Moved by the portrait of Uncle Ho drawn in blood at the Ho Chi Minh Museum

On the afternoon of April 23, the Ho Chi Minh Museum organized a special exhibition "The Country is Full of Joy" to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification Day (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025).

Among the exhibits is a portrait of Uncle Ho made of blood by artist Le Duy Ung. In 1971, while he was a third-year student at the Hanoi University of Fine Arts, he joined the army at the call of the Party and the State.

In 1975, just a few days before the South was completely liberated and the country was unified, in a fierce battle at the gateway to Saigon, artist Le Duy Ung was seriously injured and lost his eyes.

Artist Le Duy Ung and his version of the portrait of Uncle Ho drawn in blood. (Photo: Minh Thu/Vietnam+)

In the moments of lucidity before passing out due to severe injuries, artist Le Duy Ung used blood from his eyes to paint a portrait of President Ho Chi Minh.

Or the photo “Reunion on Liberation Day” by photographer Lam Hong Long, a reporter for the Vietnam News Agency. The photo captures the emotional moment of death row inmate Le Van Thuc hugging his mother, Mrs. Tran Thi Binh, at Rach Dua base, Vung Tau, on May 5, 1975, after he returned from the hell on earth of Con Dao.

According to Dr. Vu Manh Ha, Director of the Ho Chi Minh Museum, with more than 300 photos, documents, and artifacts, the exhibition introduces to the public the glorious journey that brought the long and arduous resistance war against the invading American imperialists of the Vietnamese people to glorious victory, reuniting the country. Thereby, rekindling the spirit of the Great Victory of Spring 1975 in the cause of building, developing, and firmly defending the socialist Fatherland of Vietnam, contributing to fostering the trust of all cadres, party members, and people in the leadership of the Party in the new era of development.

Among the documents and exhibits on display is the photo "Reunion on Liberation Day" by photographer Lam Hong Long. (Photo: Nam Nguyen/Vietnam+)

The exhibition content is divided into 3 parts.

Part I “Aspiration for Peace” reviews the historical context from the historic Dien Bien Phu Victory on May 7, 1954 to the long-term resistance war against the US and the 1973 Paris Agreement on ending the war and restoring peace in Vietnam.

Part II of “The Great Victory of Spring 1975” recreates the general offensive and uprising of Spring 1975, culminating in the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign. On April 30, 1975, after 55 days and nights of offensive and uprising, our army and people smashed the puppet government apparatus set up by the US, completely liberated the South, and reunified the country.

Part III “Vietnam Reaches New Heights” opens a new era in the nation’s history: The era of independence, unification and progress towards socialism. The Doi Moi policy proposed by the 6th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam in December 1986 marked a fundamental turning point in the development of Vietnam. Doi Moi has changed the face and position of the country, the economy has grown, culture has developed, society has become increasingly dynamic and has had miraculous changes.

The thematic exhibition is open to visitors at the Ho Chi Minh Museum from April 23 to August 10./.