VIETNAMESE PEOPLE WILL FOREVER ADMIRE AND EXPRESS THEIR RESPECT FOR THE GREAT PRESIDENT HO CHI MINH
Iu.A. KOROSKOV
Moscow Biomedical Research Center, the Russia Federation
On September 02, 1969, President Ho Chi Minh entered the eternal realm, but for the past 40 years, he has continued to live alongside the Vietnamese people. Each person visiting the Mausoleum to pay respects still witnesses a great person, bowing in reverence and expressing deep respect for him.
The achievements we see today are thanks to the contributions and collaboration of medical scientists, technical experts from Russia and Vietnam, along with the participation of many individuals in various fields. Their hard work has successfully ensured the preservation and long-term protection of President Ho Chi Minh's body.
As someone who has been involved in the mission of preserving President Ho Chi Minh’s body from the very beginning, I would like to share some memories and personal impressions of this significant moment in Vietnam's history.
President Ho Chi Minh is a great leader of the Party and the Vietnamese people; a dedicated soldier in the communist and international workers' movements, a hero of national liberation, and a distinguished cultural figure. Therefore, after his departure, the collective desire of the entire nation is to perpetually preserve the beloved President’s body for many generations to come.
In response to the wishes of the entire Party and the people of Vietnam, the leadership of the Soviet Union decided to assist Vietnam in the long-term preservation of President Ho Chi Minh's body. Based on that decision, a team of experts from the V.I. Lenin Mausoleum Research Institute, led by Academician X.X. Debop (Director), along with experts such as Academician Iu.M. Lopukin, the Rector of the Medical University No. 2 in Moscow, Dr. I.N. Mikhalov, and two young experts Iu.A. Khoroskov and G.N. Sattop, were dispatched to work in Vietnam.
The flight to Hanoi was long and perilous, as it was an unofficial flight, and Vietnam was in the midst of war with intense aerial battles. After the plane landed at Gia Lam Airport, we were warmly welcomed and taken to the guesthouse by Vietnamese comrades. Everything was unusual and unfamiliar to us, including the situation in Vietnam and the climate, but we had to get to work immediately. Not long after we arrived in Vietnam, the Soviet Ambassador to Vietnam and the Head of the Consulate met and worked with us. Later, we were received by Prime Minister Pham Van Dong and other leaders of Vietnam. We had a brief exchange with the Minister of Public Security and with comrade Vu Ky - Secretary of President Ho Chi Minh. It must be said that immediately after President Ho Chi Minh's passing, the Party and State of Vietnam entrusted the task to the military. Despite extremely difficult wartime conditions, the comrades concentrated their spirits and efforts, carrying out all tasks to ensure the long-term preservation of President Ho Chi Minh’s body. To fulfill this mission, Vietnam established a special medical team led by anatomist Dr. Nguyen Gia Quyen. The team included comrades Le Ngoc Man, Le Dieu, Nguyen Van Chau, and Sai Van The, and later, many young officers were added to this special medical team. Major Vu Ha was assigned as our interpreter. Due to the special importance of the mission, our team's activities were directly supervised by Minister of Health Vu Van Can, along with many leaders from the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security, including comrades Le Quang Dao, Phung The Tai, and Tran Kinh Chi. Thus, from the early stages of preserving President Ho Chi Minh’s body, there was close and mutually respectful cooperation between us and Vietnamese officials, especially with the involvement of comrades appointed to lead this responsibility. The Vietnamese comrades I mentioned and many others made significant contributions to the long-term preservation of President Ho Chi Minh’s body.
After President Ho Chi Minh's passing, it was necessary to immediately undertake temporary preservation work to serve the state funeral and mourning ceremonies at Ba Dinh Square. At that time, Vietnamese comrades successfully crafted a glass coffin for President Ho Chi Minh’s body and ensured the maintenance of temperature and humidity conditions at the location in Ba Dinh Square. They also decorated the hall, implemented security measures, and handled various organizational tasks to serve the state-level funeral. Despite the wartime challenges, the funeral and mourning ceremonies were well-organized and dignified.
The people who came to pay their respects to President Ho Chi Minh, despite their sorrow, did not show a hint of despair, worry, or confusion on their faces. President Ho Chi Minh's departure further united the Vietnamese people. They all understood that in this moment of sorrow for the nation, no one should despair or fall. Everyone had to turn their grief into action to realize the aspirations and dreams of President Ho Chi Minh, especially the struggle for national liberation and reunification.
A delegation from the Soviet Union, led by Chairman of the Council of Ministers A.N. Kosygin, visited Vietnam to participate in the funeral of President Ho Chi Minh, and many delegations from various countries also came to offer their respects.
After the funeral, a solemn memorial ceremony for President Ho Chi Minh was held at Ba Dinh Square, with the participation of a large number of people. Present at the memorial, we witnessed the deep sorrow of the Vietnamese people upon President Ho's passing, as well as their determination to follow his teachings. During this time, negotiations between the Soviet and Vietnamese governments took place regarding the embalming of President Ho Chi Minh’s body and the location of the process. The Soviet delegation included Chairman of the Council of Ministers A.N. Kosygin and Academician X.X. Debop, the Director of the V.I. Lenin Mausoleum Research Institute, among others. The discussions mainly focused on overcoming difficulties in Vietnam, where the necessary conditions for the embalming process, similar to those in the Soviet Union, were lacking, and considering the tropical climate. Despite the challenges, Vietnam lacked specialized laboratories, medical equipment, air conditioning systems to maintain the required temperature, as well as necessary chemicals and materials. Nevertheless, to fulfill the people's wishes, the Vietnamese government decided to embalm President Ho Chi Minh in Hanoi. Both the Soviet Union and Vietnam implemented every possible solution to ensure medical and technical conditions.
A particularly crucial task at the time was to preserve President Ho’s body unchanged until the equipment and materials from the Soviet Union arrived in Vietnam, indicating the start of the embalming process. Temporary preservation technology was employed to maintain the body for a short period. Therefore, the expert team in Hanoi, including I.N. Mikhailov, Iu.A. Khoroskov, and G.N. Sattop (X.X. Debop and Iu.M. Lopukin returned to Moscow), carried out measures to stabilize the condition of the body. The work was successfully carried out until the commencement of the embalming process.
As decided, it didn't take long for the necessary equipment and chemicals to be transported to Hanoi by a dedicated aircraft. Deputy Director of the V.I. Lenin Mausoleum Research Institute, Iu.A. Romakov, also arrived in Hanoi on the same flight. Immediately, we began preparing laboratories, installing technical equipment, and air conditioning systems. Sanitation and disinfection were given special attention to protect the body from microbial contamination in the tropical climate. The preparations were carried out well, allowing the embalming of President Ho Chi Minh. Throughout the work, we collaborated closely with Vietnamese officials and received significant assistance from Party, State, military, and Ministry of Health leaders.
After the successful embalming, various challenges arose regarding the preservation of the body in wartime conditions. Vietnamese comrades constructed multiple locations for temporary relocation, ensuring absolute secrecy and safety for preserving the body. These sites also needed the necessary conditions for medication preparation and maintaining temperature, humidity, and sterile hygiene. The transportation of the body was meticulously planned to ensure absolute safety and prevent any damage during relocation. Not only Soviet and Vietnamese experts directly participated in this task, but Party and military leaders, as well as security forces, actively contributed, including comrades Phung The Tai and Tran Kinh Chi. I also worked in one of these relocation sites and observed that despite wartime challenges, Vietnamese comrades ensured all necessary conditions for medication preparation and absolute safety for the body.
We are always grateful to the Vietnamese comrades who cared about our daily lives during our time working together. Vietnamese friends understood that we lived far from our homeland, families, and relatives for a considerable time, facing harsh tropical climates and wartime conditions. They made great efforts to improve our daily lives. Since our early days in Vietnam, the comrades in the Foreign Relations Department helped us significantly. In the following years, comrade Quang (now deceased) played a major role in our lives and work in Vietnam. He served as both our interpreter, friend, and assistant, holding the position of Head of the Foreign Relations Department of the President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum High Command. Later, comrade Hoang Van Toan took over this role. Comrade Bui Thu Nga contributed not only high professionalism as an interpreter but also warm female companionship to our collaboration. Of course, many others facilitated our work and took care of our daily lives, such as drivers, cooks, and many more, each of whom is remembered with warmth and gratitude every time they are mentioned.
The construction and inauguration of the Mausoleum of President Ho Chi Minh is a significant event in the political and social life of the country. Now every Vietnamese citizen can visit this magnificent structure, witness their beloved President, and express their respect. Opening the Mausoleum for visitors has introduced new challenges that were not encountered before. Preserving President Ho Chi Minh’s body in the Mausoleum under regular visitation conditions involves a complex coordination of tasks, managed by medical and technical experts. The organization of this work must be meticulous to avoid any incidents affecting the preservation and the reception of visitors. I observed that among the Vietnamese medical and technical officials, many talented individuals have mastered their tasks and made significant contributions to the long-term preservation of President Ho Chi Minh’s body, ensuring the stable operation of the Mausoleum. Over time, individuals with talent, knowledge, dedication, and hard work have advanced to positions like Commander, Head of the Mausoleum Management Board, such as comrades Nguyen Quang Tan and Dao Huu Nghia. The first Commanders such as Tran Kinh Chi, Luong Soan also had many contributions to the Mausoleum.
The early stages of the Mausoleum's opening occasionally faced unusual situations in organizing visits. At that time, I served as the Chief Specialist of Soviet Medical Experts stationed at the Mausoleum. After the Mausoleum's inauguration, numerous delegations from various regions came to pay respects, including Hanoi residents who wished to meet their beloved Leader. However, the preservation rules required strict adherence to temperature and humidity regulations within the Mausoleum, including specified visitation hours for each session. Organizing visitations did not have much prior experience at that time. Therefore, many people arriving in Hanoi missed the visitation hours and expressed dissatisfaction and confusion, questioning why the Mausoleum staff did not work overtime to accommodate those who traveled from distant places with the hope of seeing President Ho Chi Minh. While understanding their sentiments, we had to adhere strictly to the preservation rules because preserving President Ho Chi Minh’s body is not a short-term task; it is a long-term commitment for many generations of Vietnamese people.
The Vietnamese leadership consistently focuses on training personnel to serve the long-term preservation of President Ho Chi Minh’s body. The establishment of Institute 69 is a crucial milestone, serving as a scientific research and training center for specialists in the field of embalming and preservation, with assistance from Russian experts from the Moscow Biomedical Research Center. I had the opportunity to participate in this work, lecturing and engaging in scientific discussions with Vietnamese medical experts in 1995. During that period, I was deeply impressed by the achievements of the Institute since 1969 in training specialists dedicated to the long-term preservation of President Ho Chi Minh’s body.
We have developed a close working relationship with our Vietnamese counterparts, particularly with the doctors. As mentioned earlier, from the early days in Vietnam, amidst a divided nation, we stood shoulder to shoulder, working alongside Vietnamese doctors. We shared valuable knowledge and experiences acquired from the V.I. Lenin Mausoleum Research Institute and later from the Moscow Biomedical Research Center. These were exceptional individuals chosen to dedicate their lives to preserving the memories and images of the great President Ho Chi Minh. The Vietnamese colleagues from our generation, working with us, devoted all their time and efforts to the assigned mission, even during wartime when they had to live far from their families and loved ones. They laid the foundation for significant achievements in preserving President Ho Chi Minh’s body for the people, and his image body was a great source of inspiration for Vietnam's historical victories. Notable contributors included the deceased Dr. Nguyen Gia Quyen, the first Head of the Medical Expert Team in Vietnam, who worked with us from the early days. In the team were also Dr. Le Dieu, Dr. Do Van Dai, and Dr. Nguyen Van Chau.
Among those who have made significant contributions to the preservation of President Ho Chi Minh’s body, I must mention Colonel, Dr. Lai Van Hoa, the Director of Institute 69; Colonel, Dr. Vu Van Binh, the Deputy Commander; Dr. Le Cong Bang, and many others. Throughout our collaboration, we always felt the care and support of Major General Nguyen Ngoc Lam, the Political Commissar of the President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum High Command. Many more individuals contributed to our shared mission, and I cannot mention them all.
In 2004, I had the honor of participating in the Scientific Conference and other activities to mark the 35th anniversary of preserving President Ho Chi Minh’s body. I want to emphasize that, similar to previous years, prominent Russian scientists participated in the Scientific Council in 2004. The Council affirmed that President Ho Chi Minh’s body had not changed since the completion of the embalming process. This aligns with my personal observation, having seen President Ho Chi Minh in the early moments after his passing and participating in the embalming process. It reflects the results of the work conducted by Russian and Vietnamese medical and technical experts over several decades. Our collaboration continues to this day.
I was very honored to attend the grand state-level military parade and ceremony celebrating the complete liberation of Vietnam.
The nation achieved independence, freedom, and unity. After the liberation, I had the opportunity to return to Vietnam for work, witnessing the nation's revival, economic development, and the continuous improvement of people's lives. All these achievements are attributed to the strong resources that President Ho Chi Minh's life, career, and spiritual legacy provided to the Vietnamese people. Therefore, educating the younger generations to learn and follow his ethical example holds immense significance for the spiritual vitality of the entire nation.
