Uncle Ho visits Nhan Dan Newspaper

Meeting Uncle Ho for the first time at Nhan Dan Newspaper

It was around December 1-2, 1956 according to the lunar calendar, corresponding to January 1-2, 1957. Winter had arrived in northern Viet Nam. The weather was bitterly cold and thick fog obscured visibility. Suddenly, several people rushed out into the courtyard of Nhan Dan Newspaper. Everyone looked around, asking one another what was happening, while voices behind explained that a senior leader was about to visit the office.

Moments later, a cream-coloured car entered through the gate. When it stopped in the middle of the courtyard and the door opened, an elderly man stepped out. People immediately ran after him shouting: Uncle Ho! Uncle Ho!

Everyone thought Uncle Ho would go directly to the reception room, but instead he asked where the kitchen was. Following someone who guided him there, he entered and asked the cooks whether their work was difficult and what dishes they were preparing that day.

Seeing freshly washed water celery and blocks of tofu waiting to be fried, Uncle Ho said: “Please try to cook well so everyone in the office can stay healthy and work effectively.”

After encouraging the three kitchen staff, Uncle Ho asked to see the lavatories. People took him to inspect the bathroom and toilets behind the building. He praised how clean they were.

Only then did he go upstairs to the main office. Everyone crowded noisily around him, eager to see him and stand near him. Uncle Ho gently told everyone to stay orderly so he could distribute sweets to the children in the office. We children gathered around him excitedly. He first handed sweets to the youngest children. Since there were many children and I was the oldest, I received mine last.

After distributing the sweets, Uncle Ho said: “Today I came to visit you all and speak about several matters.” Putting his hand into his jacket pocket, he took out a pocket watch and asked the office staff: “Do you know what this is?” Everyone answered: “A pocket watch!” Uncle Ho continued: “Today I heard that some of you are not fully committed to your work. So tell me, what does this watch contain?” People replied with different scattered answers.

Uncle Ho then explained: “This outer case is like those who protect the mechanisms inside. One person is like the hour hand, another the minute hand, another the numbers, another the gears. Everyone has their own task. Only when each person fulfils their role properly can the organisation operate smoothly. If everyone insists on writing articles, then who will provide security, type documents, cook meals and do other work?” He then asked: “Now are you all reassured?” The entire office shouted: “Yes!”

Uncle Ho continued with a second point — preserving the Vietnamese language. He asked: “Who here knows Chinese, Russian, Lao or Khmer?” Several people raised their hands. Uncle Ho nodded approvingly and encouraged them to continue learning. He then asked: “Who knows French or English?” Several more hands went up. Uncle Ho smiled and joked: “Those are products of imperialism and colonialism!” The whole office burst into laughter. Then he added: “I’m only joking.” Afterwards, he advised: “You work in journalism to serve the people, so you must write clearly and simply for people to read and understand easily. Do not overuse foreign words that make articles difficult for readers to understand.”

Photographers Hoang Linh and Bui A took photographs during the visit. When Uncle Ho finished speaking, Hoang Linh asked permission to take a commemorative photograph. It was cold and drizzling, and we all tried to stand near Uncle Ho for the picture. He kindly gave priority to the younger children. Afterwards, the adults arranged themselves beneath the banyan tree for another photograph. Once the photos had been taken, the car arrived again and the security guard invited Uncle Ho back into the vehicle.

Uncle Ho’s second visit

The second visit took place on the first morning of the Lunar New Year in 1957. The weather was bright and clear, and the Nhan Dan office seemed almost deserted. Looking around, I only saw myself and Chinh — the son of Editor-in-Chief Hoang Tung — playing beneath a sau tree (dragon plum tree) near the photo development room.

Suddenly, a cream-coloured car drove through the gate. Instinctively, I knew it was Uncle Ho’s car because he had arrived in the same vehicle a month earlier.

As soon as Uncle Ho stepped out, we shouted excitedly: “Uncle Ho!” He and his security guard walked towards us. The guard asked where the reception room was, and we led them there. Uncle Ho asked us which class we were studying in and whether we were good students. At that time I was the first grader and ranked eighth in class, so I confidently replied: “Yes, Uncle Ho, I study well.” He then took out a packet of sweets and gave each of us two pieces.

Just then, Vien, who was on duty at the office gate, entered and greeted Uncle Ho. Uncle Ho immediately asked: “Where is Hoang Tung?” Vien replied: “Uncle Ho, he has gone to deliver New Year greetings.” Uncle Ho smiled and said: “Today I came to wish the office a Happy New Year, but Hoang Tung is absent. When he returns, tell him I came to visit and extend New Year greetings.”

He handed the packet of sweets to Vien and said: “I only have this small packet of sweets, but there are many children in the office. Tell Hoang Tung to buy more sweets and mix them together so there will be enough for everyone.” Afterwards, the security guard asked how to get to the Thong Nhat (Unity) Club nearby, where cadres from southern Viet Nam who had regrouped in the north were staying.

At that time, there was an open window from the telephone operator Lanh leading into the grounds near the statue of King Le Loi returning the sword to the sacred turtle. There was no wall separating the area from the Thong Nhat Club, and we often crossed through when Lanh was absent. I quickly told Uncle Ho: “Uncle Ho, you can go through Lanh’s room to reach the club.” I ran ahead to guide the way. The security guard entered first, followed by Uncle Ho, while Chinh and I followed behind.

As soon as people inside realised Uncle Ho had arrived, they crowded around him excitedly. Seeing a small child, Uncle Ho immediately picked the child up and carried the baby together with the mother and others onto the stage. Holding the child in his arms, he asked everyone to settle down so he could speak. He warmly asked after the health of cadres from southern Viet Nam and whether they longed for national reunification.

Uncle Ho encouraged them: “You should focus on studying and training yourselves so you can continue struggling for the day of national reunification.” After speaking for a while, Uncle Ho invited everyone to sing the song Ket Doan (Solidarity). While people enthusiastically sang and clapped along to his rhythm, nobody noticed that Uncle Ho had quietly left. By then, his car was already waiting for him at the main entrance.