On the afternoon of May 19 — coinciding with President Ho Chi Minh’s birthday and the final day of the exhibition — crowds of people, especially young visitors, were still patiently queuing to view the exhibition and receive the commemorative weekend edition.
This special issue, numbered 1890 — the year of Uncle Ho’s birth — is more than a symbolic gesture; it is filled with timeless articles and curated archival material. From as early as 7 a.m., a line of people had formed from Bao Khanh Street stretching to the headquarters of Nhan Dan Newspaper by Hoan Kiem Lake. Even by the afternoon, the crowd showed no signs of thinning.
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| Public interest in commemorative and historical tribute activities is reflected in these images. (Photo: HNV) |
Sense of pride in Viet Nam, and deep gratitude to President Ho Chi Minh
Tran Tien (71 years old, residing in Hom Market) shared that he had queued from 4 a.m., even before the rain began. “I had to go home to change after an unexpected shower, but as soon as it eased, I returned to join the line,” he said. “This time, I’m going to laminate this beautiful issue about Uncle Ho and hang it on my wall as a keepsake. I was also here before to queue for the special edition marking the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification,” he proudly added.
This time, I’m going to laminate this beautiful issue about Uncle Ho and hang it on my wall as a keepsake. I was also here before to queue for the special edition marking the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification.
Tran Tien
(71, Hom Market, Ha Noi)
Also among the crowd, Thu Phuong (62, from Hang Than Street) said: “President Ho Chi Minh was a great leader. Visiting this exhibition, we not only get to admire vivid, authentic images of Uncle Ho but also have the joy of receiving this special issue.”
“Many members of my family fought in the two resistance wars against the French colonialists and US imperialists. One of my siblings served in the special forces during the resistance war against the US, was presumed dead, and miraculously made it back alive. We deeply understand the true value of war and peace. Today’s achievements are built on the sacrifices of our predecessors. That spirit lives on and continues to grow”, Phuong said.
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| Young readers checking in at the exhibition with the commemorative issue in hand. |
A group of students from the Ha Noi University of Industry came together to visit the exhibition and line up for the special issue. Excited to take photos at Nhan Dan headquarters and hold the issue in their hands, they exclaimed, “This paper is both beautiful and meaningful!”
President Ho Chi Minh is a rare historical phenomenon — a man who became a legend during his lifetime. As time passes, his ideological stature continues to grow. To commemorate President Ho Chi Minh's 135th birth anniversary (May 19, 1890 – May 19, 2025), Nhan Dan Newspaper published the special Nhan Dan Weekend issue numbered 1890, under the theme: “Ho Chi Minh’s Thought: The Guiding Flame.”
One of the highlights of this issue is the special supplement titled “His Words – The Voice of the Nation”. It serves as a powerful declaration of ideals, aspirations, and civic responsibility. Each immortal quote by President Ho Chi Minh is carefully selected and presented using modern, accessible graphic design tailored to young readers, yet still conveying national pride, patriotism, independence, and resilience.
A portrait of Uncle Ho reading Nhan Dan, a moving artwork by painter Ngoc Hung, is featured alongside refined, creative layout work by artist Kim Duan and the design team. The supplement not only celebrates his intellectual legacy but also radiates the light of knowledge to today’s readers. Integrated QR codes link to a curated playlist of the ten most touching songs about President Ho, as well as engaging content on his life and thought available across Nhan Dan’s digital platforms.
Bringing Uncle Ho’s image and thought closer to the youth through visual language and modern technology
Witnessing the joyful reception of the special issue, journalist Phan Thanh Phong, head of the Special Projects Department — the team responsible for the content production of this edition shared: “When we received the assignment from the Editor-in-Chief to produce a special edition marking President Ho Chi Minh's 135th birth anniversary, we were truly moved and proud. This was not just a professional duty, but also a chance to express our deep affection for Uncle Ho, the beloved Father of our nation.”
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| Journalist Phan Thanh Phong, Head of Special Projects Department |
According to her, the entire Nhan Dan Weekend team threw themselves into the project with urgency and responsibility. From outlining the issue, commissioning articles from experts and scholars, to reporters travelling across the country in search of material, all efforts converged on a single goal: to offer a publication worthy of Uncle Ho.
“What touched us most was the warm response from readers. The sight of people queuing outside our office to get the paper, the heartfelt messages on social media, and the compliments we received — all of these are priceless spiritual rewards for us journalists. They affirm our work, inspire us, and make us feel part of the ongoing journey to promote President Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, ethics and style,” said Phong.
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| Crowds patiently queue to receive the special issue. (Photo: HNV) |
When asked about her most memorable moment during this project, Phong recalled: “Perhaps the most extraordinary moment was when we finalised the design and realised, to our astonishment, that the publication number was 1890 — precisely Uncle Ho’s birth year. The entire team was speechless with emotion. It felt like a divine coincidence, a serendipitous alignment, which made us even more appreciative of the work we were doing.”
Perhaps the most extraordinary moment was when we finalised the design and realised, to our astonishment, that the publication number was 1890 — precisely Uncle Ho’s birth year. The entire team was speechless with emotion. It felt like a divine coincidence, a serendipitous alignment, which made us even more appreciative of the work we were doing.
Journalist Phan Thanh Phong
Phong added that great care went into crafting the special supplement: two colour pages featuring the image of Uncle Ho reading Nhan Dan and a selection of his most iconic quotes.
The QR codes embedded in the supplement direct readers to moving musical tributes to Uncle Ho and rich multimedia content available on Nhan Dan’s platforms. This is part of an effort to bridge the past and present — bringing President Ho’s image and thought closer to the younger generation through today’s visual and technological language.
