Sunday, May 21, 2006

116 Years Vietnamese Hero's Birthday

May 19 is a very special day as it's Ho Chi Minh's birthday and this day is stuck deeply inside every Vietnamese heart, respectful and proud.

Ho Chi Minh mesoleum

Everywhere in Viet Nam this day is celebrated with lots of different performance and there are also lots of painting and photo exhibitions happening a few days before. The government also convenes lots of meetings to talk about Uncle Ho and the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum is a place to go for so many many people around Viet Nam, who just want to come here to see him and talk about him together and think about what he had done to help Viet Nam become great. They dressed up in different ways such as long dresses, suits and so many of them wear a yellow head band on their heads to show that they are Unclo Ho's children. Yes, we are all a part of him in mind and spirit.

Ho Chi Minh's birthday

There are so many magazines in and out of Viet Nam writing about him and they keep talking about how great he was to lead the country in such a right way. Writing about Uncle Ho is so difficult for me because I don't know the right words to express my feelings for him. He is not only my hero, he is a grand hero all over Vietnam. As I always say to my friends and tell myself that I am Vietnamese and always will be.

31 comments:

FRIDAY'S CHILD said...

He must be a very well respected man.

Anonymous said...

Indeed, He is a great leader that truly deserves all our respect.

Happy 116th anniversary!

black feline said...

I truly do not know...but somehow whenever I heard the name UNCLE HO...it's about Vietnam....the people, the struggle, the culture...etc everything points to him...a world icon...of a freedom fighter!

junebee said...

Is the day a holiday in Vietnam?

BionicBuddha said...

Great pics...you always have interesting posts.

Van Cong Tu said...

Some Viet Kieu- vietnamese living Abroad are commenting about Viet Nam and Vietnamese this way. I feel sorry for them.
Hin, Don't let them grinh you down OK. Thanks for your comment.
Junebee, yes it is.

Anonymous said...

I'm trying to be fair to both sides here.

I think everyone has some good some bad, nothing is black and white.

That being said, it took Russia 60-70 years to take down the Lenin statues and to change the city Leningrad to its original name...

The children of Russia (ex-URSS) used to adored Lenin THE WAY some adored HoChiMinh today...

So cut them some slack, give them some time, people ;)

Be patient ;)

Anonymous said...

yeah, this is all propaganda!!!! don't listen to a one sided communist party, a freedom fighter??? oh please, then explain why so many Vietnamese fled their native birth country as refugees when Ho's army took over in 1975???????

Tim Rice said...

Neat pictures.

Anonymous said...

Try to learn about Ho Chi Minh and you will findout what a person he was and why he did what he did after the Americans let him down.
He is a great person just western history doesn't do him right because he was a communist.The Vietnamese people have the right to be proud of what they are.

Anonymous said...

Government runs your Press and media. Government arrests you, if you don't support your commie government. You don't have freedom of religion. You don't have freedom of speech. TV shows are regulated. Books are regulated. Hahha.. Love your country now? There is a reason every nationality wants to come to the united states. sure, they aren't perfect, but it's a million times better than any Commie country. You aren't controlled by your government. You are free to think and do as you feel. You are treated as an adult. Not like little kids. Think about that. You like Ho chi minh so much now? I bet your government will arrest you if they catch you on this blog.. Hahah...

P.S. Go to Little Saigon, USA. Hear their sides of the story. From the communists killing innocent people, to thier journey here to a better life. Where they are free and not controlled by the communists. Why did so many vietnamese leave after the Communists won?

The only reason you love HO. Is because your government forces you too. HE is everywhere i bet. He's on walls, etc. If you talk about him badly, you are arrested..But in a free country, you are free to think how you think .OH how I love a democracy. THere's a reason most countries aren't commies anymore..Good luck you ho chi minh lovers, stuck with a govt. that restricts your every move. When will you be treated like adults?

Anonymous said...

I love these one minded arguments. It works both ways because most of the time they are fed by one source.

"You don't have freedom of religion. You don't have freedom of speech. TV shows are regulated. Books are regulated."

You are telling me most of those you listed aren't regulated in the US? Come on now. TV shows and books are obviously regulated. Content removed or censored in school books have been getting a little media attention as of late in the US. TV shows are obviously regulated. Have you heard of FCC? We do have freedom of speech but you have to prepare for the consequences on what you say.

And no, for the record, I do not hate nor like Ho Chi Minh. My knowledge of the guy is really insufficient (US education + parents who are Vietnamese born) which is pretty much one-half of the story.

Anonymous said...

Don't Be Stupid. Of course there is an extent to everything. No doubt, Porn can't be shown on prime time tv. Nor can you cuss on live "air". OF course you can't threaten to kill someone, even though you have free speech. No Shit. Are you that stupid? In the united states, are we free to worship any thing or person we feel like? Hell Yes. Are we free to build our own churches, mosques, etc. Hell Yes. Are we allowed to say, " Bush Sucks" Hell yes.

Now tell me if Vietnamese Citizens can do any of the things I described.

They are restricted to what internet sites they can go to in their private homes.Newspaper and Press are govt. ran. While in the US. You can say anything you want about the government or not.

Your whole family will get killed if you made Farenheit 9/11 in Vietnam. So End of discussion.

Would you rather live in Communist Country or US of A?

Thank Ho Chi Minh and his homies for what the Vietnamese people are living in.

Anonymous said...

Hey Marcus...

STFU. You don't speak for every Vietnamese.

Anonymous said...

I don't speak for every vietnamese, because they are scared to speak out.

Wouldn't you like to live in a place where you are safe to say your own opinions of whomever you like? Don't tell me anyone in the world doesn't want that.

Who wants to get put in jail, because they don't agree with their govt.?

Who doesn't want to vote for their govt. leaders?

Who wants to get persecuted for believing in a certain religion?

Who wants to be put in jail for having a bible?

Who wants to get thrown in jail, for having a protest?

I could go on and on....

How can anyone dispute this? Tell me one person who wouldn't like living without those restrictions?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/2418791.stm

Check that link out..You really love a country where this happens?

And if you are living in Vietnam right now...that page might be blocked off...Hahaha

That's why I love a democracy. You could say that president George Bush is horrible and nothing will happen. They make movies criticizing bush and nothing happens...You are free to feel how you feel. You don't have to kiss the govt.'s ass...

I love a democracy...Too bad for you guys living in controlled states...

Anonymous said...

And don't get me wrong. I love Vietnam. The country is beautiful. But the govt. is what sucks about it. But then again, you guys will get arrested for speaking out...so i guess you guys should just stay quiet...

Anonymous said...

I'm not disputing the fact democracy is great. I consider myself a proud US citizen and I love the rights that entails it.

But the thing is democracy isn't for everyone. I'm not going to shove the idea into another persons throat. Who am I to judge about another person's choice of living? If VG or all those "brain washed" VN are happy with their lives then who are we to judge?
We don't need to be so smug about it. I have relatives in Vietnam who are perfectly happy living there (albeit they are extremely wealthy in VN living standards).

A country's government transition doesn't perfectly happen right off the bat.

You speak of freedoms but I don't think I need to remind you that US early history was not so rosy also. An example would be McCarthyism. And voting? Minorities weren't allowed to vote until the late 1800s or early 1900s (my history was off). It took the US 100-150 years after its independence until minorities could vote for government leaders. Even when they could vote early on they were threaten by groups, mainly people of white and KKK.

I agree. From my point of view the living situation that I know from reading and hearing about over here is poor compare to our situation. But it would be unfair to expect everythiing to be all peachy right after such a long, bloodshed transition. It takes time.

But hey, the conditions over there right now are a lot better than when the French were in control it seems.

Anonymous said...

And by the way I was born in the US and still live here. I don't need to worry about getting arrested for speaking out :)

Anonymous said...

talking about freedom .
Ok , guys , loving or hating Hochiminh is the freedom of one person . If you hate him , fine, it is your right , but if VG love him, it is his right . Nothing is wrong with it .
Just like in US , somepeople like Bush, some not. And besides , this is VG's personal blog, so if you don't like what he wrote , just don't come in and read it . It is that simple . Why do you guys need to make a big deal about it ?

Anonymous said...

VG,
It is your right to call Ho Chi Minh a hero and I repect that. But saying things like “Ho Chi Minh’s birthday and this day is stuck deeply inside every Vietnamese heart, respectful and proud” or “...he is a grand hero all over Vietnam” is an overstatement. You should live in the south (Saigon in particular) and you will see how people really feel about the guy. I can assure you that not many feel the way you do, young and old alike. Of course people will not say out loud about their true feeling of your “uncle” and the gorvn’t he created. You should know why. Every Vietnamese are be happy to have May 19th as a holiday because they can have a day off from work/school, not becuase it your hero’s birthday. And please don’t feel sorry for the Viet Kieu because they are free to speak their mind. Some of them may be unreasonable about the current condition in Vietnam but at least they can say whatever thay want.

black feline said...

may i add...since the word "freedom fighter"...let's agree to disagree..it's only my opinion...

Anonymous said...

he is but a HO, as his name suggests.

Anonymous said...

Have to say, Vietnamese regime has done a great job, they turn their leader into a mythical figure almost a cult leader. For those youngsters they don’t know what hardship their country had been through, million of lives wasted in the name of revolution. The country caught between the great cold war and both sides suffered greatly. Who’s right? of course the victor is one who dictated the outcome.

Friends, when you are on the web better to keep politics off the field, especially for those haven’t been outside Vietnam, your view is sadly very restricted. I don’t disagree with you, uncle Ho is an extraordinary man, but nonetheless his government did made plenty of mistakes, land reform, radical Stalinism policies, after years of mismanagement the country once was the food bowl of Asian become one of the poorest.

30 years ago there are 3 countries split into 2 halves, Vietnam, Germany and Korea. Communist North Korea probably now the world’s bottom, while South Korea is the world 10th largest economy, East Germany long gone with the rest of the Soviet states.
After much change Vietnam is still one of the poorest countries in the world, do you question why?

You should be proud of your country, but extend the history much further, to the true national heroes, e.g. Hai Ba Trung, Tran Hung Dao… for the contemporary history, leave the judgments to the next generation.

Anonymous said...

Hey Marcus Lee and other smartass, if you feel pissed off about this topic, about our love for Uncle Ho then just get out of this place, okay ? No one welcomes you here anyway. Stop your nonsense already, we are one country with peace and happy people now, no one will listen to you anyway, don't try so hard to make sense, talk to your knees, ass-whore
I bet you don't even know how to talk proper Tieng Viet, do you ?
Don't say you love our country,I pity for you, hypocrite coz you don't have a true nation in your heart hahaha

Anonymous said...

Uhm.. internet is the media of freedom, true freedom in every sense of the word, not just for your commie’s propaganda. We can agreed in disagree or we can all go nasty.
For example, in response to the last blog, talking about pettiness, you still have to kiss my tourist butt for money, or how many of you want to go go overseas to be a slave for jobs that nobody wants to do, servants, factory hands… so very proud!

Anonymous said...

dude wtf ru talking about, surely u still have to XXXX my white butt for $$$. I had your sister last week in saigon for 20 bucks, she kept crying 'me love u long time' so I gave her another 5, ask if she remember me and didn't I see u or ur brother open door at the Rex hotel, gave u a buck remember? good job boy.

Anonymous said...

GO SOUTH VIETNAM .. WE DON'T WANT COMMUNISM

Anonymous said...

ok, those ppl who support ho chi minh is why vietnam will never move forward in any shape or form. i was there in late feb/march of this year 07, and i was shocked. im a viet kieu living in australia who has an open mind but vietnam is going backwards, not forwards until communism is abolished.

Rock said...

He is my hero true, and will be my childrens' hero as well. Happy Birthday Cu Ho.

best pharmacy said...

I read many writing about heroes in many countries but which is very interesting is that they did something really wrong to the people of the country and that is considered as a felony or betrayal and in some way they wanted to make something for that people.. is a theory actually no one knows what really happened in those times, but is better a nice lie that the cruel truth.

Unknown said...

Quoi de neuf, belle page Web que vous avez trouvée ici.
Viagra générique de l'impuissance masculine