There's an old saying, "Clothing reflects one's character." This saying is perfectly accurate for President Ho Chi Minh, who demonstrated his qualities, virtues, and cultural stature through his attire.
What stands out when observing President Ho Chi Minh's attire is its simplicity. He incorporated this great quality into his clothing (and in all his activities) in a very flexible way, adapting it to the circumstances, while simultaneously showing respect and affection for those around him and preserving the national cultural traditions.
When people think of President Ho Chi Minh's attire, they almost always picture a white, four-pocket khaki suit in the style of Sun Yat-sen, buttoned up to the neck for important occasions, and left unbuttoned for everyday wear, suitable with both shoes and sandals.
Uncle Ho in his familiar khaki suit. (Archival photo)
Few people know that initially, Mr. Vu Dinh Huynh, President Ho Chi Minh's protocol secretary, suggested that he wear a suit similar to those worn by Soviet leaders. President Ho Chi Minh replied, "But I'm not Russian, " so in the end, Mr. Vu Dinh Huynh and the owner of the Phu Thinh tailor shop discussed and decided to have President Ho Chi Minh made the khaki suit that later became his legendary symbol. In fact, President Ho Chi Minh's suit wasn't only available in light colors but also in dark blue.
Besides the aforementioned khaki uniform, Uncle Ho's attire varied depending on the time and context, but all exuded an extraordinary simplicity and approachability. This included the green military uniform he wore in the Viet Bac war zone, an outfit that became the iconic image of the "Father of the Army" – "Uncle Ho marches with us."
Those were the dark-colored clothes that Uncle Ho wore when visiting people, meeting with the public, or during his daily life. In winter, he would wear a woolen sweater underneath and a warm coat over it.
During the resistance war against the French, Uncle Ho wore a "ba-der-xuy" coat, a war trophy that reached below his knees, a gift from a unit. During the 1950 Border Campaign, when visiting wounded soldiers, he took off this "ba-der-xuy" coat and covered a soldier who had lost a lot of blood with it.
But when talking about President Ho Chi Minh's clothing, one cannot fail to mention his "special" and very fashionable outfits. This was during the period when he was active in France and in the Communist International in the Soviet Union. During this time, he wore suits and ties. In these modern outfits, with his intelligent, resolute face and tall, slender figure, he looked elegantly handsome.
Ho Chi Minh (top left) and some delegates attending the 5th Congress of the Communist International in Russia in 1924. At this time, he was using the name Nguyen Ai Quoc. (Archival photo)
Remarkably, Uncle Ho wore a suit while reading the Declaration of Independence on September 2, 1945. Film footage painstakingly discovered in France much later by Vietnamese filmmakers, along with photographs by the talented photographer Nguyen Ba Khoan, shows a gaunt, thin man with almost all his hair missing, revealing a broad forehead and bright eyes, in a light-colored suit without a tie, proclaiming the birth of a new Vietnam – the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
That suit was also worn by Uncle Ho in the years following the August Revolution of 1945, and in 1946.
Uncle Ho also wore a suit and shorts, which were fashionable in Hanoi at the time (the police guard at the 1945 Independence Day ceremony also wore shorts to enhance the powerful image of the revolutionary army). A 1946 photograph shows Uncle Ho in that very "fashionable" outfit with Mr. Truong Chinh, Mr. Pham Van Dong, Mr. Vo Nguyen Giap, and Mr. Chu Xuong.
President Ho Chi Minh and General Vo Nguyen Giap. (Archival photo)
Not only that photo, but there are also photos of Uncle Ho wearing shorts, taken with American soldiers and General Vo Nguyen Giap. Later, a fashion designer commented that with the "formula" of shorts paired with a blazer and bright-colored strappy sandals, Uncle Ho "had a timeless sense of style," and this style has influenced young people pursuing vintage, elegant fashion to some extent: "Simple but not lacking in sophistication in every detail."
Uncle Ho's frugal and simple lifestyle has always been a shining example for many generations to follow.
Many foreign researchers believe that even President Ho Chi Minh's attire bore the mark of a great man. He brought the simplicity that is the pinnacle of great cultures into his lifestyle and clothing. He blended in with the people of his country and the working people of the world .
Dang Dinh Cung
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