Some of France’s Archives National d’Outre Mer (National Archives Overseas) most valuable documents about late President Ho Chi Minh are being displayed at an exhibition in Hanoi.

The exhibition provides various angles on the life and career of President Ho Chi Minh
through archives from the US, Russia, France and Vietnam 

The documents include a passport issued by the Chinese Consulate in Singapore to Tong Van So (another name of President Ho Chi Minh), portrait photos and fingerprints taken in 1931.

 They are on display at the exhibition 'President Ho Chi Minh: Life and Career through Vietnamese and International Archival Records', which opened on August 28 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of implementing his testament.

 The exhibition showcases more than 100 documents and images about President Ho Chi Minh’s life and career selected from archival and cultural agencies of Vietnam, the US, Russia and France.

 The exhibition provides different angles about President Ho Chi Minh through the archives of the US, Russia and France, said Dang Thanh Tung, Director of the State Records and Archives Department of Vietnam.

“We received the collaboration of the Russian National Film Archive Institute, Russian Foreign Policy Research Institute, the National Archives Overseas of France and the US National Archives and Records Administration. Many documents haven’t been shown to the public before.

“We hope that the exhibition will bring a better understanding of President Ho Chi Minh’s life and career to the public in Vietnam and around the world thereby strengthening the trust in the Party and the revolutionary path built up by President Ho Chi Minh.”

It’s a rare chance to see documents such as an individual plan of research student Lin (another name of President Ho) in 1937 in the Institute for Studies of National and Colonial Affairs in Russia; letters and telegrams sent by President Ho Chi Minh to President Harry Truman requesting the US and the UN take action on the aggression from the French in 1946; a letter of gratitude from President Ho to President Lyndon Johnson after receiving a photo taken by spaceship Apollo 8 in 1969; and a letter President Richard Nixon sent to President Ho Chi Minh expressing his desire to discuss peace in 1969.

 Rene Nicolas Houzelot, Director of the National Archives Centre in Paris, said the legacy of President Ho Chi Minh is rich and diverse and he is an inspiring and influential person for many people.

“The exhibition is very meaningful in spreading his ideology, morality and devotion in the national liberation and world peace,” he said.

 The exhibition will run until September 8 at the Presidential Palace.