The village elder had the opportunity to meet President Ho Chi Minh twice.

More than 60 years have passed since the honor of meeting President Ho Chi Minh, and the young Pa Ko student has become a towering figure in the A Rong Duoi village, sheltering and guiding a younger generation who are dedicating their lives to the borderlands of the Fatherland.

"THE GIANT TREE" OF THE AR VERSION BELOW

In late March, we embarked on a nearly 200-kilometer journey along the Ho Chi Minh Highway, heading towards La Lay border commune (Quang Tri province). This trip, with dozens of youth union members participating in the 2026 Border March program, brought gifts and shared activities to the Pa Ko people in this border region of the country, while also expressing gratitude to the border guards who are tirelessly maintaining peace on the front lines.

During that meaningful journey, we had the opportunity to meet Elder Ho Lo (76 years old, residing in A Rong Duoi village, La Lay commune) - a steadfast figure for the ethnic minority people in the border region.

Old Man Lo's wooden house nestled against the mountainside. Inside, it was quite dark, but as soon as we stepped in, our eyes were immediately drawn to the row of certificates hanging along the rafters—certificates faded with time, yet still gleaming with pride.

The village elder of Ho Lo still vividly remembers the day he met President Ho Chi Minh.

PHOTO: BA CUONG

"This year, Dad (a way of addressing someone in the Pa Kô language - PV ) is 76 years old, and he's been retired for quite a while now. Throughout his life, Dad has always wanted to contribute to the Party and the State... I hope you all will always have the same spirit and determination," old man Lô said with a smile.

Recounting his life story slowly, old man Lo said he had held many positions in the locality, from head of the commune's police, then chairman of the commune's People's Committee, secretary of the commune's Party Committee... After retiring in 2010, he continued to participate in the work of the elderly association and is now the village elder and a respected figure in A Rong Duoi village.

In 2021, he received a letter of commendation from the General Secretary and President To Lam (then Minister of Public Security ) for donating 1,300 square meters of land and a temporary house on it to build the former A Ngo Commune Police headquarters. "I feel very honored, even though I'm old and retired, I still have to maintain my responsibility to my homeland and my country," Mr. Lo shared.

Locals still speak of Elder Lo with respect, because he voluntarily donated land five times, totaling over 10,000 m², for the construction of many important projects such as the commune's People's Committee headquarters, the provincial border guard's mobile unit, inter-village roads, A Ngo Secondary School, and the commune's police station.

According to old man Lo, those actions stemmed from a very special motivation, a memory that he has never forgotten for over 60 years.

I had the honor of meeting Uncle Ho twice .

The source of motivation that old man Lo mentioned was the opportunity to meet President Ho Chi Minh, and not just once, but twice in just two years.

More than 60 years have passed, but whenever he recalls it, old man Lo's voice still trembles with emotion. Back then, young Lo was a diligent and excellent student from the Pa Ko ethnic group. Thanks to his academic achievements, he was selected as one of the outstanding students to meet President Ho Chi Minh.

"The first time I met Uncle Ho was in November 1963, when he visited our school. We were sitting in the auditorium, only able to see him from afar. Everyone was excited; some students even banged on the table to get his attention. The feeling at that time was one of great honor and pride. I still remember vividly him asking us if we were doing well in school, if we were well-behaved, and if we had enough to eat," the village elder of Lo choked up.

The story told by the village elder Lo brought a sudden silence to the small house. Everyone in the group listened attentively, and perhaps everyone was trying to imagine and picture in their minds the image of Uncle Ho through his story.

"In May 1964, I had the honor of being part of a delegation of outstanding and well-behaved students who went to Hanoi to visit Uncle Ho. There, I had the opportunity to get closer to him. More than 60 years have passed, but I still vividly remember those memories," said old man Lo with pride.

The two encounters with President Ho Chi Minh are memories that have stayed with Elder Lo throughout his life. It's not just the image of the beloved leader, but also the simple words of advice that have become the driving force. From a shy Pa Ko boy who first met the President years ago, he has today become a respected village elder, donating land and contributing to building schools, roads, and administrative offices for his homeland.

"I, like the youth of our province, am very honored to have the opportunity to visit, give gifts, and express our gratitude to Elder Ho Lo, a respected figure in the Pa Ko community. Throughout the meeting, almost all the youth union members were captivated by the elder's stories, and he shared his experiences and inspired us to continue contributing to the development of our homeland and country," shared Nguyen Quoc Toan, Deputy Secretary of the Quang Tri Provincial Youth Union.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/vi-gia-lang-2-lan-duoc-gap-bac-ho-185260412152425409.htm