The imprint of his homeland and the culture of Nghe An province on Ho Chi Minh's life.

Our President Ho Chi Minh was also born and spent his childhood in Nghe An province. This is a poor region where people year-round struggle against harsh weather conditions to survive and fight foreign invaders to protect their homeland. Therefore, the people of Nghe An always possess virtues such as diligence, frugality, a love of labor, and especially a fervent patriotism, unity, love, and compassion. In addition, the people here have an optimistic spirit and a thirst for learning to overcome natural challenges and improve their lives. Bearing the strong cultural imprint of the Hong Mountain and Lam River, the folk songs and melodies of the region create unique characteristics that cannot be mistaken for any other region.

Growing up in a culturally rich countryside, and experiencing the warmth and sentiments of his homeland, President Ho Chi Minh listened to folk songs and rhymes sung by his grandmother and mother from a young age, and felt the warmth and spirit of his village. Growing up under the strict guidance and teaching of his father, the loving care of his mother, and especially the mentorship of his maternal grandfather, the cultural imprint of Nghe An province deeply permeated his thoughts and feelings. This influence of Nghe An played a significant role in shaping President Ho Chi Minh's character.

Specifically, despite traveling the world in search of a way to save the country; despite being imprisoned by colonial and imperial powers or enduring the hardships of the protracted resistance war, he always harbored a deep longing for his homeland – the place where his dearest loved ones lived. For him, love for his homeland was the most sacred thing:

Homeland, a place of deep affection and profound meaning.

Fifty years have been filled with so much love.

Those officials, staff, and soldiers who had the honor of living close to him all shared the same observation: From his youth to his old age; from a patriotic young man to a leader, President Ho Chi Minh always retained the distinctive style of his homeland, Nghe An province, in every word and deed.

In President Ho Chi Minh's thoughts and sentiments, simplicity in life represents impartiality and selflessness, transcending all worldly material desires, and it also embodies frugality and thrift – a beautiful virtue of the people of Nghe An province.

As we know, after the liberation of the capital, at the end of 1954, President Ho Chi Minh moved to live and work at the Presidential Palace. Initially, the Standing Committee of the Central Party arranged for him to stay in the former house of the French Governor-General – a luxurious and well-equipped house. However, President Ho Chi Minh declined and chose a house belonging to a citizen electrician to work in, to be closer to his comrades and colleagues. Later, his residence became a simple stilt house amidst a garden and a fish pond, which has become legendary.

Those comrades who had the opportunity to be close to him, and who witnessed firsthand the meals of a President, all remarked: He still remembered the simple dishes of his homeland. On the table were always a bowl of soup, a piece of eggplant, a piece of braised fish or a piece of braised meat; there were absolutely no fancy dishes, far removed from the lives of working people.

During his lifetime, Prime Minister Pham Van Dong remarked: "Having dined with him hundreds of times, I always saw him meticulously handling the rice, not letting a single grain fall, because he valued the hard work of the laborers who produced the peanuts and rice. Small matters, great virtues harmoniously combined in one person."

His attire was simple and elegant; from the clothes he wore to the rubber sandals he walked in, everything bore the strong imprint of the thrifty and frugal nature of Nghe An culture.

The Ho Chi Minh Museum still preserves the khaki suit that he wore during his lifetime. Previously, when his attendants saw him wearing the old khaki suit, they suggested replacing it with a newer one. He replied, "Our people are still poor and facing many difficulties. This suit is more than enough for me." The Garment Factory No. 10 of the General Department of Logistics sent him a new khaki suit as a gift. He accepted it, but returned it to the factory to be used as a reward for the workers' emulation campaign.

Despite being the busy leader of the Party and State, he still found time to engage in agricultural production, growing vegetables and raising fish... around his house was a garden with many kinds of trees, flowers and fruits, including hibiscus bushes - reminiscent of his hometown.

Thus, even from what surrounds him—his eating, living, dressing, and daily life—we can see the subtle imprint of his homeland in President Ho Chi Minh: simplicity, diligence, frugality, and respect for labor. Through these actions, we also see his profound affection for the masses, a love that shared with them, a desire not to live "above the standard of living of an ordinary citizen."

Compassion and love for all people were also expressed through many of His gestures and actions, but here I only want to mention the highest general aspect, which is the thought that led Him to action:"I have only one desire, an overwhelming desire, which is for my country to be independent, for my people to be free, for everyone to have enough to eat, wear, and receive an education."It was from those aspirations that he set out to find a way to save the country, overcoming all hardships and sacrifices.

That compassion was not only shown towards the Vietnamese people but also towards the suffering working people around the world. Wherever he went, he felt sorrow for the people who had lost their country and were enslaved and in distress. This compassion and respect for all those around him also meant cherishing human feelings, showing tolerance towards those who had made mistakes in the past, thereby rekindling their good qualities and guiding them towards truth, goodness, and beauty.

The optimistic and inquisitive spirit of the people of Nghe An province was also clearly demonstrated throughout the life of President Ho Chi Minh.

We know that, with fervent patriotism, in his quest to save the country and ensure that the people had food, clothing, and education, he set out with nothing but his bare hands. Regardless of the freezing cold and snow, he tirelessly worked as a waiter, shoveling snow, and taking photographs to earn money for his revolutionary activities. Even in prison, his spirit remained unwavering. He overcame these hardships thanks to his unwavering faith in the future and his optimistic outlook on life. His poems, filled with reflections on nature, his homeland, and his country, are evidence of this optimistic spirit.

From a young age, Ho Chi Minh was very eager to learn, and this quality was one of the traditions of his homeland. Later in life, no matter where he was or what circumstances he faced, he always made time to learn foreign languages, read books, and research world issues. This gave him a profound knowledge of the world and current events.

Thus, President Ho Chi Minh selectively absorbed the culture of Nghe An province. These cultural essences deeply permeated his subconscious, forming a crucial part of his personality. Therefore, in Ho Chi Minh's life, whether young or old, his behavior, lifestyle, work, and thinking always bore the strong imprint of his homeland's culture. This was possible because from a very young age, he deeply loved the traditional land of Nghe An and its hardworking yet optimistic people. Before leaving this world, he still fondly remembered his homeland. The song "Uncle Ho's Last Words Before His Departure" by composer Tran Hoan still evokes such a moving sentiment in us.“…The story goes that Uncle Ho wanted to hear a folk song, remembering his village of Sen from his childhood… He wanted to hear a folk song from Nghe An province, because his village of Sen lingered in his heart…”

Through the person of Ho Chi Minh, we - the people of Nghe An - feel even more proud and love our homeland even more - a Nghe An that has been deeply imprinted in the heart and feelings of President Ho Chi Minh - the national liberation hero and world cultural figure.