Mr. Tran Van Cao enthusiastically tells historical stories through the photos he has collected.

Passion for telling stories about Uncle Ho through images

On hot and sunny days of June blend with the chirping of cicadas from the old trees along the road, going to the village entrance of Hamlet 2, Dai Yen Commune, Chuong My District, Hanoi, asking about Mr. Cao, everyone here knows him. He is the man who tells stories about Uncle Ho through photos. The 3-storey house is located in a small alley is the place which contained a "treasure trove" of photos of Uncle Ho.

Receiving reporters in the living room of his house, in addition to the table and chair set and the TV shelf, there are 21 photos of Uncle Ho that he was given in 1968 after achieving the title of Emulation Fighter in the Irrigation sector. Next to that are a few paintings that Mr. Cao drew himself about famous places such as Nha Rong Wharf, President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Uncle Ho's stilt house.

When asked about the reason why he has a passion for collecting photos of Uncle Ho, Mr. Tran Van Cao shared: In 1963, he met Uncle Ho only once in Thai Nguyen. At that time, he was wearing a very simple khaki outfit with worn shoulders, wearing rubber sandals, and a white hat. He admired a national leader who was so simple and close. Since then, he has been determined to spend his life studying and working according to the example, morality, and ideology of Ho Chi Minh. With a special love for Uncle Ho, Mr. Cao has now painstakingly searched for and preserved more than 800 photos of Uncle Ho.

Recalling the past, Mr. Cao said in a low voice that he was born in a farming family. Life was very difficult. He had to save money to raise his four children, but he always had a dream of having a "Room to preserve photos of Uncle Ho". In 2003, he had the means to repair the 3-storey house he was living in, he dedicated the top floor to display souvenir photos of Uncle Ho and set up a separate altar for Uncle Ho.

In addition, during the past time, Mr. Cao also wrote poems about Uncle Ho even when he was working in the fields, at home or doing any work. At this time, in his gallery about Uncle Ho, he not only kept photos but also 1,456 six-eight verses about Uncle Ho that he wrote over the course of more than 10 years.

Mr. Cao's Uncle Ho memorial room attracts not only visitors from the commune and district, but also many delegations from provinces and cities. Specifically, in March 2021, a delegation of officials from the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of History came to visit and asked to take some photos that the Museum did not have.

Mr. Tran Van Cao was honored to receive a Certificate of Merit from the Prime Minister and the title "Good person, good deeds" from the Hanoi City People's Committee.

Useful address for the young generation to understand the history of the country

The photos in the memorial room were carefully arranged by Mr. Tran Van Cao in chronological order, from when Uncle Ho left to find a way to save the country in 1911 until his death in 1969. This year, at the age of 89, his memory of Uncle Ho's historical milestones is still intact.

His memorial room of Uncle Ho's photos is also a trusted address for schools around the commune to bring students to visit and listen to him tell historical stories.

Sharing with reporters, teacher Nguyen Nhu Xuan - Principal of Dai Yen Secondary School, Chuong My district, Hanoi, said that in the past school year, the school has organized several times to bring students of all classes to visit the memorial room of Uncle Ho's paintings at Mr. Tran Van Cao's private home and listen to him tell historical stories about Uncle Ho. Every time he brought students, Mr. Cao told stories to everyone with great interest and passion. Through his poems and images of Uncle Ho through his historical stories, the generation of students saw that the history of the nation and Uncle Ho - the leader of our nation was so brave and resilient".

For each photo collected, Mr. Tran Van Cao thoroughly researched the content, time, and activities of Uncle Ho in the photo, so that every time someone came to visit, especially students, children and relatives, he would enthusiastically introduce and explain each photo like a museum tour guide.

Despite of old age, Mr. Cao has talks to promote the moral example of Ho Chi Minh at the activities of political organizations in the villages in the commune. And he has a wish that his children and grandchildren will continue to take care of the altar and the memorial room of Uncle Ho on his behalf.

Comrade Dang Dinh Hoa - Secretary of the Party Committee of Dai Yen commune said: “Mr. Tran Van Cao's work is very special and meaningful. Mr. Cao's Uncle Ho Memorial Room is a useful address for education on studying and following the example and morality of Ho Chi Minh, educating the revolutionary tradition of our nation to the young generation in Dai Yen commune in particular and the people of the whole country in general”.

Through his work stemming from his love and respect for Uncle Ho, in 2020, Mr. Tran Van Cao received a Certificate of Merit from the Prime Minister for his outstanding achievements in studying and following the ideology, morality and style of Ho Chi Minh; received the title "Good person, good deeds" from the Hanoi People's Committee in 2020; received a Commemorative Medal from the Party Central Commission of Popularization and Education and many Certificates of Merit and Certificates of Merit from the district and commune./.

Compiled by BTA