For President Ho Chi Minh, morality was not just empty talk.

Throughout history, most truly great figures in the world have left behind the essence of their thought through words, writings, and stories that are often simple yet profoundly meaningful, containing many truths and possessing the power to persuade generations. Our President Ho Chi Minh was such a person.

The book "The Shining Morality of Ho Chi Minh"⁽¹⁾Compiled and published by military poet Ta Huu Yen, this collection has been well-received by readers, especially young people, since its first edition. Comprising 50 articles, primarily in the form of vivid stories based on published books and newspapers, as well as personal interviews with real-life individuals, author Ta Huu Yen has achieved his own unique success on a topic that has become all too familiar!

The endearing and extraordinary image of President Ho Chi Minh gradually emerges through true stories from the extremely arduous and heroic periods of resistance against the French and Americans in Vietnam... In December 1946, Uncle Khiem, President Ho Chi Minh's elder brother, visited him in Hanoi, who was then the President of the country (A touching meeting). In February 1961, President Ho Chi Minh and several comrades revisited Pac Bo, deeply moved by the "revolutionary headquarters" of the early days of nation-building. Here, in February 1941, he wrote these stirring verses: "In the morning, to the stream bank; in the evening, to the cave" (Following Uncle Ho to Pac Bo). Throughout the years of resistance during the clandestine period, those who had the opportunity to be close to President Ho Chi Minh clearly saw his concern for every individual. Whenever possible, he provided every pill, spoonful of porridge, piece of rice, and piece of bread. His greatest virtue was his selflessness in caring for others (Warmth of human kindness). In March 1948, Uncle Ho sent a letter to the Kim Thanh guerrilla platoon (belonging to the two provinces of Hung Yen and Hai Duong). In Hai Duong, the exemplary figure of Mac Thi Buoi emerged, clinging to the land and the people, bravely fighting the enemy in her homeland. Under the pen name GB, he wrote a rather long poem in the lục bát (six-eight) meter, to praise and encourage "Heroine Mac Thi Buoi" (A Glorious Example). Then, the discussion on old and new ethics, aimed at helping young soldiers of the Vietnam Army Academy during the resistance war in Viet Bac, understand the basic principles that are still relevant today: "There are two kinds of ethics - the old feudal ethics, like a person walking with their head on the ground and feet pointing to the sky. The new ethics is revolutionary ethics, like a person standing firmly on the ground with their head held high. Look, the old feudal system also spoke of diligence, frugality, integrity, and righteousness, but it was to force the people to obey and serve their interests. But today, when we propose diligence, frugality, integrity, and righteousness, cadres must set an example and practice it for the people to follow. Why? To benefit the country and the people..." (Still eight words).

These are stories from the time of the resistance against the French, after the victory at Dien Bien Phu, when North Vietnam was liberated, simultaneously building socialism and fighting and defeating the Americans alongside South Vietnam. Ta Huu Yen also included many memorable and enduring stories about President Ho Chi Minh in his book... In Hanoi, after the liberation from the Western invaders, President Ho Chi Minh visited and celebrated the opening of the 8-3 Textile Factory, a large factory, the firstborn of Hanoi's textile industry. On the day of his visit, the factory's leaders intended to ask a senior leader to cut the ribbon. Knowing this, President Ho Chi Minh suggested choosing a young worker. So, the factory sent the highly accomplished young worker Dao Thi Thu to cut the ribbon. This detail surprised those "involved"! (A great honor). Then there's the story of that year, when President Ho Chi Minh visited his hometown of Thai Binh, a rice-growing region. He paid special attention to the position and role of women. The problem of wife-beating was still prevalent there. Uncle Ho instructed, essentially, that men must respect women, and women themselves must strive to maintain equality with men! The role of the Party branch needs to "get involved" (Uncle Ho's visit to Thai Binh). Comrade Vu Mi Ke, a Hmong ethnic minority, was a high-ranking official in Ha Tuyen province and had the good fortune to meet Uncle Ho many times. This ethnic minority official remembers most vividly a question from Uncle Ho, which he found perplexing and difficult to answer: "The land has made the corn and potatoes grow well, sustaining you all. So, after eating the corn and potatoes, what will you give back to the land now?!" (Remembering Uncle Ho's teachings). And we haven't forgotten the summer of 1967, when the anti-aircraft defenses in Hanoi were intensely monitoring the sky, and the weather was extremely hot and uncomfortable. This did not escape Uncle Ho's attention! Knowing that the soldiers on duty on the rooftop of the Ba Dinh Assembly Hall were facing the scorching sun, Uncle Ho immediately instructed that the money in his savings account (a total of only 25,000 dong) be transferred to the Ministry of National Defense so that the Hanoi air defense troops could have more refreshments (For the soldiers guarding the sky). Today, we learn from and follow Uncle Ho's moral example, launching a movement against corruption, waste, and bureaucracy. In fact, Uncle Ho had already begun directing responsible comrades to do this a long time ago. In 1952, while our whole country was striving to achieve victory on the battlefield, that same year, at a meeting of the Government Council, the minutes recorded the Chairman's speech, which stated: "We have begun to implement the three 'anti's - against corruption, against waste, and against bureaucracy. In 1953, we must strive to thoroughly implement the three 'anti's. Leading cadres must take the lead and be exemplary in the movement..." (Forever a shining example). These are the profound impressions that I, as a reader, have had of the book "The Shining Morality of Ho Chi Minh." And there are many more beautiful impressions like these, depending on the feelings and experiences of each reader today, if they know how to prepare their hearts to connect with Uncle Ho.

Prime Minister Pham Van Dong once wrote beautifully about President Ho Chi Minh: "Every word and deed of Ho Chi Minh was practical and concrete; he said what he meant and did what he said, often doing more than he spoke, sometimes even acting without speaking, his thoughts manifesting in his actions. Ho Chi Minh was a man who always aimed for practical results, daring to think and act on extraordinary and great things, but without being unrealistic, delusional, or hasty!" ⁽²⁾I think that many more books and academic works are needed to fully capture the essence of President Ho Chi Minh's "thought manifested in action," his "courage to think and act," and his "lack of illusions and impatience." The book "The Shining Morality of Ho Chi Minh" is one such example. Its success stems from the authenticity of the stories chosen; the concise and clear storytelling, which highlights the leader's character and personality; and furthermore, the educational content permeates the life, morality, and events, so the lessons learned at the end of each essay are gentle, insightful, and avoid the "formality" and "strenuousness" often found in many recently published books about President Ho Chi Minh...

Perhaps because of this, the book about Uncle Ho by military poet Ta Huu Yen has been reprinted four times by Thanh Nien Publishing House, up to 2007!
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(1) Ta Huu Yen: Shining Ho Chi Minh's Morality, Thanh Nien Publishing House, Hanoi, 4th reprint, 2007.
(2) Pham Van Dong: Basic understandings of Ho Chi Minh Thought, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 1998. p168.

Kim Hung