{"id":11544,"date":"2022-05-31T16:16:42","date_gmt":"2022-05-31T08:16:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/?p=11544"},"modified":"2022-05-31T16:27:07","modified_gmt":"2022-05-31T08:27:07","slug":"ho-chi-minh-journey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/ho-chi-minh-journey\/","title":{"rendered":"H\u1ed3 Ch\u00ed Minh’s World Journey: From Glamorous France To Tumultuous China"},"content":{"rendered":"

H\u1ed3 Ch\u00ed Minh’s journey around the world from 1911 to 1941<\/h2>\n
\n

President H\u1ed3 Ch\u00ed Minh<\/a> may be one of the most reputed figures in Vietnam’s modern history. He played a key role in forming our country as it is today. In 1945, it was he who declared the independence of Vietnam to the world at Ba \u0110\u00ecnh,\u00a0 Hanoi.<\/p>\n

However, to reap these achievements, President H\u1ed3 Ch\u00ed Minh had spent 30 years touring the world to see and learn more from other countries. In this article, we will introduce H\u1ed3 Ch\u00ed Minh’s journey<\/strong> around the world. The information is taken from the book Ho Chi Minh: A Lif<\/em>e by William J. Duiker and his official biography in Vietnam.<\/p>\n

\n

Departed from Saigon for Marseille<\/h3>\n
\n

\"Nha
\nNh\u00e0 R\u1ed3ng Harbor, where Nguy\u1ec5n T\u1ea5t Th\u00e0nh started his journey in 1911. Today, it is the site of the H\u1ed3 Ch\u00ed Minh Museum.<\/em>
\nImage credit: danh vo<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

As a person deeply concerned about the nation’s position as a French colony, Nguy\u1ec5n T\u1ea5t Th\u00e0nh, later President H\u1ed3 Ch\u00ed Minh<\/strong>, had long been holding a dream to go abroad to learn from the most innovative countries in the world.<\/p>\n

That’s why on 5th June 1911, he embarked on the steamer Admiral de Latouche-Tr\u00e9ville. Here, he worked as a helper by the nickname of V\u0103n Ba. The ship departed from Nh\u00e0 R\u1ed3ng Harbor to Marseille, France. On the way, it also passed by big cities such as Le Havre and Dunkirk.<\/p>\n

\"La
\nThe steamer Admiral de Latouche-Tr\u00e9ville in a storm.<\/em>
\nImage credit: <\/em>manhhai<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

During this time, he applied to the French Colonial Administrative School, only to be rejected. Therefore, he decided to go across the Atlantic Ocean to the US for more chances.<\/p>\n

Nh\u00e0 R\u1ed3ng Harbor \/ H\u1ed3 Ch\u00ed Minh Museum in H\u1ed3 Ch\u00ed Minh City<\/strong>
\nAddress:<\/span><\/strong> 01 Nguy\u1ec5n T\u1ea5t Th\u00e0nh Street, Ward 12, District 4, H\u1ed3 Ch\u00ed Minh City
\nOpening hours:<\/span><\/strong> Tue-Sun 7.30am-11.30am | 1.30pm-5pm (Closed on Mondays)
\nTelephone:<\/span><\/strong> 028 38255740
\nH\u1ed3 Ch\u00ed Minh Museum in H\u1ed3 Ch\u00ed Minh City’s website<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

Working in Harlem and Boston<\/h3>\n
\n

\"Omni
\nParker House Hotel, better known as Omni Parker House today.<\/em>
\nImage credit: Kimberly Vardeman\/Wikimedia Commons<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

In December 1912, Nguy\u1ec5n T\u1ea5t Th\u00e0nh went on a ship to the Americas. Along his journey, he briefly visited cities such as Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, and finally arrived in New York.<\/p>\n

In this bustling city, he worked as a manual worker in Harlem. Later, he was employed as a baker at Parker House Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts by the name of Paul.<\/p>\n

Little is known about his activities in the US except for some letters and postcards that he sent back to Indochina. However, it’s possible that while living here, he might have witnessed how racism and violence, especially lynching, had been imposed on the Black American community. Plus, as mentioned in Duiker’s book, he may have attended some large Pan-American meetings and got impressed by the determination of the African-Americans there.<\/p>\n

Omni Parker House<\/strong>
\nAddress:<\/span><\/strong> 60 School Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02108
\nTelephone:<\/span><\/strong> 617 227 8600
\nOmni Parker House’s website<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

Working in the UK<\/h3>\n
\n

\"Ho
\nNguy\u1ec5n T\u1ea5t Th\u00e0nh as a baker at Carlton Hotel in 1913.<\/em>
\nImage credit: VnExpress<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

In late 1912, Nguy\u1ec5n T\u1ea5t Th\u00e0nh went across the Atlantic Ocean again to the United Kingdom, where he would spend the next 5 years. The young man continued his kitchen work at Drayton Court Hotel in West Ealing as credited on the official website<\/a> of the borough.<\/p>\n

\"Ho
\nA plaque commemorating H\u1ed3 Ch\u00ed Minh in Haymarket, the UK.<\/em>
\nImage credit: <\/em>Tony Hisgette<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Nguy\u1ec5n T\u1ea5t Th\u00e0nh also had a while working at Carlton Hotel in Haymarket, Westminster and possibly received training from the respectable chef Auguste Escoffier. Today, though Carlton Hotel has been demolished and replaced by New Zealand House, you can still see a plaque acknowledging Nguy\u1ec5n T\u1ea5t Th\u00e0nh’s time here.<\/p>\n

New Zealand’s House \/ New Zealand High Commission<\/strong>
\nAddress:<\/span><\/strong> 80 Haymarket, St. James’s, London SW1Y 4TE, United Kingdom<\/p>\n

\n

H\u1ed3 Ch\u00ed Minh’s second time in France<\/h3>\n
\n

\"Ho
\nNguy\u1ec5n T\u1ea5t Th\u00e0nh in 1921.<\/em>
\nImage credit: <\/em>Agence de presse Meurisse\/Wikimedia Commons<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

From 1917 to 1919, Nguy\u1ec5n T\u1ea5t Th\u00e0nh moved to Paris where he gradually got involved in more political activities.<\/p>\n

In fact, he was part of the group Groupe des Patriotes Annamites<\/em>, or Group of the Annamese Patriots, fighting for the rights of the colonial peoples. He became a political journalist and writer and adopted a new alias – Nguy\u1ec5n \u00c1i Qu\u1ed1c.<\/p>\n

\"Ho
\nA plaque at Compoint Land, arrondissement 7, Paris, identifying where Nguy\u1ec5n \u00c1i Qu\u1ed1c used to reside in the 1920s.<\/em>
\nImage credit: <\/em>Rungbachduong\/Wikimedia Commons<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

In 1920, Nguy\u1ec5n \u00c1i Qu\u1ed1c, together with 5 other people, established the French Communist Party, which is still functioning today.<\/p>\n

During this time, he reportedly attended some classes at Sorbonne University and spent much time reading in the libraries.<\/p>\n

\n

From Moscow to Guangzhou<\/h3>\n
\n

\"Nguyen
\nNguy\u1ec5n \u00c1i Qu\u1ed1c (on the floor) and his fellows at the 5th Communist Internationale Meeting in 1924.<\/em>
\nImage credit: Qu\u00e2n \u0111\u1ed9i nh\u00e2n d\u00e2n<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

With his remarkable political activities in France, Nguy\u1ec5n \u00c1i Qu\u1ed1c was sponsored by Dmitry Manuilsky, a Bolshevik revolutionary, to study in the Soviet Union. In June 1923, he travelled to Moscow. Also, during this period, he got more exposed to the communist activities and got to know more revolutionaries who were also studying in Moscow at the time.<\/p>\n

As a member of the Communist Internationale, in 1924, he took the new alias L\u00fd Th\u1ee5y and then V\u01b0\u01a1ng, or \u674e\u745e and \u738b in Chinese respectively, and went to Guangzhou to help spread revolutionary ideas to the local youth through his political science classes.<\/p>\n

\"Duong_Kach_Menh_(Original)\"
\nThe original copy of \u0110\u01b0\u1eddng K\u00e1ch m\u1ec7nh exhibited at Vietnam’s National Museum of History.<\/em>
\nImage credit: Hoangkid\/Wikimedia Commons<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

In 1927, his lectures were collected in a book named \u0110\u01b0\u1eddng K\u00e1ch m\u1ec7nh<\/em>, meaning The Revolutionary Road<\/em>. This book marked the beginning of Marxism and Leninism in Vietnam. Today, you can find the original copy of this book, which is a national treasure, at Vietnam’s National Museum of History in Hanoi.<\/p>\n

Vietnam’s National Museum of History<\/strong>
\nAddress:<\/span><\/strong> S\u1ed1 216, Tr\u1ea7n Quang Kh\u1ea3i Street, Ho\u00e0n Ki\u1ebfm District, H\u00e0 N\u1ed9i
\nOpening hours:<\/span><\/strong> Tue-Sun 8am-12am | 1.30pm-5pm (Closed on Mondays)
\nTelephone:<\/span><\/strong> 84 024 38252853
\nVietnam’s National Museum of History’s website<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

Arrival in Thailand<\/h3>\n
\n

\"Ho
\nH\u1ed3 Ch\u00ed Minh’s House in Nakhom Phanom, Thailand.<\/em>
\nImage credit: Siwa Tungjittikul<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

In 1927, Nguy\u1ec5n \u00c1i Qu\u1ed1c came back to Europe and kept going around this continent as assigned by the Communist Internationale.<\/p>\n

One year later, he departed from Europe for Thailand. In the guise of a bald monk named Th\u1ea7u Ch\u00edn, he spent his time in Nakhon Phanom working with the overseas Vietnamese there. Meanwhile, he also authored some articles and papers for publication in Vietnam.<\/p>\n

Today, when visiting Nakhon Phanom, you can still find the house where Th\u1ea7u Ch\u00edn used to live and a gallery showing his life here.<\/p>\n

Ba Na Chok \/ H\u1ed3 Ch\u00ed Minh’s House in Nakhon Phanom<\/strong>
\nAddress:<\/span><\/strong> Nakhon Phanom\u2013Sakon Nakhon Road, Na Rat Khwai, Nakhon Phanom, 48000 Thailand<\/p>\n

\n

Stood trial in Hong Kong<\/h3>\n
\n

\"\"
\nThe wall of Victoria Gaol, where T\u1ed1ng V\u0103n S\u01a1 was imprisoned.<\/em>
\nImage credit: Shek Mok YU\/Wikimedia Commons<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

In 1929, Nguy\u1ec5n \u00c1i Qu\u1ed1c went from Thailand to Hong Kong. In Kowloon, he helped reconcile the conflicting communist parties from Vietnam, then combined them to form the Vietnamese Communist Party on 3rd February 1930. This date is still celebrated annually in Vietnam.<\/p>\n

In 1931, under the name of T\u1ed1ng V\u0103n S\u01a1, or \u5b8b\u6587\u521d in Chinese, Nguy\u1ec5n \u00c1i Qu\u1ed1c was captured by the police and had to stand trial as the British colonials considered him as a threat. In 1932, he was released from prison and got on a boat to Singapore. As this harbor city was part of British Malaya at this time, T\u1ed1ng V\u0103n S\u01a1 was captured again by the British colonial police as soon as he arrived in Singapore.<\/p>\n

With the help of attorney Francis Henry Loseby and his fellows, Nguy\u1ec5n \u00c1i Qu\u1ed1c was released. Though free, he still had to flee from Hong Kong to Shanghai, China in January 1933. He kept moving northward to Vladivostok of the former Soviet Union and found a way back to Moscow.<\/p>\n

\n

The second time in Moscow and China<\/h3>\n
\n

\"Ho
\nNguy\u1ec5n \u00c1i Qu\u1ed1c in the 1930s.<\/em>
\nImage credit: Hulton-Deutsch Collection\/CORBIS via manhhai<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

In Spring 1934, Nguy\u1ec5n \u00c1i Qu\u1ed1c continued his study in the Soviet Union by the names of Lin and Linov. This was the period when he sharpened his political ideology and thoughts.<\/p>\n

Also in these years, he got a chance to work closely with the pioneering revolutionaries of Vietnam such as Tr\u1ea7n Ph\u00fa, L\u00ea H\u1ed3ng Phong, and H\u00e0 Huy T\u1eadp, the first three secretaries of the Vietnamese Communist Party.<\/p>\n

From 1938 to 1941, Nguy\u1ec5n \u00c1i Qu\u1ed1c returned to China to work as a political consultant of the alliance of Chinese forces against the Japanese. During this time, he took the identity of a major named H\u1ed3 Quang, or \u80e1\u5149 in Chinese.<\/p>\n

\n

Return to Vietnam<\/h3>\n
\n

\"108
\nThe 108th milestone where Nguy\u1ec5n \u00c1i Qu\u1ed1c returned to Vietnam.<\/em>
\nImage credit: H\u1ed3 Ch\u00ed Minh Museum<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

On 28th January 1941, Nguy\u1ec5n \u00c1i Qu\u1ed1c passed the 108th milestone marking the border between China and Vietnam. This was the first time after about 30 years that he came back to his home country.<\/p>\n

\"Ho
\nH\u1ed3 Ch\u00ed Minh fishing in P\u00e1c B\u00f3.<\/em>
\nImage credit: H\u1ed3 Ch\u00ed Minh’s Mausoleum<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

After returning to Vietnam, he stayed in a remote cave in P\u00e1c B\u00f3, Cao B\u1eb1ng to help guide the revolutionary activities in the country. Five years later, the Vietnamese drove out the French and the Japanese. On 2nd September 1945, Nguy\u1ec5n \u00c1i Qu\u1ed1c, better known as H\u1ed3 Ch\u00ed Minh at this time, declared the Democratic Republic of Vietnam’s independence.<\/p>\n

\n

H\u1ed3 Ch\u00ed Minh’s journey around the world<\/h3>\n
\n

Though there is still controversy about the exact itinerary of H\u1ed3 Ch\u00ed Minh from 1911 to 1941, his journey is highly inspiring to many people.<\/p>\n

On the one hand, it reminds us of the price of peace and independence. On the other hand, it encourages us to persistently fight for our dreams.<\/p>\n

Also check out:<\/p>\n