1. OVERVIEW OF THE KIM LIEN HISTORICAL SITE

Preserving, restoring, and promoting the value of historical and cultural relics is crucial in safeguarding the traditional cultural identity of the nation to serve the goals of survival and development. The Party and State have paid great attention to this issue, ensuring that the ideological, moral, and stylistic values ​​of President Ho Chi Minh always serve as a guiding principle for the Vietnamese revolution. Therefore, immediately after the victorious conclusion of the resistance war against France and the restoration of peace in the North in 1956, the Party decided to restore the relics related to President Ho Chi Minh in his hometown.

Shortly afterwards, conservation and museum experts from the central government, in coordination with the Nghe An Department of Culture, collected and researched the remains of the former house of Deputy Minister Nguyen Sinh Sac, restoring it on its original site. In June 1957, during his first visit to his hometown, President Ho Chi Minh revisited his family home. He contributed many ideas to restore the monument to its original state. Some time later, museum staff collected and reconstructed the three-room house, allowing him to admire the monument in a relatively complete state during his second visit on December 9, 1961. Building on this achievement and experience, in 1959, the Hoang Tru complex was restored, and in 1961, it had the honor of welcoming President Ho Chi Minh. Since then, the Kim Lien Historical Site has opened its doors to domestic and international visitors.

To effectively carry out this work, Nghe An province established the Ho Chi Minh Museum Management Board under the Nghe An Department of Culture to manage, organize, and operate the museum. Along with the restoration of the historical site, the Nghe An Department of Culture used the small guesthouse built in 1957 next to the house of the late Deputy Minister to accommodate President Ho Chi Minh and as lodging for the security forces. In 1964, due to the increasing number of important domestic and international delegations, the Party and State decided to build a museum to display information about President Ho Chi Minh, designed by the renowned architect Hoang Nhu Tiep. Knowing this, President Ho Chi Minh disagreed and requested that the house's function be changed to a guesthouse.

Immediately after President Ho Chi Minh's death, the Party and State of Vietnam decided to build the Ho Chi Minh Museum to educate the entire population about his life and great revolutionary career. In the context of war, building upon existing memorial sites, in 1970, the Party and State decided to construct the Kim Lien Museum – the first Ho Chi Minh Museum in the country, under the direction of Comrade Truong Chinh and with the Politburo's approval of the exhibition content. The Kim Lien Museum became a place where the affection of the people nationwide and international friends for the beloved Uncle Ho converged.

Recognizing the special position, significance, and importance of the Kim Lien Museum in the work of disseminating ideological and emotional education to the people, on May 10, 1983, the People's Committee of Nghe Tinh province issued Decision No. 492VP/UB renaming the Kim Lien Museum to the Kim Lien Historical Site, under the direct management of the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee in all aspects, and under the scientific and professional guidance of the Ho Chi Minh Museum. At the same time, it clearly defined the scope of management, functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Kim Lien Historical Site. In 1993, implementing the Government's policy on decentralization of management by sector, the Kim Lien Historical Site was transferred to the Department of Culture and Information, now the Department of Culture and Sports of Nghe An province, for comprehensive management. In 2001, the Prime Minister approved the feasibility study for Nghe An province."Preserving and restoring the Kim Lien Historical Site in conjunction with tourism development in Nam Dan"The works and components of the project have been completed and put into operation.

In 2020, according to Decision No. 1943/QD-TTg dated November 27, 2020, the Prime Minister approved the Plan for the preservation, restoration, and promotion of the value of the special national historical site of the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Area in Kim Lien, covering a total area of ​​278.86 hectares, including: the Lang Sen historical site cluster, the Hoang Tru historical site cluster, the Nui Chung historical site cluster, and the tomb of Mrs. Hoang Thi Loan. The purpose of the Plan is to comprehensively upgrade the historical site to meet the needs of the increasing number of domestic and international tourists. At the same time, it aims to create connections between the Kim Lien Historical Site and other tourist areas in Nghe An province. Along with promoting the value of historical relics, the planning is also linked to the development of tourism forms and products based on the potential of the region's existing natural and cultural resources, such as: agricultural ecotourism, tourism exploring and experiencing local culture, especially the intangible cultural heritage of the locality associated with the performance of Nghe Tinh folk songs (Vi and Giam), traditional handicraft demonstrations, and folk games.

"

Currently, the Kim Lien Historical Site welcomes between 1.5 and 2 million visitors annually. This confirms the attractiveness of the site's inherent values ​​and also affirms the boundless and sacred affection of the people and international friends for President Ho Chi Minh.

2. FUNDAMENTAL VALUES AT THE KIM LIEN HISTORICAL SITE

The Kim Lien Historical Site is a place to display and introduce the historical and cultural traditions of Nghe An province - one of the origins that shaped President Ho Chi Minh's ideology.

President Ho Chi Minh was a product of the entire nation and the entire era. His intellectual greatness and exemplary style stemmed from many sources. One of these pure and profound sources was the land rich in tradition: Nghe An, or more accurately, the Lam River basin, with its heroic name: the Hong Lam land. From ancient times, historian Phan Huy Chu assessed: “Nghe An, with its high mountains and deep rivers, has a dignified and virtuous culture, and a bright landscape; it is considered a land more renowned than the South. Its people are gentle and studious, its products are many precious and rare things… blessed with the auspicious energy of the mountains and rivers, it has given birth to many famous and virtuous people… truly a strategically important place, like a fortress and a hot spring, and a key to the dynasties.”

History passes by and sends messages to the future through historical and cultural relics and scenic spots. The density and value of these relics reflect the level of civilization of a nation, a country, or a locality. Looking at the map of Nghe An, we see the entire Lam River basin densely packed with historical relics. From ancient times to the present, almost every historical period has left its mark on this land, creating the rich and continuous traditional beauty of the Hong Lam region. It is this glorious historical tradition of the homeland that nurtured Nguyen Sinh Cung - Nguyen Ai Quoc - Ho Chi Minh, the greatest patriot of the nation, from whom he sought the image of the nation, found the path to national liberation and development.

The patriotic and revolutionary traditions of Nghe An province are an invaluable asset for educating all levels of society, not only in Nghe An but also among compatriots and comrades nationwide. This helps everyone understand and appreciate the glorious past of their ancestors, feel proud of their nation and homeland, strive selflessly for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland and the prosperity of the people, and demonstrate to international friends the extraordinary resilience of the Vietnamese people.

The Kim Lien Historical Site is a place that displays and introduces the patriotic and revolutionary traditions of President Ho Chi Minh's family..

President Ho Chi Minh's family was the product of the marriage between two prominent families in Nam Dan: the Nguyen Sinh family and the Hoang Xuan family.

The Nguyen Sinh family is one of the four major families in Kim Lien. Through many years of building and striving, the fifth generation included Mr. Nguyen Sinh Vat, who passed the Tan Mao (1651) Imperial Examination. The sixth generation included Nguyen Sinh Tri, who at the age of 17 passed the Quy Suu (1673) Provincial Examination and became a Hieu Sinh (a high-ranking student), and later passed the Canh Ngo Imperial Examination, reaching the third level. The eighth generation included Nguyen Sinh Hai, who achieved great military merit and was granted a title by King Le Canh Hung (1740-1787). Mr. Nguyen Sinh Sac – the father of President Ho Chi Minh – belonged to the eleventh generation and passed the Tan Suu (1901) Imperial Examination, earning the title of Pho Bang (a high-ranking scholar).

The Hoang Xuan clan originated from Hoang Van village, Kim Dong district, Khoai Chau prefecture, Son Nam province (now Van Noi village, Hong Tien commune, Khoai Chau district, Hung Yen province). This was a powerful and influential clan, with many members receiving titles of marquis and duke throughout various dynasties. From Hung Yen, obeying the imperial court, many outstanding members of the Hoang clan dispersed to various places to fight invaders, defend the country, and establish their livelihoods. The founder of the Hoang clan in Hoang Tru village held the position of Vo Ban General during the reign of Vinh To (1619-1628) of Le Thanh Tong (1619-1643). During a campaign to quell rebellions in Thuan Quang, he married a woman from Nghia Liet village, Hung Nguyen district, establishing the Hoang clan there. In the ninth generation of the Hoang clan, Hoang Phac Can married and established a branch of the clan in Hoang Tru village. Five generations later, Hoang Xuan Can, who passed three baccalaureate examinations, fathered Hoang Xuan Duong, the maternal grandfather of President Ho Chi Minh.

During the resistance war against fascism, two members of the two families sacrificed their lives in the cause of defending the Soviet Union, and were posthumously honored as international martyrs. These were Ly Nam Thanh (Nguyen Sinh Than) and Ly Thuc Chat (Hoang Anh To). The glorious traditions of these two families have nurtured outstanding individuals. It can be said that the members of President Ho Chi Minh's family are exemplary role models of patriotism and revolutionary spirit of their homeland and nation.

Mr. Nguyen Sinh Sac (1863 – 1929) – the father of President Ho Chi Minh. Throughout his life, he dedicated all his talent and virtue to saving the country and its people. He was loved, respected, and protected by the people as if he were their own flesh and blood. Mr. Nguyen Sinh Sac's patriotic ideals and his clear-sighted view of the times profoundly influenced Nguyen Sinh Cung during this period.

Mrs. Hoang Thi Loan (1868 – 1901), the mother of President Ho Chi Minh. Ho Chi Minh's childhood was spent listening to the gentle lullabies of the deep, soulful folk songs of his homeland, Nghe An. Night after night, under the familiar thatched roof of their house in Hoang Tru village, accompanied by the rhythmic sound of the loom, Mrs. Hoang Thi Loan rocked her beloved children, including Nguyen Sinh Cung, to sleep. These lullabies were full of poetry, imbued with images of simple life in the countryside – bamboo groves, village lanes, and traditional values ​​of the nation. This can be seen as the starting point for President Ho Chi Minh's love for his homeland and country.

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thanh (1884 – 1954), the older sister of President Ho Chi Minh, sacrificed her youth to shoulder family responsibilities and dedicated her entire life to the patriotic ideal of national liberation. She was revered by the people as the "White Lotus Woman" of Kim Lien village. Her life is a shining example of Vietnamese womanhood, embodying noble character, high moral standards, and profound patriotism.

Mr. Nguyen Sinh Khiem (1888 – 1950), the older brother of President Ho Chi Minh, was an intelligent man with a simple, generous life, a deep love for his country, and compassion for the poor and suffering. He was imprisoned for many years by the colonial and feudal regime.

The Kim Lien Historical Site also displays documents and artifacts about President Ho Chi Minh's relationship with Nghe An; and the significance of Nghe An as his homeland to him.

The documents and artifacts here are of great value in educating the people about patriotic and revolutionary traditions. President Ho Chi Minh always had deep affection for his homeland and highly valued its revolutionary traditions: The people of Nghe Tinh are famous for...stubborn"During the French conquest and the national revolutionary movement (1905-1925), Nghe Tinh became famous. In the current revolutionary struggle, the workers and farmers of Nghe Tinh still uphold their revolutionary traditions… Nghe Tinh deserves the red title."

Throughout his revolutionary life, President Ho Chi Minh always placed high expectations on the people and cadres of his province. In the preface to the Nghe Tinh Soviet Museum, he wrote: "Cadres, Party members, Youth Union members, and all the people of Nghe Tinh need to unite closely and enthusiastically compete to build Nghe An and Ha Tinh into two exemplary provinces worthy of being the heroic Nghe Tinh Soviet homeland." In his last letter to his hometown (considered a personal testament for Nghe An): "Nghe An is a large province with abundant resources, a hardworking and very revolutionary people. I earnestly hope that the people and comrades of the province will strive to make Nghe An one of the most prosperous provinces in the North."

All of these fundamental elements are contained within specific relics, artifacts, and documents—vivid evidence capable of profoundly impacting people's thoughts and feelings. Besides the main content of patriotic and revolutionary traditions, this place also contains other noble traditional values. These include the cultural traditions of Hong Lam land, spanning thousands of years, with unique values: bravery, resilience, diligence, simplicity, a thirst for knowledge and academic excellence, community cohesion, and a rich folk culture. It also includes the beautiful cultural traditions of President Ho Chi Minh's family, with other noble qualities exemplified by his shining example. Here, the essence of Vietnamese and human culture is deeply crystallized, along with the distinctive features of Nghe An culture: intelligence, extraordinary qualities, noble character, and exemplary lifestyle. These are other values ​​related to cultural studies, ethnology, ethics, aesthetics, etc., which can be preserved, enhanced, and promoted for visitors.

In the context of integration and development, cultural activities in general, and museum and historical site activities in particular, play a very important role in the nation's development and in the process of cultural dialogue for peace and sustainable development. Among these, the legacy of President Ho Chi Minh's thought is an invaluable asset, proven both theoretically and practically, forming the ideological foundation of the Party. Studying and following Ho Chi Minh's thought, ethics, and style is a requirement and task for all levels, sectors, and the entire population in the current comprehensive national renewal process. This endeavor enjoys the trust of our people and the deep concern of international friends. Therefore, with its functions and responsibilities, and with the attention of the Party and the State, and of all levels and sectors, the Kim Lien Historical Site will always strive to fulfill its mission of protecting and promoting the legacy of President Ho Chi Minh in his homeland, and ensuring that the ideological legacy, life, career, and example of President Ho Chi Minh are disseminated and have a special influence on the awareness and actions of compatriots, comrades, and international friends.