Aside from its cultural and historical significance, the site is a vivid symbol of friendship between the peoples of Vietnam and Thailand, reflecting the deep respect Thai people and overseas Vietnamese have for President Ho Chi Minh and the Vietnamese nation.

Located about 10 km west of Udon Thani center, the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Site is a renowned local tourist attraction and a source of pride for the Vietnamese community. It preserves memories, artifacts and images of President Ho Chi Minh. A notable feature is the replica of the house where he lived and worked during his revolutionary activities.

The memorial site is divided into two sections: the Trai Cua and the Multi-functional Area. The Trai Cua, where President Ho Chi Minh stayed and conducted revolutionary activities from 1928 to 1929, is reconstructed with a main three-room house. The central room is for meetings and learning; the left room has a wooden table and chairs where President Ho Chi Minh worked, and a small bed in the corner; the right room has a wooden platform running the length of the room for comrades to rest.

The house and its furnishings closely resemble those used by President Ho Chi Minh during his stay.

Everyday items he used are displayed in the memorial site…

… evoking the scenery of his native village Sen in Nghe An province, his hometown.

Visitors leave notes at the memorial site.

Pham Duc Dau, head of the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Site management board, shared that the site has become a famous tourist spot, attracting many visitors to Udon Thani, contributing to the province's status as the economic, cultural and tourism capital of Northeast Thailand.

In the Multi-functional Area, the main room features an altar with a traditional bronze statue of President Ho Chi Minh.

This site serves as a place for generations of Vietnamese and Thai people to learn about President Ho Chi Minh's life and career, supporting community activities and preserving Vietnamese cultural identity in Thailand.

This is the first memorial dedicated to President Ho Chi Minh in Thailand, built with contributions from overseas Vietnamese, followed by memorials in Nakhon Phanom and Phichit provinces.

The site is a gathering place for the Vietnamese community during holidays, President Ho Chi Minh's birthday, and Vietnam's National Day on September 2.

The exhibition hall holds many valuable images and documents: stories of President Ho Chi Minh's activities in Thailand, his handwritten notes, his speech to overseas Vietnamese in Thailand upon his return on January 10, 1960, and a model of his stilt house.

In July 1928, after returning from Europe to Thailand, President H Chi Minh decided to stay and build a revolutionary movement in Nong Bua village, Mueang district, Udon Thani province, using various aliases such as Tho, Nam Son and Thau Chin.

He later moved to Noong On village to expand and consolidate the grassroots movement, fostering a positive sentiment among the Siamese people towards the Vietnamese revolution and community. He encouraged respect for Thai customs while maintaining Vietnamese culture, promoting bilingual literacy.

President Ho Chi Minh also spent time translating theoretical books for training Vietnamese cadres. He also helped overseas Vietnamese dig wells, cultivate gardens, raise chickens and pigs, and improve their livelihoods.

Visiting the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Site in Udon Thani, the Vietnamese community in Thailand offers heartfelt hospitality to visitors.

BTA (Photos: VOV)