Ho Chi Minh in the spiritual life of Vietnamese people in Thailand
WVR - Nearly a century has passed since the years when President Ho Chi Minh engaged in revolutionary activities in Thailand, yet his legacy in the Land of Golden Temples remains preserved as a sacred memory of the Vietnamese community.
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From memorial houses to stories passed down through generations, all have become a strong bond connecting expatriates with their homeland.
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| Visitors at the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Site in Udon Thani. |
“Ong gia Chin” in the memories of expatriates
During his journey to find a way to save the country, from mid-1928 to the end of 1929, President Ho Chi Minh lived and engaged in revolutionary activities in various localities in Northeast Thailand such as Udon Thani, Nakhon Phanom, Sakon Nakhon, Nong Khai...
Under the alias Thau Chin, he integrated into the lives of the people, spreading the spirit of patriotism and encouraging expatriates to unite and look towards the homeland.
Compared to his decades-long journey to find a way to save the country, his time in Thailand was not long. However, with his simple lifestyle, close connection, and profound patriotism, he left a special mark in the hearts of the people there.
In the memories of the expatriates in Nachok village (Ban May), Nakhon Phanom province, Ho Chi Minh was just a gentle, hardworking Vietnamese man who always cared about learning Vietnamese and often gently resolved community disputes.
Remembering him, the Vietnamese community came together to build the Thai-Vietnamese Friendship Village in 2004 for people to gather and preserve their cultural identity. Notably, the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Site, inaugurated in 2016, has become a vibrant symbol of Vietnam-Thailand friendship.
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| Delegates offering incense at the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Site in Nakhon Phanom province. (Source: Vietnamese Consulate General in Khon Kaen) |
In Nong On village, Xieng Phin commune, Muong district, Udon Thani province, the memory of "ong gia Chin" (a beloved name given to him by the people) is still preserved intact through the stories of generations of Vietnamese expatriates.
The locals recount that during the day, Ho Chi Minh would dig wells, garden, plant vegetables, and raise pigs and chickens with the people; in the evening, he would talk and encourage them to unite, learn the national language, and respect the customs of the Thai people.
What he always wished for was to foster good feelings between the Vietnamese and the Thai people while preserving the cultural roots for the expatriate community. His simple and approachable lifestyle made the people love him like a family member.
In 2002, with affection and respect for him, the local government and the Vietnamese community in Thailand began building the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Site in Udon Thani. Thousands of Vietnamese expatriates voluntarily contributed money and artifacts to recreate the house where he once lived and engaged in revolutionary activities.
Today, when visiting the memorial site, visitors can see the small kitchen, water well, hibiscus fence, rice barn, and vegetable garden, all reconstructed from the accounts of witnesses. This place not only preserves the memory of Ho Chi Minh but also serves as a traditional educational site for young Vietnamese generations in Thailand.
Steadfast affection towards the Homeland
For the Vietnamese community in Thailand, President Ho Chi Minh is not only a beloved leader but also a symbol of unity, patriotism, and the will to overcome all hardships.
According to Luong Xuan Hoa, Member of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, Vice President of the Vietnamese Association in Thailand, what makes the expatriate community proud is that throughout his revolutionary activities, President Ho Chi Minh opened Vietnamese language classes to preserve the mother tongue and national identity for overseas compatriots.
The image of Ho Chi Minh remains deeply ingrained in the hearts of expatriates, and when he passed away, almost every Vietnamese family set up an altar to honor and express their love for him.
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| Expatriates attending the photo exhibition "Ho Chi Minh – Symbol of the Era, Bridge of Vietnam-Thailand Friendship" held in Nakhon Phanom province on May 19, 2026. (Source: Vietnamese Consulate General in Khon Kaen) |
Today, the Vietnamese community in Thailand not only preserves traditional cultural values but also plays a crucial role as a bridge in the friendship between the two countries.
Memorial sites, Vietnamese language classes, and community activities bearing Ho Chi Minh’s mark have become vivid evidence of the steadfast affection of expatriates for their homeland.
Phan Thi Thoa, working at the management board of the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Site in Udon Thani, also shared that on occasions such as Ho Chi Minh's birthday, Vietnam's National Day, or anniversary of his passing, the community comes together to cook traditional meals, offer incense, and report to him about the life of the Vietnamese community in Thailand.
Many expatriates share that Ho Chi Minh's simple and approachable example has become a motivation for them to overcome difficulties in a foreign land. The spirit of hard work, unity, and a sense of connection to the homeland has been nurtured by stories about him passed down by their ancestors.
Over the years, the affection for Ho Chi Minh has been persistently passed on like an eternal flame in the hearts of Vietnamese people abroad.
