LookAtVietnam – The Ton Duc Thang Museum in HCM City is displaying 200 images and objects related to the late president’s life and career.

Meeting of mines: President Ton Duc Thang talks to workers at a coal mine in Quang Ninh province, in a photo on display at HCM City’s Ton Duc Thang Museum.

The former president was one of the founders of Viet Nam’s Trade Union, and the exhibition was also set up to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the union.

It also aims to educate the public, especially young people, party members and workers to follow the president’s example to modernise the country.

Featured in the exhibition are 100 paintings and sketches of Ba Son Shipyard, where Ton Duc Thang used to work as a mechanic, and Con Dao prison island, where the revolutionary was kept by the French colonialists.

The works were created by veteran artist Huynh Phuong Dong from 1977–1979.

Dong’s art works are about two historical sites that relate to the late president’s revolutionary career and his working class campaigns during the early years of 20th century.

Prior to the exhibition opening, a ceremony was held to commemorate the president with the participation of 200 delegates, including city leaders, veteran soldiers, Vietnamese Hero mothers and leaders of An Giang Province, the president’s birthplace.

Several cai luong (reform opera) songs were performed by artists in the city during the ceremony.

At the ceremony, many people lit incense to honour the president. They included Huynh Thi Nhan, member of the Party Central Committee and deputy secretary of the HCM City Party Committee; Pham Phuong Thao, chairwoman of the city’s People Council; and Nguyen Thanh Tai, deputy head of the city’s People’s Committee.

Nguyen Huy Can, head of HCM City’s labour union, said the life and revolutionary efforts of President Ton, as well as his simple and humble lifestyle, gave Vietnamese people invaluable lessons.

In 1906, the then 18-year-old Thang left his homeland of Long Xuyen in the southern province of An Giang to work as a mechanic at the Ba Son Shipyard and volunteered to join the revolutionary campaign against the French colonialists.

Thang, also known affectionately as Uncle Ton, took over as president of Viet Nam after President Ho Chi Minh passed away in 1969.

The materials and works of art can be seen at 5 Ton Duc Thang street, HCM City’s District 1 through February 28.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News