Book Reveal: Ho Chi Minh's Secret Years in Thailand Celebrates 135 Years!

Book Reveal: Ho Chi Minh's Secret Years in Thailand Celebrates 135 Years!

Today, May 19, 2025, the book “Uncle Ho in Thailand” will be released to celebrate the 135th birthday of President Ho Chi Minh. This publication provides insight into his revolutionary career and is published by Vietnam Education Publishing House in collaboration with the Consulate General of Vietnam in Khon Kaen, Thailand. The book is bilingual, in both Vietnamese and Thai, and has the non-commercial aim of spreading the historical and humanistic values ​​of Ho Chi Minh.

The author, Ha Lam Danh, has collected authentic historical documents about Ho Chi Minh's activities in Thailand from July 1928 to November 1929. The translation into Thai was carried out under the direction of Dr. Soonthorn Phannarattana and teacher Le Quoc Vi (Thawee Rungrotkajonkul), which serves to preserve and spread the Vietnamese-Thai language and culture within the Vietnamese community in Thailand.

Ho Chi Minh's legacy in Thailand

Ho Chi Minh lived under the code name Thau Chin during his time in Thailand as a Vietnamese revolutionary soldier. He quickly earned the trust of the locals, lived simply and worked hard. Nevertheless, he was also exposed to persecution by French spies. However, thanks to the protection of the Vietnamese and the locals, he was able to continue his political activities unhindered.

His activities in Thailand had a significant impact on the lives of Vietnamese living abroad. He actively contributed to the establishment of schools and thus promoted education within his community. Relics of Ho Chi Minh in Thailand are cared for by the local government as well as the local Vietnamese community in cities such as Udon Thani, Phichit and Nakhon Phanom. The image of Ho Chi Minh remains alive in the hearts of Vietnamese and Thais abroad.

A remarkable life story

Ho Chi Minh, born Nguyen Sinh Cung in 1890, was the son of a civil servant. Over the course of his life he changed his name several times and finally, at the age of 51, called himself Ho Chi Minh, which means “the one who brings enlightenment”. In his youth he worked as a sailor and traveled to America. In 1917 he came to Paris, where he took on various odd jobs.

As a founding member of the French Communist Party in 1920, he was actively involved in spreading communist ideas. Ho Chi Minh spent a lot of time abroad, traveling through China, Western Europe, Thailand and Hong Kong. In 1930 he founded the “Communist Party of Indochina,” which was later renamed the “Communist Party of Vietnam.” His political activities led to multiple arrests, including a charge of incitement to riot and an arrest by British police in Hong Kong, where he spent a year in detention.

After 30 years abroad, Ho Chi Minh returned to his native Vietnam in 1941 to lead the struggle for independence against Japan and France. On September 2, 1945, he proclaimed the “Democratic Republic of Vietnam” and became its first president. Ho Chi Minh lived through the Vietnamese War and his political strategies shaped the history of Vietnam until his death in 1969.