President Vo Van Thuong’s special gift to US President Joe Biden

US President Joe Biden paid a State visit to Vietnam from September 10 to 11 at the invitation of Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee.

  • Security guard force absolutely ensures security and safety of US President
  • US President’s visit to further drive Vietnam - US relations: ambassador
President Vo Van Thuong’s special gift to US President Joe Biden -0
Cover of the book ‘Ho Chi Minh - Letters to America’

During his visit, the US President was hosted by President Vo Van Thuong on September 11 and was presented with a special book entitled ‘Ho Chi Minh - Letters to America’, which was published by the Vietnamese Writers' Association Publishing House.

True to its name, the book introduces President Ho Chi Minh’s letters to the United States. The first letter was written in Paris, France, on June 18, 1919, under the name Nguyen Ai Quoc when he was only 29 years old, and was sent to the then US Secretary of State. The last letter, addressed to President Richard Nixon, was written on August 25, 1969, just eight days before President Ho Chi Minh passed away.

Nguyen Quang Thieu, president of the Vietnam Writers Association, wrote an introduction to this book as follows:

“This is a small, humble book but contains an infinitely compassionate heart and great thoughts of a great man: HO CHI MINH.

The book introduces President Ho Chi Minh's letters to Americans, from students, women, ordinary people, journalists to officers, senators, Secretaries of State and Presidents. Regardless of historical circumstances, recipients and reasons, the letters convey a noble humanism, the aspiration for peace, the determination to fight for national independence and freedom, and the national pride of the sender.

The first letter was written in 1919 and signed by the young patriot Nguyen Ai Quoc, while the last letter was penned in 1969 and signed by Ho Chi Minh - the President of an independent country.

President Vo Van Thuong’s special gift to US President Joe Biden -0
The cover of the book's box is made of blue-glazed ceramics made by Hue artisans. 

The letters, written over half a century (1919 - 1969), portray a great man named HO CHI MINH and a righteous path associated with Vietnam's glorious revolutionary history. The letters of a humble man named HO CHI MINH have become a treasured heritage of the nation.

Notably, the book features many portraits of President Ho Chi Minh taken by Western photographers and journalists.

All translations of the letters into English have been well preserved, Thieu said, to ensure their historical integrity. Regarding the letters that had not been translated, the Writers' Association Publishing House has managed to have their best  translation versions so that foreign readers can understand the core spirit of those letters.

It has been a century since the first letter was penned under the name of the young patriot Nguyen Ai Quoc, and more than half a century has passed since the last letter was written by President Ho Chi Minh. Time passes with many changes in Vietnam as well as in the world. However, the love for the Fatherland, the love for humanity, the aspiration for freedom of a man representing his nation will remain unchanged forever.

That is the great message of the letters in this book, and also the message of the nation to US President Joe Biden.

Thieu added that President Vo Van Thuong came up with the idea of presenting the gift to the US President during a private meeting with leaders of the Vietnam Writers' Association a few months ago. The President was impressed with Thieu’s efforts in translating the letters to print into a book, and requested the association to make the book a special gift to the US President.

By Duy Tien

Other News

Communication drive promoted for 500-day campaign to locate, identify fallen soldiers' remains

Communication drive promoted for 500-day campaign to locate, identify fallen soldiers' remains

Under the plan, all central and local media outlets are required to launch columns on the campaign, maintain regular coverage, and produce at least five to seven in-depth reports each month in key search areas. Media agencies will also be encouraged to gather and verify valuable information and develop high-quality products in both Vietnamese and foreign languages, including feature articles, documentaries, reports and short videos.

First Vietnamese pagoda in Tokyo inaugurated

First Vietnamese pagoda in Tokyo inaugurated

Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu expressed confidence that the establishment will serve as a strong spiritual anchor for Vietnamese people living in Japan while contributing to friendship and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

National drive kicks off to protect, support children online

National drive kicks off to protect, support children online

Cyberspace now runs through children’s learning, entertainment, and daily lives, but warned it is laced with dangerous content, online insults, threats, and seemingly harmless clicks that can trigger fraud, data breaches, and risks children who are not yet equipped to handle.

Vietnam, RoK scholars discuss diplomatic perspectives amid modern East Asia

Vietnam, RoK scholars discuss diplomatic perspectives amid modern East Asia

A scholar has stressed the need for Vietnam to make use of cooperation opportunities arising from the RoK’s foreign policy, particularly in semiconductor technology, artificial intelligence (AI), supply chains, digital transformation, and green energy, as well as chances in multilateral diplomacy.

'Barefoot inventor' and global ambitions

'Barefoot inventor' and global ambitions

Pham Van Hat is best known as the creator of the made-in-Vietnam “Seed Sowing Robot,” now exported to 15 countries, alongside dozens of practical inventions that have eased labour for thousands of farmers.

Safeguarding fairness for creators, future of Vietnam's culture

Safeguarding fairness for creators, future of Vietnam's culture

Films, music, television programmes, e-books, video games, journalistic works, images and creative data can now be copied, edited and redistributed within minutes. While copyright violations were once linked mainly to pirated discs or counterfeit books, infringements have shifted online with faster speed, wider scale and greater anonymity.

Flower tribute ceremony honours President Ho Chi Minh in Russia

Flower tribute ceremony honours President Ho Chi Minh in Russia

Consul General Nguyen Viet Kien stressed President Ho Chi Minh’s reputation and career transcended Vietnam’s borders to inspire liberation movements worldwide, and that his ideas on the right to self-determination, peace, and friendship among nations remain deeply relevant today.

Education ministry targets five digital technology incubators at universities

Education ministry targets five digital technology incubators at universities

A key target under the new plan is the establishment of five digital technology incubators, or Deeptech Hubs, at universities and research institutes with strong potential. The education ministry also plans to launch a training programme for 1,000 outstanding technology entrepreneurs and develop criteria for selecting and supporting startup ecosystems within educational institutions.

Vietnam steps up implementation of ethnic affairs strategy through 2030

Vietnam steps up implementation of ethnic affairs strategy through 2030

To accelerate the implementation of the the Ethnic Affairs Strategy by 2030, with a vision toward 2045, the Prime Minister requested ministries, agencies and local authorities to continue thoroughly carrying out the Party and State’s policies on ethnic affairs, enhancing the effectiveness of State management and strengthening oversight of policy implementation.

Security preparations reviewed for APEC 2027 in Phu Quoc

Security preparations reviewed for APEC 2027 in Phu Quoc

The team examined the APEC 2027 Convention Centre, where main conference activities are scheduled; Sun Serenia Hospital, designated to provide healthcare and emergency medical services for delegates; provincial road DT.975, which connects Phu Quoc International Airport to the convention centre; and the area surrounding Phu Quoc International Airport.