President Ho Chi Minh was an outstanding politician and cultural figure and also a brilliant diplomat. His ideology on external relations and diplomatic style embraces Vietnamese tradition as well as a broader humanity.

Ho Chi Minh’s brilliant flexibility in external relations contributed to the success of Vietnam’s revolution and other struggles around the world.

Le Hai Binh, Deputy Head of the Steering Committee for External Information of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Communications and Education, said Ho Chi Minh’s diplomatic style combined Vietnamese patriotism, culture, and diplomatic tradition into a uniquely Vietnamese diplomacy.

Characteristics of a culture of the future

Mr. Binh said President Ho Chi Minh is respected and loved by Vietnamese people and by many foreign friends around the world. The name Ho Chi Minh is mentioned with great respect internationally. President Ho Chi Minh respected everyone he talked to, even his rivals and enemies, because his vision was on a more ideal future.

“In 1923, Soviet journalist and poet Osip Emilyevich Mandenstam met Uncle Ho, who was then called Nguyen Ai Quoc. Mandelstam wrote that he saw in Nguyen Ai Quoc the culture of the future. His noble acts and deep voice suggested a future of peace and friendship all over the world”,  Binh added. 

Ho Chi Minh embraced an ideology and culture of global compassion and humanity. His modest appearance and gracious conduct revealed an uncommon intelligence and friendliness, no small part of the reason he was so highly respected by everyone he met.

Communication style reflects cultural values

Documents and stories told by Vietnamese and foreign politicians and historians frequently mention Ho Chi Minh’s modest, natural, sincere, friendly, and principled communication style. Mr. Binh said President Ho Chi Minh was a rare world leader with an unmistakably cultured communications style.

Le Hai Binh, Deputy Head of the Steering Committee for External Information of
the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Communications and Education  

He said, “Whatever he did or said was always closely tied to the people’s best interest – this was his consistent policy. He had a communication style that embraced culture and humanity. He was brilliant at identifying the character of anyone he met and talked to in order to respond appropriately.”

Mr. Binh quoted several diplomats, historians, and politicians praising President Ho Chi Minh’s diplomatic style as beautifully combining his own close identification with Vietnamese culture with a keen understanding and appreciation of other cultures. Ho Chi Minh’s diplomatic  ideology and style combined Vietnamese tradition with world culture.

Mr. Binh calls Ho Chi Minh’s diplomacy “a diplomacy of the people combining Vietnamese patriotism, culture, and diplomatic tradition.”  Ho Chi Minh’s diplomacy of the people meant understanding and sharing with others to make them better understand us.

His diplomatic style promoted conciliation, humanity, peace, tolerance, and flexibility while staying true to the principle of serving Vietnam’s national interests. The world continues to praise Ho Chi Minh’s ethical diplomatic style as an example for other leaders.