festival expresses the people's gratitude to President Ho Chi Minh.

The road leading to President Ho Chi Minh's birthplace was bustling with activity during the 2026 Lang Sen Festival, commemorating the 136th anniversary of his birth (May 19, 1890 - May 19, 2026). People from all over the country flocked here, filled with profound emotion.

A journey of devotion

Beneath the shade of green bamboo, groups of veterans, students, and young families bring their children back to Uncle Ho's hometown… After a few early summer rains, the weather in Nghe An is milder. The scent of lotus flowers from the lakes around the village creates a feeling that is both familiar and sacred, difficult to describe.

Beside the simple thatched house in Hoang Tru village, President Ho Chi Minh's maternal hometown, Ms. Nguyen Bao My Duyen (from Dong Nai province) stood silently for a long time in front of the old loom that President Ho Chi Minh's mother, Mrs. Hoang Thi Loan, used to weave cloth.

Having moved south from Nghe An province with her family at a young age, this was the first time she had returned to President Ho Chi Minh's hometown during the historic month of May. Listening to the narrator's warm voice recounting the childhood of young Nguyen Sinh Cung, accompanied by his mother's lullabies and the sound of the loom weaving late into the night, Ms. Duyen quietly wiped away her tears.

"Before, I only knew about Uncle Ho's hometown through books and newspapers, but seeing this small thatched house with my own eyes, I truly felt the simplicity and greatness of the man. Everything is as ordinary as any Vietnamese village, yet it was from this place that Uncle Ho set out to find a way to save the country," she said emotionally.

Some are visiting for the first time, while others have returned many times, but each trip is filled with unique emotions. Amidst the crowds on the bamboo-shaded road, a group of Thai ethnic people from Son La province came to visit President Ho Chi Minh's birthplace. Mrs. Vi Thi Nuc, 70 years old, listened silently to stories of his life and then emotionally shared: "We are grateful to President Ho Chi Minh. All our lives we only wished to visit his birthplace once, and now we have finally been able to."

Footsteps from all corners of the country continue to silently stretch along the peaceful country road. Some linger for a long time before the old hammock, others stand silently by the time-worn Coc well, and some students attentively take notes as the tour guide recounts the stories. For many, visiting Uncle Ho's birthplace is not just a sightseeing trip, but a journey back to their historical roots.

Ms. Pham Thi Huyen, a teacher at Hung Loc Primary School (Nghe An province), who led her students to President Ho Chi Minh's birthplace on this occasion, shared: "History lessons become more relatable when the children can see the real-life setting of the past with their own eyes, and it will remain in their memories for a long time."

From all corners of the country, streams of people flocked to President Ho Chi Minh's birthplace, filled with profound emotion.

Those who silently preserve the spirit of Uncle Ho's homeland.

On average, this place welcomes over two million domestic and international visitors each year, yet it retains its inherent solemnity and tranquility. From the clean pathways and lush green trees to each thatched roof, everything is carefully maintained every day.

Having worked as a tour guide here for 30 years, Ms. Phung Thi Huong Giang still speaks about President Ho Chi Minh with the same pride as the first day. "Some groups of visitors silently shed tears when they enter President Ho Chi Minh's small house. Some stand for a long time before each simple memento of his family. Those moments make us even more deeply understand the meaning of our work. For me, each workday begins not only with the responsibility of a heritage officer, but also with a feeling of familiarity, like returning to my own home," she shared.

To become a "bridge" between the historical site and tourists, the tour guides must not only know every historical detail but also be able to convey it with the most genuine emotion. Currently, among the 17 tour guides at the historical site, five provide explanations in English and eight in Lao to serve international tour groups.

Mr. Nguyen Bao Tuan, Director of the Kim Lien National Special Historical Site, said that training and improving professional skills, foreign languages, and communication skills are always given special attention by the unit so that every visitor to President Ho Chi Minh's birthplace has a complete experience. "The most important thing is not just telling the historical story correctly, but also touching the hearts of the listeners," he said.

Beyond simply providing explanations, the staff here quietly safeguard each artifact through the rain and sun of Central Vietnam. The thatched roofs are inspected regularly, and every wooden pillar and household item is carefully preserved to prevent deterioration.

During stormy nights, the staff at the historical site stay awake almost all night to protect and safeguard the historical artifacts. For them, it's not simply a job, but a responsibility to preserve the invaluable spiritual heritage of the nation.

Ms. Tran Thi My Hanh, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Nghe An province, said that Nghe An province has always considered the preservation, restoration and promotion of the value of the Kim Lien National Special Historical Site as a particularly important political task.

The province has issued numerous policies, projects, and investment programs aimed at developing Kim Lien commune in the direction of cultural development linked with tourism, in which the Kim Lien National Special Historical Site is identified as the central core, a significant historical, cultural, political, and spiritual landmark.

"In addition to focusing on preserving the original state of the relics, we also prioritize expanding the Ho Chi Minh Cultural Space, investing in transportation infrastructure, landscaping, and facilities to serve tourism and connect destinations," Ms. Hanh said.

Students were moved as they listened to a presentation about President Ho Chi Minh's childhood at the Kim Lien National Historical Site - Photo: DOAN HOA

Kim Lien is changing every day.

Leaving the historical site, many visitors were delighted by the daily changes in their hometown of Kim Lien. Wide, bright, clean, and beautiful concrete roads lined with flowers and green trees run through peaceful villages. Houses are more spacious; schools, cultural centers, and health stations have received comprehensive investment.

Mr. Phan Van Canh, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Kim Lien commune, happily shared that President Ho Chi Minh's hometown is undergoing a strong transformation in socio-economic development and building a model new rural area, fulfilling President Ho Chi Minh's wishes. Large model fields covering more than 300 hectares each season yield high productivity, reaching approximately 69 quintals/hectare. Average per capita income is projected to reach 72 million VND by 2025. The poverty rate has decreased to only 0.32%.

"The recognition of Kim Lien Historical Site as a National Tourist Area opens up great opportunities for Kim Lien to continue developing sustainable tourism, attracting investment, enhancing the brand of Nghe An tourism, and spreading the image of our homeland to friends at home and abroad," Mr. Canh said.

This transformation is not only reflected in growth figures or new constructions, but also in the spiritual life of the people. The melodies of folk songs still resonate during festivals, and the lotus ponds still fill the air with fragrance every May in President Ho Chi Minh's hometown.

To celebrate the 136th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birth (May 19, 1890 - May 19, 2026), Nghe An province is organizing many activities from May 18 to 30, such as a flower and incense offering ceremony at the Ho Chi Minh Memorial House in the Kim Lien historical site and Chung Son Temple, and a procession of President Ho Chi Minh's portrait...

Opening Ceremony of the 2026 Lotus Village Festival, celebrating the 136th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birth (May 19, 1890 - May 19, 2026) and announcing the decision to designate the Kim Lien Historical Site as a National Tourist Area; the thematic exhibition "Commemorating 115 years since Uncle Ho left to find a way to save the country"...

On May 13th, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued a decision recognizing Kim Lien National Tourist Area in Nghe An province, covering an area of 10,500 hectares. This is not only an important milestone for Nghe An tourism but also affirms the special value of President Ho Chi Minh's hometown on the Vietnamese tourism map.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/ve-que-bac-mua-sen-no-20260519091641966.htm#content-1