SOVIET UNION TRIP TO DESIGN THE MAUSOLEUM
Colonel TRAN QUOC DAN
Former Head of the Basic Construction Management Committee
President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum High Command.
In 1971, I was part of the Vietnamese delegation that collaborated with Soviet experts on the design of President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. We would have started construction on the Mausoleum in 1972 if the US had not worsened the war by conducting air raids on the North. However, progress was suspended due to the B-52 bombardment of Hanoi and other cities in December 1972. Under devastating defeats, the US was obliged to sign the Paris Agreement on Vietnam in January 1973, withdrawing all troops and halting all combat operations against the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
We discussed the possibility of resuming construction in September 1973 with the Soviet Union in March 1973. They replied, "Due to the delays, we cannot provide a complete technical design on time." After that, several talented technical officers from different sectors were recommended heading to the Soviet Union to join their hands in technical design, the recommendation was accepted.
The Vietnamese delegation consisted of 12 comrades in August 1973, including four architects from the Ministry of Construction: Nguyen Dinh Phung, Architect, Nguyen Tan Van, Architect, Ngo Thanh Can, and Lu, Construction Engineers. There were eight comrades from the Combat Engineer Headquarters: Nguyen Trung Thanh and Nguyen Duc Nghi - Electrical Engineers, Hoang Quang Ba - Water Engineer, Bui Danh Chieu - HVAC Engineer, Dang Thanh Trung - Mechanical Engineer, Pham Van Quang, Nguyen Van Tay - Interpreters, and myself - Tran Quoc Dan - Defense Construction Engineer. I was given a red passport in order to carry confidential information while working with the specialists.
With a detail-oriented preparation, we arrived in Moscow and immediately initiated the design with Soviet professionals. Back at home, comrades like Do Muoi, Bui Quang Tao, and Phung The Tai were constantly inquiring about our whereabouts. We stated that we would have the design by September 1973. Working from the ground up, designing and constructing at the same time, was the design method. I was required to visit the Vietnamese Embassy in the Soviet Union on a weekly basis to report on design development and collaborate with experts, with comrade Vo Thuc Dong - the Ambassador - supervising this.
During our time in Moscow, we worked seven hours a day with Soviet Institute of Design officers and continuously attended team meetings to exchange experience and future plans. There were disagreements in point of view from time to time, and we had to find ways to harmonize the relationship, towards our common goal.
We were all aware of the high stakes at the moment, therefore everyone worked tirelessly, day and night, to meet the design deadline. Even though we had a sufficient supply of milk and bread, everyone lost weight in just two months.
Before departure, each of us was equipped with two suits, two pairs of pajamas, two pairs of shoes, a coat, and a hat. Our stockings were damaged after around three months in Moscow owing to frequent travel, and our Vietnamese-made shoes were not appropriate for the winter weather in Russia, so we had to patch and fix them ourselves. I went to the embassy one day to report to comrade Vo Thuc Dong. He inquired after hearing the report, "How is your life here, any difficulties?" I replied, "We are much better off than our colleagues back home in terms of materialism. It had recently snowed heavily, and all of our shoes were destroyed. Snow crept into our shoes, and everyone received frostbite on their feet on their way home from work." Comrade Dong immediately called the head of the embassy's Finance Department and said, "Give this comrade 450 rubles to buy 9 pairs of shoes and 9 pairs of socks." When I returned to the team, everyone felt super touched. Such a simple dedication meant a lot to us. The following Sunday, we went shopping together for new shoes.
In September 1973, we sent the foundation design documents to Vietnam through the embassy. Comrade Vo Thuc Dong announced that "Vietnam team has received the foundation design at home, and your efforts have garnered great praise from comrade Do Muoi." We were filled up with new sources of energy and motivation after hearing this news. The fundamental technical designs would be completed by around October 1974, according to the agreed-upon timeline between us and the Soviets. After receiving a direction from the Construction Steering Committee in early December 1973, upon receiving a directive from the Construction Steering Committee, I and comrade Ngo Thanh Can had to arrange to bring back the designs we had completed to address the discrepancy between the architectural and protective structures. Even though these were integral parts of the project, their designs and confidentiality level were different.
The arrangements for our return travel were handled by comrade Vo Thuc Dong, the chief of the embassy's Commercial Section at the time, who was in charge of everything. On the evening of December 08, 1973, I, comrade Can, and some embassy security personnel boarded a train to return to Vietnam in a separate compartment. The compartment had four beds, but one was designated for documents only. There were seven parts totaling around 200 pounds, and I was given primary duty. We arrived in Beijing five days later. When we arrived at the station, the embassy's driver came to pick us up, transporting all of our documents and stuff to the embassy rather than staying in a hotel.
We returned to Hanoi station on the evening of December 18, 1973, and the 75808 construction site command sent a car to pick us up. The construction site command, along with comrades My, Nhi, Dang, Soan, and many more, greeted and embraced us warmly, as if we were close relatives returning from afar.
The documents were immediately taken to the secure storage room. Looking at the numerous documents, everyone was reassured that the fundamental issue of the construction design had been resolved. The remaining part of the technical design, especially the equipment design for electricity, water, air conditioning, information, etc., was continued by comrades Nguyen Tan Van, Lu (Ministry of Architecture), Nguyen Trung Thanh, Nguyen Duc Nghi, Bui Danh Chieu, Hoang Quang Ba, Nguyen Van Tay (Combat Engineer Headquarters), and myself until May 01, 1974, before returning to Vietnam. By then, the basic technical design had been successfully completed. The detailed designs for implementation were to be solved directly on-site by Vietnamese technical officers and Soviet experts. Due to the early involvement of Vietnamese technical officers in the design, the design documents met the practical requirements of Vietnam.
On December 19, 1973, I delivered the documents to the 75808 construction site, which included comrades Nguyen Duc, Head of Technical Department, Nguyen Ngoc Dinh, Security Officer, and Ngo Thanh Can, Witness. In the confirmation document, it is noted that: "The documents are intact with lead seals, and all documents are in the same package, with quantities as listed in report number 236/TM73 of the Vietnam Commercial Office in the Soviet Union."
When the documents were turned over after ten days and nights of worry and hard work, I was so relieved that tears welled up since we accomplished an essential task. "Take a two-day break and come back early to complete the work," Comrade Dang advised.
I composed this reminiscence to help people learn more about a specific aspect of the historical construction of President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Today, in the historical district of Ba Dinh, a century-old cultural work stands tall, emphasizing Vietnam's deep connection with the Soviet Union. It is a source of national pride, guiding the Vietnamese people and worldwide friends to constantly look to it for truth and noble thoughts.
