Spring trip to Uncle Ho's hometown

(Baonghean.vn) -The weather is mildly sunny, in the cool air filled with the scent of spring, each pilgrimage to the Kim Lien Relic Site. Whether in the south or the north, they share the same thought of offering him a bouquet of fresh flowers and a stick of incense with their love and respect for Uncle Ho…

Traveling a distance of nearly 30 km, early in the morning of the first day of Tet, Mr. Pham Trong Doi and his wife arrived at the Kim Lien Relic Site in Nam Dan district. Offering a bouquet of flowers and burning incense to Uncle Ho on the traditional New Year's Day of the nation is the couple's wish. Although he has never met Uncle Ho, he always feels that Uncle Ho is very close, intimate, and sacred. Visiting the surrounding area, the scenery is so familiar to him, he clearly remembers every location of Uncle Ho's memorabilia, but every time he comes to Uncle Ho, Mr. Doi looks at it again and again as if it were the first time he came here. Although he lives far away, every year when Tet comes, his wife turns to Uncle Ho and the Kim Lien Relic Site is chosen by him and his wife as the place to visit at the beginning of the new year.

Burn incense to show respect to Him

At the age of 75, Mrs. Le Thi Nam from Duc Chau, Duc Tho district, Ha Tinh province, still gathered with her children and grandchildren around Uncle Ho, lighting incense for him, in the first days of the new year. Mrs. Nam took her children and grandchildren to visit the landscape of the relic site, and told her grandchildren in Hanoi about the life and career of President Ho Chi Minh. Her children and grandchildren only knew about Uncle Ho through books and the stories Mrs. Nam told, but when they saw with their own eyes the thatched house associated with Uncle Ho's childhood and saw the bright smile on Uncle Ho's face, the image of Uncle Ho seemed to come alive through her stories. At home, next to the family altar, Mrs. Nam's family placed Uncle Ho's portrait in a solemn position, and on holidays, they prepared a meal to worship their ancestors and commemorate him. Whenever her children and grandchildren gathered together, she often educated and reminded them to always remember Uncle Ho's merits. Mrs. Nam said: “Every year, when Tet comes, I prepare a meal to thank heaven, earth, ancestors and President Ho Chi Minh. We have a peaceful life like today thanks to his great contributions. I am proud to be a Vietnamese citizen, a descendant of President Ho Chi Minh. Every time I come back to him, I feel an unusual warmth in my heart. I hope that my descendants will always respect etiquette, so that when our generation goes far away, future descendants will know and remember his contributions.”

Visiting Uncle Ho's relics

Like Mrs. Nam's family, many families in many different regions, the New Year is an occasion for children and grandchildren to reunite and gather after a year of studying and working. And in the first days of the New Year, they make a pilgrimage here to burn incense to remember Uncle Ho's merits with a sincere heart, honoring and showing deep gratitude to President Ho Chi Minh - the genius leader of the Vietnamese people, who steered the Party's revolutionary boat to the glorious shore. Every time Tet comes, we often think of our relatives and family and cannot forget his merits in bringing about today's peaceful life. Streams of people come here, even though they have never met Uncle Ho, but when they see the mementos associated with Uncle Ho's life, listen to the sounds and melodies about Uncle Ho, they feel that Uncle Ho is so close and intimate as if he wants to hold back visitors, each person wants to keep their image every time they come back to Uncle Ho. The lyrics of the song "Remembering Uncle Ho makes my heart brighter" echo in the air, reminding me to live a life worthy of the great merit of the person who sacrificed his whole life for the happiness of the nation.

Workers keep the relic site clean and beautiful

This year, Kim Lien relic site is honored to be recognized as a special National Relic Site. In addition to coming here to burn incense to commemorate Uncle Ho, this is also a place for people from all over the country to visit Uncle Ho's hometown during Tet. To welcome compatriots to visit Uncle Ho's hometown during Tet, Kim Lien relic site arranges staff to serve visitors' sightseeing activities. Souvenir stalls open every day of the new year for visitors to shop. In addition, Huy Hiep Green Tree Company assigns workers to clean the area every day to ensure the campus is clean and beautiful. It has become a tradition that every year on the occasion of the traditional Tet holiday, Mr. Ha Dao's family offers beautiful peach branches, adding spring colors to Uncle Ho's garden.

It has been more than 40 years since Uncle Ho passed away, but every time Tet comes, our entire Party, army and people remember him with emotion. In memory of his great merit, generations of cadres, party members and Vietnamese people vow to forever study and follow his example of revolutionary morality, striving to build a more decent and beautiful Vietnam.

Article and photos: Thanh Le