MISS MY SOVIET FRIENDS
Colonel VU VAN BINH
Deputy Head of Mausoleum Management Board
and Deputy Commander of President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum High Command
The President Ho Chi Minh’s body has been meticulously preserved and absolutely safe for over 40 years, retaining the distinctive features from his lifetime. This was the conclusion drawn in 2004 by the Vietnamese-Russian Scientific Council, assessing the state of President Ho Chi Minh’s body. The evaluation was conducted by Academician V.N. Iarugin and Professor Do Nguyen Phuong, both serving as co-chairs. The achievement was attributed to the tireless efforts of a dedicated team, from leadership to those directly involved.
Firstly, it was due to the keen, precise, and effective guidance of the superior Party and State leaders. Transforming the correct directives of the leadership into reality was made by a cadre of capable, devoted individuals loyal to the Party and the duty of preserving President Ho Chi Minh's body. In this great accomplishment, the contribution of Soviet and now as known as Russian health experts from the Lenin Mausoleum Research Institute cannot be overlooked. Within the scope of this article, I will provide an overview of the contributions of Russian health experts.
From 1969 until now, a total of 82 health experts have come to Vietnam to assist, including 13 academicians, 7 professors, 11 doctors of science, 20 doctors, and the remaining specialized doctors.
The most frequent visitor was comrade Iu.A. Romakov, the Deputy Director, who came 24 times. On his first visit in 1968, he had the honor of attending a meeting with Uncle Ho to recognize his appearance while he was still alive.
Two individuals have visited Vietnam 23 times, namely the Director, Academician X.X. Debop, and the Deputy Director, Academician Iu.I. Denisov.
Six individuals have visited Vietnam from 10 to 19 times.
Thirteen individuals have visited Vietnam from 5 to 9 times.
Many exemplary academicians have participated in the Transnational Scientific Council to assess the status of the embalmed body and provide scientific advice.
Since August 28, 1969, two academicians were directly assigned to the mission: Academician X.X. Debop, the Director of the Lenin Mausoleum Research Institute; Academician Iu.M. Lopukin, the Rector of the Moscow Medical University.
In 1970, four academicians were sent on a mission to Vietnam: Academician N.A. Kraevski, Academician S.R. Madraxov, Academician V.V. Kuprianov, and Academician X.X. Debop.
In 1975, three academicians and two professors were sent: Academician S.E. Serevin, Academician V.V. Kuprianov, Academician X.X. Debop, Professor Romansev, and Professor M.R. Sapin.
In 1989, four academicians and one professor were sent: Academician M.R. Sapin, Academician X.X. Debop, Academician I.P. Asmarin, Academician M.K. Pemiakov, and Professor Iu.I. Denisov.
After 1991, on the occasion of even-numbered years when summarizing the task of preserving Uncle Ho's body, Russian scientists have consistently sent leading experts to directly assess the condition of Uncle Ho's embalmed body and provide scientific advice. In 1999, Academician Pokrovski, the President of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, was sent, and in 2004, Academician V.N. Iarugin, the Rector of the Moscow Medical University, was sent.
To illustrate the contributions of the So Viet experts, I would like to introduce some exemplary figures. Firstly, I must mention Academician Iu.M. Lopukin, born in 1924. Though not formally affiliated with the Lenin Mausoleum, he visited Vietnam six times. He was the former Rector of the Moscow Biomedical Research University and later became the Director of the Research Institute of Physical Chemistry under the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation. He was one of the first five experts to arrive in Hanoi on August 28, 1969, and served as the primary surgeon responsible for preserving President Ho Chi Minh's body. He was a leading reconstructive surgeon century in Soviet Union in the late 20th. He directly performed the surgeon with the President's body at Area K9. His direct research on the distinctive features of President Ho Chi Minh's appearance in his lifetime helped achieve remarkable results in the preservation process. That’s why we concluded “The President’s body was preserved in the best possible condition, keeping intact the distinctive features from his lifetime”. Even words couldn’t explain enough the contribution and meticulous work and expertise of Iu.M. Lopukin in this crucial task.
One crucial aspect I learned from him is prudence and scientific thinking. Every issue related to preserving President Ho Chi Minh's body was explained on a scientific basis. In 1999, during a visit to Hanoi to participate in the Scientific Council assessing President Ho Chi Minh's body, he dedicated a session to explain why the preservation room must maintain a constant temperature of 16°C and air humidity of 70%.
This crucial information provided a solid theoretical foundation for preserving President Ho Chi Minh's body, fostering the unity between the medical and engineering sectors within the High Command.
He authored two valuable documents which were issued in Russia by Moscow Medical Publisher: "Lenin - The truth and myths about the disease-causing death and the preservation process". This document was translated into Vietnamese in 1998 by me and other colleagues. The second document was "Ho Chi Minh Entering Eternity and the embalming process." This document was translated into Vietnamese in 1999 by Doctor Lai Van Hoa – Director of Institute 69.
Other details not normally seen in a foreigner's house was the altar built for President Ho Chi Minh found in the private house of Academician Iu.M. Lopukin.
The second person I want to mention is Professor, Dr. V. Kajansev, born in 1942. As the Head of the Embalming Research Department, he visited Vietnam 14 times, first in 1971, directly participating in preserving President Ho Chi Minh's body during the war years. After 1995, he visited Vietnam eight times to lecture and assist in the preparation of embalming solutions. Despite being a medical doctor, he provided valuable insights into the design of the current embalming area at Institute 69. From 1996 onwards, he played a crucial role in eight collaborative research projects on embalming solutions in Moscow and Hanoi, laying the groundwork for both infrastructure and scientific theory in the embalming process. He also contributed to training numerous medical professionals specializing in biochemistry and preservation solutions. At Institute 69 in Hanoi, he directly presented 8 topics on biochemistry and several topics on the analysis and formulation of preservation solutions for long-term use during visits. Particularly, he played a crucial advisory role for the Director Board of the Moscow Biomedical Research Center to assist Vietnam in formulating solutions locally right at Institute 69 in Hanoi since 2004.
The third person I want to mention is Professor, Dr. B.I. Khumutov. Though he only visited Vietnam four times before he passed over a decade ago, he left numerous lively scientific debates at the Lenin Mausoleum Research Institute regarding the advantages and disadvantages of embalming methods, whether using liquid or dry preservation. At the end of 1992, he gave me the valuable document "Limitations of the liquid embalming method," providing a more objective and comprehensive view of the embalming method used at the Lenin Mausoleum Research Institute. He also introduced the dry preservation method, which does not involve liquid, a valuable perspective considering the prevalent emphasis on the achievements and advantages of the Lenin Mausoleum Research Institute's embalming method.
The fourth person I want to mention is Assoc. Dr. V. Vasiliepski, born in 1944. The former head of the Practical Anatomy Department visited Vietnam 14 times, sharing his expertise on the color of President Ho Chi Minh's skin. He was a leading expert in lighting and the study of skin color on embalmed bodies. Collaborating with Gieresov and Vietnamese experts, he researched the skin color characteristics of older Vietnamese people as a baseline for accurately assessing President Ho Chi Minh's skin color. Based on this, the current lighting system in the Mausoleum was established, ensuring that visitors perceive President Ho Chi Minh as if he were resting after a day of work, with minimal impact on the embalmed body. He also proposed numerous fundamental and long-term issues for research on skin color and lighting systems. He bid us farewell in 2008 after a period of treatment for a malignant disease. The scientific works he left us are very valuable.
The fifth person I want to introduce is not an individual but a father-son duo, Mr. Ginkin Annatoni (senior) and Mr. Ginkin Boris (junior). Mr. Ginkin Annatoni, born in 1938, visited Vietnam ten times, first in 1971. He shared his knowledge of anatomy at various locations during the wartime evacuation. Although not hold high academic titles, he earned respect from both Russian and Vietnamese experts for his skillful and meticulous work on the embalmed body, often referred to affectionately as the person with "golden hands" to describe how skillfully he could work on the body just like a pianist. Despite challenges during the wartime, he always empathized with Vietnam's difficulties. Notably, he was compassionate, helpful, and provided practical guidance for Vietnamese colleagues.
Continuing his father's legacy, Mr. Ginkin Boris, born in 1973, is the only one from the Lenin Mausoleum Institute who followed in his father's footsteps. In 2006, he successfully defended his doctoral thesis at the age of 33. Like his father, Mr. Ginkin Boris is always cheerful, humorous, and enthusiastic with colleagues. He is a young scientist with a profound understanding of morphology, specializing in the morphological study of bones. He visited Vietnam three times for collaborative research, making significant contributions to projects between the Mausoleum Management Board and the Lenin Mausoleum Institute from 2000 to the present.
If we were to recount the achievements of the Russian Federation's medical experts, it would probably be impossible to cover them all. To conclude this article, I would like to summarize some of the lessons I have learned from the medical experts of the Russian Federation.
- Scientific Thinking
Perhaps they have inherited a long-standing scientific tradition from Russia, so in their work and interactions, I observe that they always exhibit deep, fundamental, long-term, and practical thinking. Their approach not only aids in accomplishing immediate tasks but also ensures long-term development. Therefore, I often advise my colleagues at Institute 69 to pay attention to combining the scientific thinking and meticulousness of the Russian experts with the skillful hands of Vietnamese doctors.
- Discipline, Responsibility, and Professionalism
In the decades of working with them, I have seen that task assignment and organization are very scientific - no noise, no duplication, no negligence. I have not witnessed any expert taking personal initiatives without the approval of the leadership. When given a task, there is always concern and effort to complete it in the best way possible.
While there may be intense debates during task execution, once an agreement is reached and the truth is recognized, there is full cooperation and mutual respect.
- Unity and Collaboration
In many years of working together, I have not seen any signs of disunity, factions, or mutual criticism within their organization. On the contrary, there is sharing of experiences between the experienced and newcomers, collaboration, and coordination among team members.
- Wholehearted Assistance to Vietnamese Colleagues
The extensive lectures on the specialized field of body preservation, the materials left by Institute 69 after their teaching sessions in Hanoi, and the wealth of knowledge that they shared and passed down to us all reflect their dedication.
- No Comparison, No Calculations for Enjoyment
If not mentioned, many people might not understand why they helped us in the past, went far from home, stayed away for six months without bringing their family along, and still did not complain. Each month, everyone received an allowance of 100 dong, equivalent to the salary of a non-experienced officer. Although the allowance was not high, I have not heard any expert complain. On the contrary, everyone has always been dedicated to the assigned tasks. The allowance amount was proposed by them, not agreed upon by both parties.
By 1994, the collaboration mechanism had changed. In Moscow, when discussing direct collaboration between the Mausoleum Management Board and the Lenin Mausoleum Research Institute, the issue of the salary for experts working in Hanoi was raised. We suggested that they proactively state the salary for the experts. There was no difficulty in reaching this agreement because we did not place excessive weight on the salary, and they, on the other hand, valued the relationship, making assistance to us your primary intention. During a meeting with Comrade Ho Huan Nghiem, the former Deputy Minister of Trade at that time and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Vietnam to the Russian Federation, after hearing the salary requested by Comrade Nguyen Quang Tan, the Head of the Management Board, Comrade Ambassador said, "I did not expect that in such difficult times, you would propose such a friendly salary”.
At this point, I am reminded of the days of the mighty Soviet Union, where the Lenin Mausoleum Research Institute, then known as the Moscow Institute of Molecular Biology, was prestigious and highly regarded. I recall the days when the large-scale production of medicine, the revitalization of President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum from 1975 to 1990 in Hanoi, always saw the enthusiastic participation of dozens of Soviet experts. All modern equipment, machinery, chemicals, solutions, and other medical tools were brought by you to assist us. Let's imagine the difficulties and shortages our country faced at that time. Without our Soviet and Russian friends, how could our mission have been accomplished?
Today, our renewal efforts have achieved significant results. The long-term preservation and absolute safety of President Ho Chi Minh's body have reached 40 years. Personally, I am grateful and remember all the Russian scientists who directly assisted us without hesitation during the challenging times of war and even during the harsh period of embargo. Among them, many have passed away, many are elderly with declining health, but continuing the tradition, many Russian friends are still standing side by side with us in the mission of preserving and long-term safeguarding President Ho Chi Minh’s body. I believe that the contributions of our friends are immeasurable and represent invaluable assistance that will endure over time. I hope that not only we, but also future generations, will forever be grateful to our Russian friends - the medical experts - for their invaluable assistance in preserving President Ho Chi Minh’s body.
