The Presidential Palace Relic Site receives artifacts donated by Uncle Ho's bodyguard

Mr. Tran Viet Hoan, born in 1943 in Quynh Phu, former Thai Binh, is one of the few people honored to directly serve and protect President Ho Chi Minh in the last years of his life.

On the afternoon of August 19, the President Ho Chi Minh Relic Site at the Presidential Palace held a ceremony to receive two artifacts donated by Mr. Tran Viet Hoan, former Director of the Relic Site, who was also Uncle Ho's loyal bodyguard during his lifetime.

These are the Hermes typewriter and the desk clock - artifacts that are also of special value in vividly recreating the life and revolutionary career of President Ho Chi Minh.

This is a practical activity to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the successful August Revolution (August 19, 1945 - August 19, 2025) and the 80th anniversary of the Cultural Sector's Traditional Day (August 28, 1945 - August 28, 2025).

Mr. Tran Viet Hoan, born in 1943 in Quynh Phu, former Thai Binh (now Hung Yen province), is one of the few people honored to directly serve and protect President Ho Chi Minh in the last years of his life.

From 1966 to 1969, he was a bodyguard at the Presidential Palace - where Uncle Ho lived and worked, especially during the period when Uncle Ho fell ill and passed away. After that, he continued to work at the Office of the President and held the position of Director of the President Ho Chi Minh Relic Site at the Presidential Palace from 1988 to 2004.

During the years with Uncle Ho and working at the Relic Site, Mr. Tran Viet Hoan was deeply attached to each artifact and each relic here. For him, collecting original artifacts and relics is a silent but passionate effort, as a way to extend the source of memories of Uncle Ho - the beloved leader of the nation.

The two artifacts donated by Mr. Hoan this time are a Hermes typewriter and a desk clock. These artifacts, along with the Hermes Baby typewriter and the desk clock, are currently on display at Uncle Ho's Stilt House - where Uncle Ho lived and worked during the last 11 years of his life (1958-1969).

The Hermes typewriter is currently displayed on the bottom shelf of the bookshelf in the second floor office of the Stilt House. During his lifetime, President Ho Chi Minh often used the typewriter to type articles, documents, and letters to groups and individuals with achievements in work, production, and combat, as well as to send congratulatory messages and condolences to people and friends around the world.

The camera was a close friend of President Ho Chi Minh. Even when he went on business trips, he brought the camera with him. When he needed to take a break on the road and draft a document, he took the camera out, put it on his leg and started working. The camera was made of metal, square in design, gray in color, and bore the words “HERMES - MADE IN SWITZERLAND BY Paillard SA” - a vivid testament to a special historical period.

The table clock is currently displayed on the first floor of the Stilt House. The clock was purchased at the Ho Bo Supply Store in 1964, 12.5cm high, 10.5cm in diameter, with a round transparent glass face and a gold-plated iron case. Every day, the attendant wound the clock to keep it running on time, helping President Ho Chi Minh work scientifically and on time.

The watch was always with him during his time living and working at the Presidential Palace, especially during meetings with the Politburo or when working with Central Party comrades. It was also a symbol of the orderly, scientific lifestyle that he maintained until the end of his life.

The Director of the President Ho Chi Minh Relic Site at the Presidential Palace signed the Minutes of handover of artifacts between the Relic Site and Mr. Tran Viet Hoan. (Photo: VNA)

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Director of the President Ho Chi Minh Relic Site at the Presidential Palace Le Thi Phuong expressed her deep gratitude to Dr. Tran Viet Hoan - a loyal bodyguard of President Ho Chi Minh during his lifetime, the first Director of this special Relic Site, and his family, for presenting the precious artifacts of President Ho Chi Minh to "Uncle Ho's House" - a place to preserve, conserve and promote the value of Ho Chi Minh's heritage during the last 15 years of his life (1954-1969).

The two artifacts donated this time not only have material value, but also carry sacred symbolic meaning. They are artifacts that, along with the Hermes Baby typewriter and the desk clock, are currently on display at Uncle Ho's Stilt House.

According to Director of the President Ho Chi Minh Relic Site at the Presidential Palace Le Thi Phuong, Uncle Ho has been gone for nearly 56 years, the special relationship between the special relic site of Uncle Ho at the Presidential Palace and generations of witnesses who served by his side is still continuing.

"Today's reception ceremony is not only a professional activity, but also an emotional meeting, connecting the past with the present, adding a precious memory of the great leader of the nation. The stories hidden in each artifact will enrich the source of valuable artifacts and documents at the Relic Site; thereby further promoting the value of the artifacts, meeting the needs of visiting, learning, studying, and educating the traditions of the people, especially the young generation. This is also the best way to show gratitude and honor the hearts of the individuals and organizations who donated, contributing to bringing Ho Chi Minh's heritage to the public, enhancing the responsibility of the community in preserving and promoting the values of Vietnam's cultural heritage," Ms. Le Thi Phuong emphasized.

Sharing at the ceremony, Mr. Tran Viet Hoan said that he and his grandson were lucky to collect two artifacts and decided to donate them to the Presidential Palace Relic Site to express his feelings and responsibility to the agency - where he has been attached all his life. This is also to realize his desire to contribute his small part to preserving and promoting the values of Uncle Ho's heritage, so that those values will last forever with the nation and the times.

The reception of two precious artifacts from Mr. Tran Viet Hoan not only contributes to enriching the archives and artifacts at the Relic Site, but is also a profound testament to the steadfast loyalty of a person who had the honor of serving President Ho Chi Minh closely./.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/khu-di-tich-phu-chu-tich-tiep-nhan-hien-vat-do-nguoi-can-ve-cua-bac-ho-trao-tang-post1056664.vnp