Many young people read books at the Ho Chi Minh Cultural Space in LeLaz Café, District 6. (Photo: SGGP)

A unique coffee space with President Ho Chi Minh

After a busy workday near the end of the year, Nguyen Hoai An, an employee at an interior design company, chose to relax at LeLaz Café in District 6, Ho Chi Minh City. After ordering a cup of coffee, he instinctively walked to the bookshelf and picked up the book President Ho Chi Minh and Southern Vietnam, Southern Vietnam and President Ho Chi Minh.

That day, Hoai An brought a friend along. His goal was not only to introduce his friend to this reading and relaxation space but also to show him a unique Ho Chi Minh Cultural Space inside the café. Thanks to his recommendation, his friend chose the book Fulfilling the Sacred Will of President Ho Chi Minh and began reading in the soothing atmosphere of the café, which was decorated in vibrant spring colors.

Hoai An frequently visits cafes with reading spaces, especially those featuring books about President Ho Chi Minh. Each time, he selects a new book to read. "The more I learn about his life, the more motivated I feel to work, study, and expand my knowledge. He is an incredible role model for lifelong learning," said An.

Like Hoai An and his friends, many young people have shown enthusiasm for the Ho Chi Minh Cultural Space at LeLaz Café and many other venues across Ho Chi Minh City. These spaces are typically designed as small, simple bookshelves filled with a variety of books on the life, career, and teachings of President Ho Chi Minh.

Meanwhile, at Hung Minh Tu Monastery in District 6, where 400–500 people visit daily for traditional medicine consultations, the monastery’s management board, in collaboration with the local Party Committee, established a Ho Chi Minh Cultural Space at the entrance to the clinic. This provides visitors with a place to rest while also allowing them to explore and learn more about President Ho Chi Minh’s legacy as they wait.

Le Thanh Vu, a 62-year-old regular visitor to the clinic, shared, "While waiting for my turn, I always take time to read books about President Ho Chi Minh. This space has become a familiar and cherished place for me and many others."

Spreading the Legacy of President Ho Chi Minh

For the first time visiting her host mother’s home, Phathalinh, a Lao student studying at Nguyen Tat Thanh University, was surprised to see numerous pictures, quotes, and books about President Ho Chi Minh displayed in the living room. When her host mother, Saligia—a Cham ethnic woman residing in District 8—explained that she had created this Ho Chi Minh Cultural Space with the theme "Family," Phathalinh became even more intrigued and excited.

During family gatherings and warm meals in the living room, Saligia often shares stories about President Ho Chi Minh’s simple life, his philosophy on family, and his diplomatic relations with international friends. Each time she tells these stories with pride, Phathalinh and Saligia’s children develop a deeper understanding and admiration for President Ho Chi Minh.

Saligia explained that she created the Ho Chi Minh Cultural Space in her home out of immense love and respect for him and a desire to educate and inspire her children with his example. Through music rehearsals and meetings with other Cham women in the community, she has also helped many of them learn about and follow President Ho Chi Minh’s moral teachings.

The Ho Chi Minh Cultural Space at home, like the one in Saligia’s family, has been embraced by many households, further spreading his legacy. Alongside these personal efforts, thousands of other spaces have been creatively established by local governments and organizations, incorporating both tangible and intangible values to ensure lasting influence in the community.

As he worked alongside residents decorating the Ho Chi Minh Cultural Space at an open-air park in Neighborhood 14, Nguyen Ngoc Tan, Party Secretary of the neighborhood in District 1, shared: "For a long time, Saigon–Gia Dinh has been deeply connected to President Ho Chi Minh’s journey to find a path for national liberation. It was also the place he longed to return to, as he once said, ‘Southern Vietnam is always in my heart.’ Therefore, establishing these Ho Chi Minh Cultural Spaces is not just an honor but also a responsibility for every resident of this city, which proudly bears his name."

Compiled by BTA