The legendary house, where Uncle Ho's 'Absolutely Secret' document was born
During his 79 springs, Uncle Ho lived and worked in many places, but the longest was the Presidential Palace (from December 19, 1954 to September 2, 1969).
During those 15 years, he lived and worked in the stilt house the most (from May 19, 1958 to August 17, 1969).
From August 17, 1969, due to his health condition, the doctors recommended that he no longer go up and down the stilt house, so he moved to the house built in 1967.
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| House 67, where Uncle Ho lived and worked during his last days. Photo: Pham Hai |
Here, despite the dedicated treatment of doctors, he passed away at 9:47 a.m. on September 2, 1969 after a heart attack.
Choose the best time of day
Preparing for this departure, since 1965, when he was still living in the stilt house, Uncle Ho chose the most beautiful time of the day, chose the time when he was in the best health during those years to write his Will, which he called very simply "Document", "Letter", "A few words left behind".
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| Uncle Ho's stilt house always attracts a large number of tourists. Photo: Pham Hai |
At the beginning of the article, Uncle Ho clearly wrote "On the occasion of his 75th birthday" and on the left margin, he added the words "Absolutely confidential".
When drafting "Top Secret" documents, Uncle Ho sat on a rattan chair to write or typed at a wooden table placed in the office on the second floor of the stilt house.
In his memoirs, Mr. Vu Ky (former personal secretary of Uncle Ho) wrote: “At exactly 9 o'clock, Uncle Ho sat down to write attentively. He must have pondered the issue for a long time. The office on the stilt house was quiet. The wind was cool and gentle, with the faint fragrance of garden flowers...
It was at that moment that Uncle Ho wrote the first lines in the 'Top Secret' document to leave to future generations.
That was May 10, 1965, the first day Uncle Ho wrote his Will. Then the following days of May that year and the middle days of May of the following years, Uncle Ho wrote, revised, and supplemented his Will in the stilt house's office.
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| Office in the stilt house. Photo: Pham Hai |
On May 19, 1969, Uncle Ho reviewed his Will: “At exactly 9 o'clock, Uncle Ho sat down at his desk with the Will in front of him. Outside, the sun was already high. The clusters of royal poinciana flowers bloomed early, catching the sunlight and showing off their brilliant colors.
The lake surface rippled, sparkling in the sunlight. A cool breeze blew through the window, causing Uncle Ho's silver hair to flutter. He sat there, leaning back in his chair comfortably, leisurely, a thoughtful expression appearing on his broad forehead..."
On May 20, 1969, “He reviewed the documents one last time and put them in an envelope and put them away.”
On May 8, 2004, when we visited Mr. Vu Ky at the Friendship Hospital, although he was very tired, he still recounted this story as if he had just witnessed it.
The stilt house was filled with the wind of the times. Uncle Ho leisurely and calmly wrote down what he had thought, concluded, and the experiences that he had gathered through his whole life of struggle and sacrifice. How precious those things were.
Uncle Ho's will is a priceless spiritual asset that he left to our generation today, as well as future generations. The stilt house has therefore become a legend in the common legend of Uncle Ho's life and has become increasingly meaningful.
Historical relics
The relics associated with the birth of Uncle Ho's historical Will are also the office on the second floor of the stilt house, the table and chairs where Uncle Ho often sat to work and to draft the Will, and the bookshelf on which Uncle Ho kept "Top Secret" documents.
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| Historical relics have existed along with the stilt house where Uncle Ho lived and worked in the Presidential Palace area. Photo: Pham Hai |
In addition, there is also the typewriter that Uncle Ho used to type documents and the Will (1965 version), the pens that Uncle Ho used to write, correct, and supplement the Will, the envelope that Uncle Ho used to contain the "Top Secret" document... All are historical relics that have existed along with the existence of the stilt house, during the time and space that Uncle Ho lived and worked in the Presidential Palace area.
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| The car (Pobeda) given by the Soviet Government in 1955 served President Ho Chi Minh. Photo: Pham Hai |
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| Peugeot 404 car donated by a French overseas Vietnamese in 1964 served President Ho Chi Minh. Photo: Pham Hai |
They have become sacred evidence, witnessing Uncle Ho's specific activities, witnessing his profound thoughts that he pondered and refined to become cultural heritage for future generations, not only for generations of Vietnamese people but also for people who love labor, peace, and justice in the world.