General Secretary, President To Lam and his spouse visited the President Ho Chi Minh historical site in Udon Thani province on the afternoon of 27/5 to offer incense, marking the first engagement of their official visit to Thailand.

Following the incense offering ceremony and a visit to the thatched-roof house, which holds numerous traces of President Ho Chi Minh's life and revolutionary work in Thailand from 1928 to 1929, General Secretary, President To Lam signed the guestbook and presented books and documents to the site's management board.

General Secretary, President To Lam and his spouse offered incense at the President Ho Chi Minh historical site in Udon Thani province on 27/5. *Photo: TTXVN*

The President Ho Chi Minh memorial complex in Udon Thani province is a special historical site, constructed on the original land where President Ho Chi Minh, using the alias Thau Chin, conducted his activities. Covering 11,200 square meters, the complex features four distinct areas: Uncle Ho's house, a multi-purpose building, a landscaped garden, and an expansion zone.

Construction of the historical site commenced in 2003. Uncle Ho's house was inaugurated in 2006, and the multi-purpose building was completed in 2011.

President Ho Chi Minh memorial complex in Udon Thani, Thailand. *Photo: VOV*

Within the complex stands a three-compartment, thatched-roof house, meticulously reconstructed to mirror President Ho Chi Minh's original residence. It features a simple thatched roof, clay walls, and a terracotta tile floor.

The central compartment functions as a communal meeting room, furnished with three sets of tables and chairs. The left compartment contains a wooden table and chairs, where President Ho Chi Minh worked, alongside a small bed and a sleeping platform in the corner. The right compartment features a sleeping platform for collaborators. The complex also includes a kitchen, a pigsty, a chicken coop, a granary, and a well.

Annually, the historical site receives around 15,000 visitors, including numerous delegations from Vietnam, particularly during the anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birthday.

Overseas Vietnamese memorial tower

During Vietnam's French colonial period, many people from the central provinces migrated to Thailand for work and settlement. They initially concentrated in Thakhek town before relocating to northeastern Thai provinces, primarily Nakhon Phanom. There, they integrated with Vietnamese communities established decades earlier, building lives and livelihoods together.

In 1960, President Ho Chi Minh issued a heartfelt letter, appealing to overseas Vietnamese in Thailand to return home to build and defend the nation. In response, many Vietnamese in Thailand, including a significant number from Nakhon Phanom, registered to repatriate.

Before their repatriation to Vietnam in 1960, the overseas Vietnamese community raised funds to erect a memorial clock tower. This structure served as an expression of gratitude to the people and nation of Thailand for their support during challenging times.

Overseas Vietnamese memorial tower in Nakhon Phanom. *Photo: Tripadvisor*

Standing 50 meters tall, the tower features clocks on all four upper faces and a roof designed in a traditional Vietnamese architectural style. Behind its main column, a small house preserves artifacts and photographs of the Vietnamese community. The tower's central column bears the inscription: "Overseas Vietnamese memorial tower for repatriation".

This clock tower, built by overseas Vietnamese, holds significant historical and cultural meaning. It remains a cherished landmark, proudly maintained by the overseas Vietnamese community in Thailand. The tower also symbolizes the deepening understanding and enduring friendship between the Vietnamese and Thai people.

Vietnam Town

Vietnam Town, located in Udon Thani city, Udon Thani province, Thailand, opened in 12/2023. This groundbreaking initiative marks the world's first Vietnam Town, designed as a hub for cultural exchange, commerce, and showcasing Vietnamese cuisine and culture to both the Thai community and international tourists.

Vietnam Town was established within Udon Thani city's central Vietnamese market, an area predominantly inhabited and operated by people of Vietnamese origin. The project secured funding from the Udon Thani government, overseas Vietnamese residents in Thailand, and several domestic businesses.

Entrance to Vietnam Town in Udon Thani, Thailand. *Photo: Nhandan*

Vietnam Town not only boosts Udon Thani's tourism by attracting visitors but also enhances business opportunities for the local Vietnamese and Thai-Vietnamese communities.

During the inauguration of Vietnam Town, Udon Thani Governor Wanchai Kongkasem highlighted the Vietnamese community in Udon Thani as a crucial factor in fostering bilateral relations. Mr. Wanchai characterized Vietnam Town as a symbol of solidarity, friendship, and cooperation between Vietnam, Thailand, and their respective peoples.

Ngoc Anh (Compiled)