A VIRTUAL MEETING
Colonel TRAN VU TRANG
Former Deputy Head of Political Department
President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum High Command.
The small car took us to the VOVNews editorial office. Hanoi was cool and refreshing after the early summer rain. The streets were adorned with flags, banners, and slogans celebrating the victory of Dien Bien Phu, featuring images of Uncle Ho with the troops on the frontline. According to foreign expressions, Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh - Dien Bien Phu is like a magical connection, synonymous for us. For us, the Party and Uncle Ho are the soul of every triumph. So today, walking in the "resounding echoes of Dien Bien's 50 glorious years of history," our hearts are filled with memories of Uncle Ho. In just a few days, we will commemorate the 114th birthday of Uncle Ho, who has been gone for nearly 35 years.
The car stopped at the gate of the Voice of Vietnam Building, 45 Ba Trieu. As arranged, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa - Head of Content Department, who had worked with the High Command to organize this exchange, welcomed us into the meeting room of the editorial office.
Comrade Dinh The Loc – Chief of Editor, gave a brief introduction to the newspaper: "VOVNews is the official electronic newspaper of the Voice of Vietnam, the only one with daily radio programs. It is a reputable electronic newspaper with a clear orientation, always providing readers with hot, intellectually rich current affairs information, highly appreciated by readers. Accessing the VOVNews website (http://www.vov.org.vn) every morning for reading or listening has become an indispensable need for many readers inside and outside the country, especially in today's era of information technology.
We discussed and agreed on the principles and main content of the exchange session. With the desire to bring useful insights to readers and listeners inside and outside the country, we will talk about the President's Mausoleum, the deep gratitude of our people, and the admiration of international friends for Uncle Ho.
At 2:00 PM, the online exchange session began. On the computer screen, the text was clear: "We would like to introduce, at 2:00 PM today, May 15, 2004, VOVNews is conducting an online exchange program with Major General Nguyen Quang Tan - Head of the President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Management Board. Accompanying him is Colonel Tran Vu Trang - Deputy Head of Political Affairs, President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum High Command. VOVNews invites you to follow, send letters, and call the editorial office to ask questions during the exchange."
I quickly looked around the entire room to visualize the "production technology" of an electronic newspaper. A spacious room, located on the 6th floor of a large building. From here, you could see Hanoi with its tall buildings and lush green trees. The room housed many modern monitoring and broadcasting devices. Several editors, mostly young, were actively working or engaging in discussions in front of computer screens. Simultaneously, editors and we had to follow and respond to questions displayed on three computer screens in turn.
Immediately after Major General Nguyen Quang Tan, representing the officers, soldiers, and workers who were directly honored to work at the Mausoleum, sent greetings to readers with a challenging question from overseas: Vong Ha, Thi, Ly Chau Hoa, from Germany, asked, "Please let us know, during the process of protecting Uncle's body, which part was the most challenging?"
We responded promptly: "The absolute mission of ensuring the safety and long-term preservation of Uncle's body is an extremely challenging task, unprecedented in Vietnam. Even globally, only the Soviet Union had the technology to preserve the leader's body for people to visit. Especially in Vietnam, with a hot and humid tropical climate, the task becomes even more challenging, especially when our technical conditions are still outdated. Thanks to the attention and guidance of the Political Bureau, the Central Military Commission, the support of the Party and the state of the Soviet Union in the past, directly from their scientists, along with the determined efforts of officers, soldiers, and workers involved in this task, the seemingly insurmountable difficulties have gradually been overcome. Uncle Ho's body has now entered its 35th year, still being preserved in the best condition. The distinctive features of Uncle Ho during his lifetime are still intact. The Mausoleum is becoming more and more magnificent and clean, welcoming thousands of visitors every day."
Reader Van Mi Hue had a lengthy question: "Preserving Uncle Ho's body is a very burdensome task but also an immensely joyful one. During the wartime, material conditions were very scarce, especially technical means, but you did a miraculous thing in preserving Uncle Ho's body very well. I also had the opportunity to visit the Da Chong, where the preservation work was carried out initially. I saw the specialized vehicle used during that relocation and learned that moving Uncle Ho's body between Son Tay and Hanoi was very difficult. So I want to know more about that move, if you don't mind?"
Tan recounted six years of hardship during the war, with severe shortages of technical materials, to the point where they had to use ice columns instead of air conditioning to ensure the temperature inside the vehicle during the transport of Uncle Ho's body. To maintain secrecy on the march, the unit had to send advance parties to carry materials to fill bomb craters caused by US bombings, ensuring that the vehicle carrying Uncle Ho's body did not shake or jolt. After that, to erase any traces, the soldiers had to dig up and remove the soil, restoring the road to its original state.
The conversation was meaningful, emotionally charged, and sometimes tense due to the novelty of the online exchange format for us.
At this moment, the screen displayed a question from a reader named Huong, without specifying the sending address. The reader wanted to know: "How much funding is needed annually to maintain Uncle's body in the Mausoleum?" Tan turned to me in hesitation: "Should we answer this question?" The editors suggested: If there are uncomfortable questions, you can decline to answer.
In fact, many people are interested in this question, either because they want to understand the project or for another purpose. In the course of my work, dealing with reference materials for ideological work, I have read and noticed that some people have distorted views and misconceptions. There are even reactionary arguments with harmful implications against the construction of the Mausoleum.
I remember one time around 2002, an American journalist requested an interview with the Head of the Mausoleum Management Board. During the interview, several times he repeated questions about the organization of the unit and the costs of preserving the Mausoleum. The Head of the Mausoleum Management Board told the interpreter: "Comrade, translate for him to know that the construction of the President's Mausoleum was based on the sincere wishes and boundless gratitude of our people to our great leaders. The construction was assisted by the Soviet Union and directly by Soviet scientists at no cost, along with the effort of our Party and people. Countless valuable materials were even brought from the South while it was still on war with the U.S. to build the Mausoleum. How much did the Masoleum cost? No number for this. This was our priceless asset.
After a short pause, I suggested that Mr. Tan respond to audiences similar to how he addressed an American journalist. Mr. Tan's response was firm, stating, "President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is a project driven by the will of Vietnamese people and its Party. From its construction to ongoing preservation and renovation, the Mausoleum has consistently received contributions and assistance from various parts of the country and international organizations. Of course, it necessitated the funds for preservation, ensuring safe and civilized visits, and enhancing the Mausoleum area's landscape."
In response to a question from Nguyen Thanh Ha about the number of people working at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Management Board, Mr. Tan replied: “The Mausoleum comprises various sections, each assigned different functions and tasks. Under superior guidance, the Mausoleum Management Board strives to devise the most sensible organizational structure, aiming to optimize human resources and minimize addtional costs.”
Tran Anh Tuan from Washington asked:
- Dear Major General, throughout the years dedicated to preserving Uncle Ho's body, what challenges have you faced? Which one stands out as the most memorable incident?
Mr. Tan, despite being a technical officer, accurately addressed a significant political incident in 1991, highlighting the changed political situation in the Soviet Union. He commended the revolutionary spirit of Soviet and Russian scientists was in a temporary pause, along with the efforts of Vietnamese scientists, in quickly overcoming the incident without affecting the long-term preservation of President Ho Chi Minh's body.
The exchange continued to captivate, I was very pround of being one of the honorable personnel, with a mission to carry out the sacred task at Uncle Ho's Mausoleum. A sense of happiness fills my heart as I witness people from all corners of the country, including compatriots far from their homeland, turning their attention to Uncle Ho's Mausoleum with deep respect and gratitude. There is also a keen interest in the guardians of Uncle Ho's Mausoleum. Numerous questions arise, such as: What challenges do Vietnam's climatic conditions pose in preserving Uncle Ho's body? How often do we conduct the preservation of Uncle Ho's body each year? Is it a challenging process? How many visitors come to President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum annually? I live in the South, and this summer, I plan to visit Hanoi. I wish to go to Uncle Ho's Mausoleum. Therefore, I would like to inquire about the recommended day to visit and the necessary procedures to request a visit to Uncle Ho. Apart from Soviet experts, are there any other countries supporting Vietnam in preserving Uncle Ho's body? Etc…
In particular, Hong Hanh from Thanh Xuan, Hanoi, raised a question: "Vietnam had received the significant assistance from Soviet experts in preserving Uncle Ho's body during the war years. So, since Uncle Ho's body was brought to the Mausoleum, will the Soviet Union continue to assist us in this work? Among the experts who contributed to safeguarding Uncle Ho's body, are any still alive today? Do you have plans to organize a meeting with these individuals on the 115th anniversary of Uncle Ho's birth or another occasion?" Mr. Tan responded emotionally, stating, "Many of the experts who played a role in helping Vietnam preserve Uncle Ho's body from the early days are still alive today, including Academician Iu.M. Lopukhin and Professor Iu.A. Romakov, who are now over 80 years old. We hold deep gratitude and respect for those who helped us. These experts were honored with the prestigious title of Hero of Labor by our Party and State, receiving numerous Labor Orders and Friendship Medals. During major holidays, we organize gatherings to express our appreciation. On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of preserving Uncle Ho's body, with approval from the Prime Minister, the Mausoleum Management Board collaborated with our country's Embassy in the Russian Federation to invite medical and technical experts who joined their hands in constructition of mausoleum and preservation of Uncle Ho's body for a meeting in Moscow. This event left a positive impression, and Hero of the Soviet Union Gecman Titop made commendable statements about the country of Vietnam and its people."
We were even more touched when we learned that many young people aspire to become soldiers guarding Uncle Ho's sleep. Doan Thai Duyen, a girl from Hanoi asked, "I also want to be a soldier at President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, so what should I do?"
The interest, sharing, and aspirations kept pouring into the editorial office, making the online exchange session last longer than anticipated. In response to this situation, the Editor-in-Chief, who directly monitored and directed the program, agreed to adjust the timing.
After the exchange session ended, we left with joy, pride, and mixed emotions. Through the online exchange, I felt the sincere sentiments of fellow countrymen and international friends toward the long-term preservation of Uncle Ho's body. I realized that the work we are undertaking is an exceptionally noble task. Generations of officials and soldiers like us will take turns standing in the honorable position bestowed by the Motherland, ensuring the everlasting peaceful sleep of Uncle Ho.
