The man who donated 5,000 taels of gold to the State passed away.

Mrs. Hoang Thi Minh Ho, wife of capitalist Trinh Van Bo, who donated 5,147 taels of gold to the State during the Golden Week (1945), passed away at 11:20 p.m. on November 5 at her home at 34 Hoang Dieu, Hanoi, at the age of 104.

Mrs. Hoang Thi Minh Ho. Photo: Linh Tam

Mr. Trinh Kien Quoc, son of capitalist Trinh Van Bo, shared this with PV.

Mrs. Hoang Thi Minh Ho was born in 1914 in Hanoi. Her father was Mr. Hoang Dao Phuong, a Confucian scholar and a wealthy merchant on Hang Dao Street.

At the age of 18, Ms. Hoang Thi Minh Ho married Mr. Trinh Van Bo. Her parents allowed her to live separately at house number 48 Hang Ngang and inherited the Phuc Loi silk trading business.

With a patriotic spirit, the August Revolution of 1945 was successful. Through the introduction of Mr. Vu Dinh Huynh, Mr. and Mrs. Trinh Van Bo dedicated the house at 48 Hang Ngang for revolutionary cadres to use as a workplace.

The businessman couple had no idea that among the delegation of officials staying with their family that year was President Ho Chi Minh, the head of the Government. It was also during his time in this house that President Ho Chi Minh wrote the immortal Declaration of Independence, giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

Just a few days later, in response to the Golden Week launched by the Government, the family of businessman Trinh Van Bo donated 5,147 taels of gold, while the treasury was empty.

In addition, businessman Trinh Van Bo and his wife were also key members of the Golden Week campaign committee, encouraging the business community and people to donate 20 million Indochinese piastres and 370kg of gold.

According to Tuoi Tre