The special national is located in the southwest of the island. It is about 2 km
from the wharf to the relic site and there are electric cars and public vehicles
to take visitors from the wharf to the relic site.

According to the relic records, after President Ho Chi Minh visited the mining area
and allowed Hai Ninh province (now Quang Ninh province) to erect a statue of him
on Co To island (January 1962), the Hai Ninh Administrative Committee decided to erect
a statue of Uncle Ho and build a memorial site of President Ho Chi Minh on Co To island
to commemorate the event of Uncle Ho visiting Co To island on May 9, 1961.

It includes five relic sites: President Ho Chi Minh statue, temple, Doc Khoai,
souvenir exhibition house and salt field.

The highlight of the relic site is the statue of President Ho Chi Minh on Co To island.
Many important events take place there and it is the first place visitors come to
when they set foot on the island.

At first, the statue of Uncle Ho was built as a bust, made of plaster, with his right hand raised high
waving to the people. The statue is 1.8m high. The project was inaugurated on May 22, 1968,
on the occasion of Uncle Ho's 78th birthday. In 1976, on the occasion of Uncle Ho's 86th birthday,
the bust of Uncle Ho was replaced by a full-body statue, made of reinforced concrete.
The statue is 4.5m high, located 100m from the shore.

 

In 1996, on the occasion of Uncle Ho's 106th birthday, the concrete statue of Uncle Ho
was replaced with granite. Until now, the statue of President Ho Chi Minh in Co To Island
is still considered the largest-scale and most beautiful statue of Uncle Ho
in the Northeast region of the country.

 

At the memorial house located right behind the statue of Uncle Ho, there are President Ho Chi Minh’s
sayings to cadres, soldiers and people of Co To Island on May 9, 1962: "Although the capital Hanoi
is not far from the islands, the Party and the Government always care about the islanders
and hope that the islanders will unite, strive and progress".

 

In accordance with the wishes of the islanders, a flagpole was built right in front of the monument.
The flagpole is 27.9m high, has a moving part, a winch system, and an electrical system designed,
supplied and constructed by the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Protection Command, creating enough
pulling force to withstand the strong winds of the sea and islands.

 

The historical relic of President Ho Chi Minh Memorial Site on Co To Island
was recognized as a National Monument in 1997. Over the decades, after
many renovations, upgrades and expansions, the project still retains
its origin in value and has become increasingly meaningful, becoming
the most meaningful destination among the routes and tourist spots on Co To Island.

On January 18, 2022, the President Ho Chi Minh Memorial Site on Co To Island
was recognized by the Prime Minister as a Special National Relic, a source of honor
and pride for the people, cadres and soldiers in Co To district as well as Quang Ninh province.

Over 60 years since Uncle Ho visited, Co To has changed today, but the historical milestones
of the day Uncle Ho visited, the complex of President Ho Chi Minh Memorial Site on
Co To Island marking Uncle Ho's image are still intact, becoming a red address
for the army, people and tourists every time they visit the island.

BTA