Vietnamese Embassy in the Philippines pays tribute to President Ho Chi Minh

The Vietnamese Embassy in the Philippines lays a wreath in memory of President Ho Chi Minh. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in the Philippines)

In a solemn and emotional atmosphere, the embassy's officials, staff, and their families respectfully laid flowers, remembering and expressing deep gratitude to President Ho Chi Minh – the brilliant leader of the Vietnamese nation, who dedicated his life to the struggle for national independence, unification, peace, and happiness for the Vietnamese people.

The statue of President Ho Chi Minh in Manila was inaugurated in October 2012 during the official visit of President Truong Tan Sang to the Philippines. It serves as a vivid symbol of the friendship between Vietnam and the Philippines, as well as the respect of the Filipino people for President Ho Chi Minh and the Vietnamese nation. Situated in the ASEAN Garden within the historic and iconic Intramuros district of Manila, the statue has become a familiar landmark where the Vietnamese community in the Philippines, students, officials, and Vietnamese tourists come to pay tribute and connect with their homeland during major national holidays.

The staff of the Vietnamese Embassy in the Philippines take a commemorative photo. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in the Philippines)

Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador Lai Thai Binh recalled the illustrious revolutionary career and significant contributions of President Ho Chi Minh to the Vietnamese nation and the global movement for peace and national independence. The ambassador emphasized that Ho Chi Minh's ideology, ethics, and style continue to guide each official and party member, especially those in foreign affairs, in fulfilling their duties to serve the nation and the people.

Before the spirit of Uncle Ho, Ambassador Lai Thai Binh reported on the notable achievements of the embassy's recent work and shared key tasks to be implemented in the near future. The ambassador expressed confidence that the embassy's staff and their families will continue to uphold the spirit of solidarity and responsibility, striving to excel in their diplomatic missions in 2026 – a year of special significance marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Philippines, as well as the Philippines' role as ASEAN Chair.

Recalling President Ho Chi Minh's profound advice to officials, particularly the spirit of "diligence, thrift, integrity, righteousness, impartiality," and "doing everything beneficial for the people and avoiding anything harmful," Ambassador Lai Thai Binh urged all embassy staff to continuously cultivate their ethical qualities, enhance their professional skills, maintain political integrity, and successfully complete all assigned tasks, contributing to the nation's construction and defense.

After half a century of establishing diplomatic relations, Vietnam-Philippines relations have positively developed across various fields, from politics, defense, trade, investment, and education to people-to-people exchanges. The two countries currently maintain a Strategic Partnership, closely coordinating in regional and international mechanisms, especially ASEAN, and sharing a common stance on maintaining peace, stability, freedom, security, and safety of maritime and aviation activities in the East Sea. In this context, the wreath-laying ceremony in memory of President Ho Chi Minh is not only an act of gratitude and traditional education but also an opportunity for the embassy staff to continue fostering a spirit of responsibility and unity, contributing positively to the deepening friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and the Philippines.