A flower offering ceremony at the monument of President Ho Chi Minh on the solemn campus of School No. 14 named after President Ho Chi Minh. (Photo: Vietnamese Embassy in Mongolia)

On the occasion of the Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh paid a state visit to Vietnam, Ambassador to Mongolia Doan Khanh Tam told us a particularly meaningful story, a symbol of Vietnam-Mongolia traditional and friendship relations between the two countries: The story of a school named after President Ho Chi Minh in the heart of Mongolia's capital Ulaanbaatar.

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Although geographically far apart from Vietnam, Mongolia is one of the countries that established diplomatic relations with Vietnam very early, on November 17, 1954, just a few months after the victory of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, bringing peace to Indochina, Ambassador Tam said.

Especially, less than a year later, in July 1955, President Ho Chi Minh made his first official visit to Mongolia. This was his first abroad trip after peace was restored in Northern Vietnam. President Ho Chi Minh's visit that year had a very special meaning for the country and people of Mongolia, laying the foundation for an excellent traditional friendship between the two countries and peoples.

To remember that particularly important visit and continue to nurture the friendly relationship between the two countries and two peoples, on the 90^th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birthday, the Central Committee of the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party decided to name School No. 14 - the most prestigious school of the steppe country, located in the heart of the capital Ulaanbaatar after President Ho Chi Minh, the founder of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, a great man of culture.

Ambassador Doan Khanh Tam (R) and Mr. Gungaajav, Principal of the President Ho Chi Minh School at the Ho Chi Minh Traditional Room. (Photo: Vietnamese Embassy in Mongolia)

More specifically, in 2009, the statue of President Ho Chi Minh was solemnly placed in a central position on the School's campus, overlooking Peace Avenue, the largest one in the capital Ulaanbaatar. Also this year, the Ho Chi Minh Tradition Room was established at the School with many images and memorabilia about him and the relationship between the two countries, creating a warm space to commemorate the beloved leader of the Vietnamese people, a great friend of the country and people of Mongolia.

Talking about the history of the prestigious school named after President Ho Chi Minh in the capital Ulaanbaatar, Ambassador Tam revealed that that school was established in 1949 with the name School No. 14. it is one of the most famous and excellent schools in Mongolia. Currently, Ho Chi Minh School has more than 250 teachers and over 6,000 students. Because it is a national standard school with a reputation, many parents in other areas of the city also want their children to be students here.

Ambassador Tam has more, saying over the past 70 years, many senior leaders and talented people in all fields of Mongolia have grown up in this school. Among them is Mongolia's first President P. Ochirbat, Prime Minister P. Amarjargal, Prime Minister S. Batbold, and many leading Mongolian politicians, parliamentarians, and scientists.

The No. 14 School named after President Ho Chi Minh is also honored to welcome high-ranking Vietnamese leaders when they visit Mongolia such as President Nguyen Minh Triet, Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Van An.

With outstanding achievements in cultivating friendship between the two countries and two peoples and achievements in the career of "Hundred years of cultivating people" as taught by Uncle Ho, the School has been awarded many noble titles by the Mongolian and Vietnamese States, among them are the Friendship Medal by the State of Vietnam in 1987 and the Friendship Medal in 2000.

Ambassador Doan Khanh Tâm shared that the Government and people of Mongolia, especially the teachers and students of the School and the Vietnamese community in Mongolia always care for and preserve the Monument of President Ho Chi Minh in the capital Ulaanbaatar. That has most truly expressed the feelings of love and respect of the Governments and people of the two countries towards President Ho Chi Minh.

In the School, there is also a Vietnamese Club, with a large participation of students. Since 1960, Ho Chi Minh School in Ulaanbaatar has been twinned with Chu Van An High School and did the same with Nguyen Tat Thanh High School in Hanoi in 2011.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Mongolia informed that every year the School regularly organizes many activities to celebrate major Vietnamese holidays, such as President Ho Chi Minh's birthday, National Day, etc. Through writing and drawing contests, learning about the life and evolutional career of President Ho Chi Minh and about the country and people of Vietnam activities held on those occasions, are further strengthening the friendship and mutual understanding between the young generations of the two countries.

Vietnamese Dance performed by Students of the School named after President Ho Chi Minh in Ulaanbaatar on Uncle Ho's Birthday, May 19, 2022. (Photo: Vietnamese Embassy in Mongolia)

The interesting thing is that all of the school's students have certain knowledge about President Ho Chi Minh. They can sing and dance Vietnamese dances. Another beauty of the School is that the graduation ceremony for students is always held on the birthday of President Ho Chi Minh. This is an opportunity for students to offer flowers and report their achievements to President Ho Chi Minh.

With such meaningful activities, the School with all 3 levels of education, the only one in a foreign country named after President Ho Chi Minh, has contributed to improving the understanding of teachers and students about the national liberation hero of Vietnam and a world cultural great man as well as the cultural identity of the country and people of Vietnam, making Mongolian and Vietnamese people have a better understanding on each other and bond more closely...

It is a very special and meaningful story in the long history of relations between the two countries and peoples over the past 7 decades, and is a strong bond between the people of the two countries, as emphasized by Ambassador Doan Khanh Tam.