 The President Ho Chi Minh Memorial Site in Nghia Lo Town is modeled after President Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house in Hanoi. (Photo: Thua Xuan/VOV) |
Built in 1982, the Memorial Site is about 300 kilometers northwest of Hanoi. More than 40 years ago, locals willingly donated their labor and resources to help build the memorial, which was modeled after President Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House in Hanoi, with a fish pond and an orchard reminiscent of the late President’s peaceful and frugal lifestyle.
The site has since become a sacred venue for locals to honor the beloved leader. It is preserving nearly 1,000 photos of President Ho Chi Minh and 10 treasured artifacts, including a set of khaki clothing, hat, glasses, and shoes. These items, given to him by lawyer Francis Henry Loseby and his family, helped Ho Chi Minh disguise himself and safely leave Hong Kong (China) in 1933. On display is also an old typewriter, which he used to draft Vietnam’s Declaration of Independence in 1945.
This place is frequented by officials, tourists, and students who wish to pay tribute to and learn from President Ho Chi Minh’s examples. Le Anh Tue Minh, a high school student from Yen Bai Province, said: "Coming here I understand more about President Ho Chi Minh’s life. I can feel his humility and boundless love for the people and the nation. I’m working hard to follow his thoughts and lifestyle, and enrich my knowledge, which is essential in today’s era, as Vietnam enters a new era of national rise."
 Le Anh Tue Minh, a 12-grade student from Nghia Lo High School, Yen Bai Province, says she learns much about the life of President Ho Chi Minh after visiting the memorial site. (Photo: Thua Xuan/VOV) |
For war veterans, who lived through the resistance wars and national construction, the President Ho Chi Minh Memorial Site is a sacred ground to revisit and renew their faith in the revolutionary path chosen by the Party and President Ho. Lo Van Nhat, a war veteran from Tan An Ward, Nghia Lo Town, said he and other residents visit the site whenever they wish to tell their beloved leader of their accomplishments.
"We want to tell Uncle Ho what we have achieved. But Hanoi is far away, and it can be difficult for those without the means to travel. That’s why it’s incredibly meaningful to have a memorial site dedicated to our leader here," he added.
 War veterans write down their thoughts after visiting the President Ho Chi Minh Memorial Site. (Photo: Thua Xuan/VOV) |
The site now is hosting 12 exhibitions, including an exhibition on President Ho Chi Minh’s thoughts and the cause of national renewal, his bonds with ethnic people of the northwestern region, and how to follow his thought, ethics, and lifestyle, said Nguyen Thi Nhu Quynh, deputy director of the Nghia Lo Centre for Communication and Culture.
Communication will be carried out in many different formats, she added: "We are very happy and proud of our work here. We will organize more programs to promote Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, moral examples, and lifestyle in the coming years. We will work with schools and organizations to hold extracurricular activities, contests, and seminars on President Ho Chi Minh, as well as gather feedback from experts to improve the quality of our operations."
The President Ho Chi Minh Memorial Site in Nghia Lo Town is the 13th branch of the Ho Chi Minh Museum system and the only one in Vietnam’s northwestern region. The site is important not only because of its architectural and historical significance, but also the value it offers the local community. It is a symbol of locals’ affection for Vietnam’s beloved leader.