55th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh Relic Site at the Presidential Palace

A place to preserve and promote President Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality, and lifestyle

After President Ho Chi Minh passed away in 1969, in commemoration of the country’s genius leader and in response to the aspirations of the entire Party, army, and people, the Party Central Committee’s Politburo decided to protect, preserve, and keep intact the place where the he lived and worked at the Presidential Palace. Over the past 55 years, the site has become a revolutionary address that manifests and spreads the ideology, morality, and lifestyle of President Ho.
Over the past 55 years, the President Ho Chi Minh Relic Site has welcomed nearly 90 million visitors (Photo: toquoc.vn)
Over the past 55 years, the President Ho Chi Minh Relic Site has welcomed nearly 90 million visitors (Photo: toquoc.vn)

In 2009, the President Ho Chi Minh Relic Site at the Presidential Palace became one of the first 10 places in the country to have gained recognition as a Special National Relic. Despite the test of time, all the constructions, documents, and artefacts of President Ho Chi Minh in this place are well preserved and kept intact as when he lived and worked there.

Clearly manifesting President Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality, and style

Throughout President Ho Chi Minh's revolutionary career, the Presidential Palace in Hanoi was the place where he stayed for the longest time, from December 19, 1954, to September 2, 1969 — the last 15 years of his life.

During the period of time, he joined the Party Central Committee and the Government set out the sound strategic guidelines and policies for the Vietnamese revolution; led Vietnamese people to realise the tasks of building socialism in the North; fighting against US imperialism and its henchmen to liberate the South and achieve national reunification; and actively contributing to the struggle for independence, nation, democracy, peace, and social progress in the world.

All the documents, and artefacts of President Ho Chi Minh in the relic site are well preserved and kept intact as when he lived and worked there. (Photo: toquoc.vn)

All the documents, and artefacts of President Ho Chi Minh in the relic site are well preserved and kept intact as when he lived and worked there. (Photo: toquoc.vn)

Since September 2, 1969, the historical relic complex of President Ho Chi Minh was formed in the Presidential Palace area to welcome domestic and international delegations.

The complex includes 13 houses; 1,738 documents and artefacts; seven outdoor relics, 50 trees that were planted by Uncle Ho. Prominent among them is Uncle Ho's stilt house, which is considered as national icon, a shining symbol of international solidarity which is widely known by Vietnamese citizens and international friends alike.

Over the past 55 years, the complex has effectively carried out two political tasks entrusted to it by the Party, the State, and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, which are preserving the original state of the late President’s living area and workplace at the Presidential Palace while effectively promoting the legacy of President Ho Chi Minh at the Presidential Palace.

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President Ho Chi Minh stands in front of the stilt house at the Presidential Palace (Photo: VNA)

Spreading and cementing the attachment among compatriots, and friends around the world.

In the beginning, before it had officially opened, the relic site welcomed a number of special delegations. These were groups and individuals with outstanding achievements in production, military, and study.

In particular, the army units were all allowed to visit the place where Uncle Ho lived and worked before leaving for the battlefield in the South, to better understand the President’s care for the people of the South as well as his determination to liberate the South and reunite the country.

Marking the occasion of the President Ho Chi Minh's 85th birthday, on May 19, 1975, when the South was completely liberated, the relic site was officially opened to welcome compatriots across the country and international friends.

Over the past 55 years, the relic site has welcomed nearly 90 million visitors from across the country and from about 160 countries and territories around the world who came to pay gratitude and respect to the great Vietnamese leader.

This place is truly inspiring because it reflects the modesty and tireless dedication of President Ho Chi Minh to the Vietnamese people and the future of his country.

Executive Vice President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans

Writing in the relic site's memorial book, Haitian poet René Depestre wrote: “Those who want to know what a real person is, where the beauty of the world is, where the victory of truth is, where there is spring, please visit Vietnam, explore the life of President Ho Chi Minh.”

While visiting the relic site, Executive Vice President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans shared that it is hard for him to believe that he was sitting next to the table President Ho Chi Minh had used.

“This place is truly inspiring because it reflects the modesty and tireless dedication of President Ho Chi Minh to the Vietnamese people and the future of his country,” he wrote in the memorial book.

During the celebration of major national holidays, the relic site greets tens of thousands of visitors every day.

The site’ management board has closely coordinated with central agencies and the Hanoi City authorities to host a series of political activities to uphold the values of President Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality, and lifestyle.

Visitors admire photos capturing President Ho Chi Minh’s activities at the Presidential Palace. (Photo: NDO/Dang Khoa)

Visitors admire photos capturing President Ho Chi Minh’s activities at the Presidential Palace. (Photo: NDO/Dang Khoa)

It has also been active in applying digital transformation solutions in designing experiential education programmes. The site's website has been developed with rich content and an attractive interface, making it extremely informative about life and career of President Ho.

In the 2018-2023 period, the site hosted and co-hosted nearly 60 domestic and international exhibitions and displays as well as published and republished around 50 books on President Ho Chi Minh.

The site’s research staff have written about 800 articles introducing the life, career, ideology, and morality of Uncle Ho.

In recognition of its significant achievements and contributions, the site has been awarded many accolades, including the Ho Chi Minh Order, the Independence Order, the Labour Order, a Certificate of Merit from the Prime Minister, and the Emulation Flag from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, among others.