Uncle Ho's Homeland - A place of gratitude and return.
May arrives like a sacred promise, drawing people from all corners of the country towards Lang Sen and Hoang Tru – simple yet sacred places intimately connected to the life of President Ho Chi Minh. The words "Uncle Ho's Homeland" are both endearing and deeply moving. This very land once sheltered a great soul and personality; and today, it continues to silently nurture the bonds of affection between generations, between ethnic groups, and between hearts that transcend all boundaries, uniting in a stream of gratitude.
Sacred cultural source
On a May morning, director Ho Ngoc Xum (born 1955) returned to Hoang Tru and Lang Sen, President Ho Chi Minh's birthplace. This trip was a personal pilgrimage – a journey back to the source of emotion that helped him create moving films about him. From the emotions kindled on that sacred land, cinematic works deeply portraying the portrait and noble soul of President Ho Chi Minh, such as "The Childhood Moon" and "The Painting of Love," were successively created.
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With "Moonlight of Childhood," he explores President Ho Chi Minh's childhood through simple houses, the lullabies sung by his mother in the hammock, and the warm, resonant voice of his father reciting classical Chinese under the oil lamp. The film profoundly portrays the losses in President Ho Chi Minh's family, especially the passing of his mother, Hoang Thi Loan, offering a truthful and moving glimpse into the turbulent yet loving years of his childhood.
Still inside"In "Painting of Love," director Ho Ngoc Xum tells the story of a monk who, after leaving the monastic life, secretly painted hundreds of portraits of President Ho Chi Minh using an electric pen – as a way of expressing the profound respect from the bottom of his heart as an artist for his beloved leader.
Both films were highly acclaimed, contributing to director Ho Ngoc Xum winning the Best Director award at the 2010 FICTS Film Festival; while actor Nguyen Hung Cuong, who played the lead role, was also honored as Best Actor. Notably, the film "Childhood Moon" was selected by the Vietnam Film Department for screening during the film week commemorating the 135th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birth in Nghe An.
To capture those authentic and moving scenes, director Ho Ngoc Xum returned to President Ho Chi Minh's hometown many times, listening to oral stories from the local people.
To truly understand Uncle Ho, one must visit Hoang Tru - the birthplace of Uncle Ho; and Lang Sen - the place where his character was formed.
To me, Hoang Tru is like a hardworking mother, and Lang Sen is like an exemplary father. These two sources crystallized into a Ho Chi Minh who was both great and deeply imbued with the spirit of his homeland.
Director Ho Ngoc Xum
Exactly 135 years since Uncle Ho's birth, the thatched-roof, mud-walled house in the old Hoang Tru village remains as intact as ever. The small courtyard, the row of betel nut trees in front of the gate, the hibiscus hedge, the green bamboo grove… all seem to retain the warmth of the Man. For the director from the Southwestern region of Vietnam, that scene feels strangely familiar, as if it belonged to his memories.
These days in May, the artists who once played the role of President Ho Chi Minh – People's Artist Bui Bai Binh (Prophet), artist Manh Truong (Thau Chin in Siam), artist Minh Duc (Looking out at the seaThey also quietly returned, revisiting every little corner where He lived. For them, Uncle Ho's hometown is not just a cinematic setting, but a sacred realm of memories – a source of creative inspiration, where each artist finds themselves.
Deeply imbued with a spirit of solidarity.
One particularly striking feeling can be felt when standing amidst the tranquil atmosphere of Sen Village, or the peaceful bamboo groves of Hoang Tru – here, all boundaries seem to disappear. Regardless of who you are, your social standing, or your religion, everyone opens their hearts, setting aside differences to become closer to one another.
As Phạm Thế Duyệt (born in 1991, Làng Nam Parish, Xã Đoài Deanery, Vinh Diocese) shared: “When returning to Uncle Ho's hometown, the people of Xã Đoài Deanery all remember the letter that Uncle Ho sent to the people of Xã Đoài in August 1968.”
In his letter, Uncle Ho wrote: “I was deeply moved to hear that on July 21st, American enemy planes again bombed and shelled Xa Doai, injuring two bishops and three priests; a number of monks and Catholic and non-Catholic people were injured and killed, the church was damaged, and hundreds of houses were destroyed… I send my condolences and comfort to the priests, monks, and families of the victims. Catholic and non-Catholic people should unite closely, help each other, and the local government should find ways to help people overcome immediate difficulties to restore normal life and together strive to fight against the Americans and save the country.”
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Duyet shared his feelings: "For me, Uncle Ho's advice reflected the profound and compassionate heart of a man who dedicated his life to the country and its people. As a Catholic, I sensed in Uncle Ho a vast tolerance that transcended all boundaries of religion and social status. Every time I return to Uncle Ho's hometown, I understand even more deeply why he became a living symbol of national unity."
Besides domestic tourists, President Ho Chi Minh's hometown also welcomes many international visitors. Although unable to visit on President Ho Chi Minh's birthday, Comrade MonXay Laomuaxiong – Alternate Member of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Youth League, Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Youth League – and a delegation from Laos made a visit to President Ho Chi Minh's paternal and maternal hometowns in early 2025. Despite having visited Nghe An many times and respectfully offered flowers and incense to him, each visit evoked unique emotions for them.
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During our conversation, Comrade MonXay Laomuaxiong shared that President Ho Chi Minh was not only the leader of the Vietnamese people, but also a great friend and a spiritual pillar in the loyal relationship between Vietnam and Laos. Ho Chi Minh's homeland has always been a great symbol of the strength of unity, compassion, and love.
This very place once sheltered and nurtured a great soul. And today, it continues to quietly foster bonds of affection between generations, between nations, and between hearts that transcend geographical distances, uniting in a shared stream of gratitude.
Comrade MonXay Laomuaxiong – Alternate Member of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Youth League
New life on our "Shared Homeland"
Mr. Le Xuan Chung, Head of the General Administration Department of the Kim Lien Special National Historical Site, said that according to statistics from the site's registration list, from May 10th to May 19th, the site welcomed over 63,000 visitors. In addition to nearly 4,500 domestic groups, the site also received nearly 20 foreign groups from Laos, Thailand, India, China, France, and other countries. This number is estimated to be double that of the same period last year. This shows that the appeal and importance of Kim Lien are increasingly spreading among tourists and international friends.
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Interestingly, visitors to President Ho Chi Minh's birthplace are not only moved by the simple, rustic scenery that was once associated with his childhood, but also feel joy and pride witnessing the daily changes on this land... Just recently, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha signed Decision No. 921/QD-TTg dated May 14, 2025, recognizing Nam Dan district, Nghe An province, as having achieved advanced new rural standards in 2024.
Inspired by President Ho Chi Minh's teachings, the Party committee, government, and people of Nam Dan district have united and worked together to successfully complete all 9/9 criteria according to the set of criteria for advanced new rural districts in the 2021-2025 period. At the same time, the average per capita income reached 67 million VND/year, the poverty rate decreased significantly, creating a solid foundation for sustainable development.
In particular, the lotus plant – a symbol deeply rooted in this region for centuries – is now not only a cultural icon but also a foundation for economic development. With over 60 hectares of lotus cultivation and a range of distinctive lotus-based products such as tea, dried lotus seeds, and lotus-infused tea, the locality has 15 OCOP (One Commune One Product) products, 11 of which have achieved 3 to 4-star ratings.
Today's lotus fields not only spread the spirit of the countryside but also open up a sustainable path for agriculture linked with experiential and eco-tourism. Nam Dan – a land rich in tradition – is affirming its new role and position in the country's development.
As we enter the historic month of May, the lotus flowers in President Ho Chi Minh's hometown bloom profusely, as if to welcome the stream of people returning from all corners of the world. The lotus rises from hardship, just as the people here rise from adversity to write a new chapter – a chapter of change, integration, and development.
