People pay tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum in Hanoi. (Illustration photo: VOV5)

From early morning, long lines of people have gathered all the way to the President’s mausoleum. 

"Every year on President Ho Chi Minh’s birthday, the Veterans Association and the Women’s Union of our ward organize a visit to the mausoleum to express our deep respect and gratitude to our great leader. He was an exemplary figure of the Vietnamese nation, revered by our people and the world," said Nguyen Van Long, a war veteran from Hanoi. 

It’s not just Hanoians who are participating. Here are some people who traveled a long way to the capital on this occasion.

"I came all the way from Ca Mau, the southernmost part of Vietnam, to visit Uncle Ho on his birthday. This has been a long-standing dream of mine, and today, it finally came true. Standing before him, I felt deeply moved and emotional, recalling the difficult years he endured traveling the world in search of a path to liberate our nation."

"I traveled from Long An two days ago, with the heartfelt wish to visit President Ho Chi Minh and pay my deepest respects. I’m overwhelmed with emotion."

"The journey from Quang Binh to Hanoi is over 500 kilometers by car. I'm 69 years old now, and while I'm still in good health, I want to come and see President Ho Chi Minh. It brings me peace of mind. I always try to follow his example and live by his teachings."

Many international visitors have also come to visit the mausoleum, the Presidential Palace relic site, and the Ho Chi Minh museum at this time.

"Every year, to mark President Ho Chi Minh’s birthday, international friends visit Vietnam to see where he once lived and worked. Through these visits, they gain a deeper understanding of Vietnam’s history, culture, and people," said Ms. Le Thi Thanh Loan, a tour guide at the Presidential Palace.