Kim Lien Commune in Nghe An province is the childhood home of Vietnam's leading revoluntionary and first president. While the outside appears to be a modern Vietnamese town, an ancient village still remains perfectly intact. The simple wooden walls and a thatched roof once housed Nguyen Sinh Cung, the boy who grew up to become Ho Chi Minh and liberate his nation.
Ho Chi Minh's childhood home. Photo by Glen MacDonald.
Walking in the footsteps of Uncle Ho. Photo by Glen MacDonald.
As the son of a Confucian scholar, young Uncle Ho quickly realized the value of education and was instilled with worldly wonder. In addition to his education, Ho Chi Minh's father, Nguyen Sinh Sac, introduced him to national pride and revolutionary activity against the occupying French colonial forces. Freedom-fighting villagers would hide their weapons in the well nearby his home.
Nowadays, as Vietnam enjoys peacetime, Ho Chi Minh's village has been blessed with a bounty of lotus gardens. The lotus flower is emblematic of the struggles and triumphs of the Vietnamese people. Like the flower that grows above muddy areas, the Vietnamese people seem to blossom far above the hardships of the past.
Photo by Glen MacDonald.
Photo by Glen MacDonald.
Photo by Glen MacDonald.
Photo of Glen MacDonald.
Photo by Glen MacDonald.
Photo by Glen MacDonald.
Photo by Glen MacDonald.
Dozens of Vietnamese people visit the site to pay homage to their beloved leader. In the lush, natural spot, the words of Ho Chi Minh ring true; “To reap a return in ten years, plant trees. To reap a return in 100, cultivate the people.”
According to InterNations - a platform specializing in assessing the quality of life of expatriate communities worldwide, Vietnam has once again been voted the country with the lowest cost of living in the world in 2026. This marks the fifth consecutive year that Vietnam has held this position.
From pots of banh chung simmering over red embers through the night, to family reunion meals and the red envelopes exchanged at the start of the year, the Lunar New Year is not only a traditional celebration of the Vietnamese people but has also become a profound cultural experience for many foreigners living and working in Vietnam.
Ho Chi Minh’s legacy is not only preserved in Vietnam but also lives on vividly in many countries around the world, including the Republic of Bulgaria - the Land of Roses.
Attending the 19th session of the Intergovernmental Committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (hereinafter referred to as the 2005 Convention), held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France, Vietnam reaffirmed its commitment to effectively implementing the Convention while emphasizing the need to strengthen international cooperation and refine implementation mechanisms in the digital environment amid the rapid development of technology and artificial intelligence.
“Go to the cemetery and invite your grandparents home to celebrate Tet, my child.” That familiar reminder echoes in many Vietnamese families as the year draws to a close.
On the occasion of the Lunar New Year, many universities across Vietnam have organized activities such as making banh chung, practicing calligraphy, hosting gatherings, cultural performances, and presenting gifts. These events aim to allow international students to experience the beauty of Vietnam’s traditional culture and feel the warmth of the festive season during the first days of the new year.
The Zhi Shan Foundation, in coordination with the South Quang Tri Social Work Center, recently organized a Tet support program to provide more than 3,000 children at 15 schools in the mountainous areas of Quang Tri Province with nutritional support and Tet gifts.
On the morning of February 13, Dr. Vu Van Tien, Member of the Presidium and Party Committee of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front; Head of the Party Committee’s Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department; Secretary of the Party Branch and Head of the Propaganda Department; and Vice Chairman of the Advisory Council on Science, Technology and Digital Transformation, visited and presented Tet gifts to poor and near-poor households in Tran Phu Commune, Hai Phong City.
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