A place preserving the memory of President Ho Chi Minh in Thailand.
On his arduous journey to find a way to save the country, nearly a century ago, the young Nguyen Ai Quoc lived and carried out revolutionary activities in several localities of Thailand. Located more than 500km northeast of Bangkok, the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Site has become a significant historical site, preserving the footprints of the President when he visited Udon Thani province.
In late May 2026, we visited the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Site in Udon Thani province, meeting with some Vietnamese expatriates in the area. From National Highway 2263, turning onto Thau Chin 1 Road and then Thau Chin 2 Road, a tree-lined stretch of about 1km, we stood before the entrance to the memorial site, the first memorial dedicated to President Ho Chi Minh in Thailand. The site was solemn and serene; for Vietnamese expatriates in Thailand, it is a sacred place, preserving memories of the years President Ho Chi Minh lived and worked in the revolution in Thailand from 1928-1929.
Under the shady trees, Mr. Pham Duc Dau, Head of the Management Board of the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Site in Udon Thani province, shared that the memorial site was built on the old land where President Ho Chi Minh used to work, under the name Thau Chin. The current memorial site covers an area of 11,200 square meters.2The complex comprises four areas: the Ho Chi Minh House, a multi-purpose building, a landscaped garden, and an expansion area. Construction of the historical site began in 2003, with the Ho Chi Minh House inaugurated in 2006 and the multi-purpose building in 2011.
Mr. Dau said that his family had fully funded the construction of President Ho Chi Minh's stilt house in the expanded area and wished to continue making small contributions to the historical site. His wish was simple: that the historical site would continue to be a place for generations of overseas Vietnamese to visit and learn more about President Ho Chi Minh's revolutionary life.
The historical site was built on the old land where President Ho Chi Minh used to work, under the name Thau Chin. The site currently covers an area of 11,200 square meters.2The complex comprises four areas: the Ho Chi Minh House, a multi-purpose building, a landscaped garden, and an expansion area. Construction of the historical site began in 2003, with the Ho Chi Minh House inaugurated in 2006 and the multi-purpose building in 2011.
Mr. Pham Duc Dau - Head of the Management Board of the Ho Chi Minh Presidential Memorial Site in Udon Thani Province
Leading us into the Ho Chi Minh House complex, Mr. Van Viet Thanh, who has worked at the historical site for 11 years, introduced us to the three-room thatched-roof house, reconstructed according to the original model of President Ho Chi Minh's residence. The house has a simple thatched roof, clay walls, and a floor paved with terracotta tiles. The central room is a common meeting room with three sets of tables and chairs; the left room has a wooden table and chairs where President Ho Chi Minh worked; in the corner is a small bed with a mosquito net and a wooden platform; and the right room is the sleeping area for the cooperative members. In addition, there is a kitchen, pigsty, chicken coop, granary, and well.
Each year, the historical site welcomes approximately 15,000 visitors, including many groups from Vietnam, especially during the anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birthday. Pham Man Minh, a student from the University of Education, Da Nang University, shared his thoughts while visiting the site for educational purposes: "After visiting the reconstructed Ho Chi Minh House, based on its original architecture, and seeing the artifacts recreated where he lived and worked, my friends and I understand and respect him even more – a great leader with a very simple lifestyle."
Meeting Mr. Luong Xuan Hoa, a member of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, Vice President of the Association of Vietnamese People in Thailand, and President of the Association of Vietnamese People in Udon Thani Province, at the association's headquarters, we learned that since childhood he had often heard stories about President Ho Chi Minh's life in Udon Thani. Mr. Hoa said that President Ho Chi Minh lived simply among the overseas Vietnamese community, built houses, factories, and schools, encouraged people to learn the Siamese and Vietnamese languages, urged the community to unite with the local people, and propagated patriotism and support for the Vietnamese revolution.
As Chairman of the association, Mr. Hoa vowed to always dedicate himself to the community and always tried to focus his efforts on organizing commemorative events about President Ho Chi Minh, hoping that the Vietnamese expatriates in Udon Thani would always feel closer to him. Mr. Hoa shared that what is precious is that even after living far from their homeland for many years, the affection of the expatriates for President Ho Chi Minh remains profound. In the stories of the expatriates, the image of President Ho Chi Minh appears as a spiritual thread connecting the Vietnamese community in a foreign land.
According to Mr. Hoa, the good relationship between the two countries is the foundation for Vietnamese expatriates in Thailand to live peacefully, with many achieving success, prosperity, and holding certain positions and prestige in Thai society. Vietnamese expatriates are also one of the connecting threads of friendship between the people of the two countries.
Each year, the historical site welcomes approximately 15,000 visitors, including many groups from Vietnam, especially during the anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birthday.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Xuan Oanh said that many generations of Vietnamese expatriates in Udon Thani still pass on stories about President Ho Chi Minh to their children and grandchildren. Wishing to preserve traditional customs and always remember that she is Vietnamese, for many years she has volunteered to teach Vietnamese so that through her lessons, the children of expatriates can understand President Ho Chi Minh's character, morality, and simple lifestyle, and his immense love for children. She said that she often visits the historical site because "respect and love for President Ho Chi Minh are ingrained in the blood of Vietnamese expatriates in Thailand and cannot be measured."
Leaving Udon Thani with emotionally charged stories, we felt that the image of President Ho Chi Minh lives on in the hearts of the Vietnamese diaspora. The Ho Chi Minh Memorial Site in Udon Thani province is not only a place to commemorate the beloved leader but also a testament to the solidarity, patriotism, and close ties of the Vietnamese diaspora in Thailand. Every Vietnamese person, wherever they may be, always looks towards their national roots with all their pride and deep respect for Uncle Ho.
