The events, co-organized by the President Ho Chi Minh Relic Site at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, the Embassy of Vietnam in France, and the Vietnam Cultural Center in France, marked the 115th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's departure on June 5, 1911, to seek a path to national salvation, and the 80th anniversary of his official visit to France in 1946 as the honored guest of the French Government.
The program featured an art performance, an exhibition titled "Nguyen Ai Quoc – Ho Chi Minh: a journey for peace and national independence in France," the debut of the bilingual Vietnamese-French photo book "Nguyen Ai Quoc–Ho Chi Minh and France," and the handover of archival photographs from the families of doctor Le Van Cuu and photographer Le Tan Xuan.
Le Thi Phuong, Director of the President Ho Chi Minh Relic Site at the Presidential Palace, said: "These events provide the public with a deeper understanding of President Ho Chi Minh's struggle for national peace and independence in France. It also reaffirms the strong diplomatic ties and broad cooperation between Vietnam and France and the two peoples. Preserving and promoting President Ho Chi Minh's heritage in France helps inspire millions of Vietnamese abroad to turn their hearts toward the motherland."
Attending the event, Dinh Quang Lam, a Vietnamese student in France, said: "These historical materials about President Ho Chi Minh give me greater motivation to study and strive for my goals. It inspires young people like us to overcome the challenges of living far from home."
Le Van Kiem, a son of doctor Le Van Cuu, who donated archival photographs of President Ho Chi Minh, said: "After my father passed away, our family preserved many documents from that period in a suitcase. My mother and I believe that the most appropriate place to preserve these valuable historical materials is Vietnam, so we decided to donate the entire collection to the Vietnamese Government."
The series concluded with a performance featuring songs about President Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, and the friendship between Vietnam and France.
