241

p 1890, May 19

p 1905-1910 1911-1917

p Nguyen Sinh Cung (Ho Chi Minh) was born in the village of Hoangchu, Nghe-an Province, Vietnam, into the family of a village schoolteacher.

p He attended National College in Hue, the old imperial capital of Vietnam. A cook’s helper on board a French liner, a seasonal worker in Harlem, New York; a garbage collector, stoker and cook’s helper in London, an employee at a Paris photographic studio. Joined the Socialist Party of France. Under the name of Nguen Ai Quoc he forwards to an international conference in Paris "List of Claims of the Annamese People”, the first political manifesto of the national liberation revolution of Vietnam. After reading the "Preliminary Draft Theses on the National and the Colonial Questions”, the first work of Lenin’s he had ever read, Ho Chi Minh became firmly committed to the Communist International. Attended the Tours Congress of the French Socialists where he joined the majority in voting for the creation of the French Communist Party, and became the first Communist in the history of Vietnam.

p Took part in the 5th World Congress of the Comintern in Moscow as a representative of Indochina.

p Led the initiative to set up the Association of the Revolutionary Youth of Vietnam, which anteceded the Communist Party of Vietnam. Chaired a unity conference of Vietnamese  1918 242 1919, January 1920, July 1920, December 1924, June 1925, June 1930, February 3 1935, July-August

p Communists at Kowloon (Hongkong), at which the Communist Party of Vietnam (later the Communist Party of Indochina, then the Vietnam Workers’ Party, and finally the Communist Party of Vietnam) was formed. Participated in the 7th World Congress of the Comintern which approved the decision of the Kxerutive Committee of the Communist International to admit the Communist Party of Indochina.

p After thirty years of wandering he returned to Vietnam by secretly crossing the border near the village of Pac-bo in Caobang Province. Directed preparations for a general armed uprising. On December 22, 1944, signed a directive about the creation of an "armed detachment for political agitation" which laid the foundation for the future Vietnam People’s Army. On August 16, 1945, directed the Congress oi" People’s Representatives at Tanchao, which decided upon the date of the general armed uprising; was elected Chairman of the National Liberation Committee. On behalf of the Provisional Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam he read out on Badinh Square in Hanoi the Declaration of Independence that proclaimed the birth of the first workers’ and peasants’ state in Southeast Asia.

p At its first session, the National Assembly elected him President and appointed him Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (he held the post until 1955). In a radio address he called upon the Vietnamese to wage a war of resistance against the French colonialists.

p In command of the operation to clear the northern provinces of the enemy. Victory enabled the Democratic Republic of Vietnam to establish direct relations with the Soviet Union and other socialist countries. Addressed the 2nd Congress of the Communist Party of Indochina, which decided to

1954, July 22

243 change its name to the Vietnam Workers’ Party. In his speech, Ho Chi Minh called upon the Party and the people to muster all available resources to bring the war of resistance to a victorious end. Was elected Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Workers’ Part).

p Addressed a message to the people in connection with the signing of the Geneva Agreements and the restoration of peace in Indochina.

p Paid a visit to the Soviet Union and other socialist countries at the head of a Party and Government delegation.

p Directed the 3rd Congress of the Vietnam Workers’ Party which formulated I he two strategic tasks of the new phase of the Vietnamese Revolution: the building of a socialist society in the North and the liberation of the South from the imperialists and their hirelings, peaceful reunification of the country. Was re-elected Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Workers’ Party. Was appointed Chairman of the Supreme Defence Council. At a session of the National Assembly he appealed to the people: " Everybody rise to the struggle for the salvation of the country, against the US imperialist aggressors!"

p Died of a heart attack at his home in Hanoi. On November 29, 1969, the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Workers’ Party adopted a decision to embalm Ho Chi Minn’s body and perpetuate his memory. Since August 29, 1975, Ho Chi Minh has lain in the mausoleum in Badinh Square in Hanoi.

p 1941, February 8

p 1955, Iune

p 1944-1945

p 1960, September

p 1945, September 2

p 1965, April

p 1946,

p March 2

p 1946,

p December 20

p 1950, September

p 1951, February

1969, September 3