To keep Uncle Ho's Mausoleum forever a sacred space of the nation

Delegations visit President Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum

This is also a sacred image, a unique symbol, with practical value in educating morality and lifestyle for every Vietnamese person.

With that meaning, the task of preserving and protecting President Ho Chi Minh's body for a long time and promoting the political and cultural significance of the Mausoleum is not only the responsibility and sentiment of the entire Party, people and army, but also demonstrates loyalty and steadfastness to the revolutionary path that the Party and Uncle Ho have chosen.

The Party, State, Army and people have entrusted this noble but glorious responsibility to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Management Board. 45 years since its establishment (August 14, 1976 - August 14, 2021), cadres, civil servants, public employees, staff, soldiers and workers in the Mausoleum Management Board have overcome countless difficulties and challenges, successfully completing this special political task.

Preserve and protect the body of President Ho Chi Minh in a long-term manner

After President Ho Chi Minh passed away, in accordance with the earnest wishes of the entire Party, people and army, the Politburo decided to carry out to the best of its ability the task of preserving President Ho Chi Minh's body for a long time and building his mausoleum for generations of Vietnamese people and international friends to come and admire and pay their respects to him. This task was assigned from the beginning to the military, directly to Group 69 (the predecessor unit of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Protection Command).

On September 2, 1973, the construction of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum began at the historic Ba Dinh Square. After 2 years of urgent construction, on August 29, 1975, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum was inaugurated. The task of long-term preservation and absolute safety protection of President Ho Chi Minh's body, his Mausoleum, Ba Dinh Square and related works was assigned to a number of agencies and units under the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Public Security and the Hanoi City Administrative Committee.

In order to strengthen the Party's leadership and the Government's unified management and administration of the forces on duty at President Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and Ba Dinh Square, on July 11, 1976, the Politburo issued Notice No. 14-TB/TU on the organization to ensure the long-term preservation of President Ho Chi Minh's body and the management of the Mausoleum and Ba Dinh Square.

At the same time, the Politburo also decided to establish the Board in charge of managing the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Ba Dinh Square. The decision clearly stated: The Board in charge of managing the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is under the Government Council. The Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense, appoint a general as the Head of the Board, specializing in this work, not holding other positions.

Pursuant to the Resolution of the Politburo, on August 14, 1976, the Government Council issued Decision No. 145/CP to establish the Management Board of President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Ba Dinh Square. On August 11, 2016, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 1589/QD-TTg, taking August 14 every year as the "Traditional Day of the Management Board of President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum".

To meet the requirements and tasks of long-term preservation and absolute safety protection of President Ho Chi Minh's body and promote the political and cultural significance of the Mausoleum in the new period, on February 2, 2018, the Prime Minister issued Decree No. 18/2018/ND-CP stipulating the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Management Board.

Accordingly, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Management Board is a government agency, performing the function of long-term preservation and absolute safety protection of President Ho Chi Minh's body; managing, ensuring security, ceremonies, organizing activities at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ba Dinh Square, the Monument to Heroes and Martyrs, the People's Reception Area, the Ho Chi Minh Relic Site at Da Chong in Ba Vi District, Hanoi City (K9 Relic Site) and related works and architectures; organizing and implementing public service activities according to the provisions of law.

Regarding the organizational structure, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Management Board has an Office; two public service units (Ba Dinh Square Management Board; Center for Science, Technology and Environment). Two specialized units are the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Protection Command, under the Ministry of National Defense; Regiment 375 under the Guard Command, Ministry of Public Security.

Mastering science and technology

Over 45 years of construction, development and growth, under the leadership of the Party, State and Army, generations of cadres, civil servants, public employees, soldiers and workers of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Management Board have made great efforts to excellently fulfill the special political tasks assigned by the Party, State and people.

Major General, Dr. Bui Hai Son, Acting Head of the Mausoleum Management Board, Commander of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Protection Command, emphasized that the greatest and consistent success is that, in any circumstance, the unit always preserves Uncle Ho's body in the best condition; promotes the sense of independence, self-reliance, self-reliance, constantly learning and researching, gradually mastering science and technology.

Previously, under fierce war conditions and lacking facilities, officers and soldiers of Group 69, the predecessor of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Protection Command, overcame all difficulties and hardships, together with Soviet experts, successfully completed the mission. Later, during the mechanism transition period, the unit worked directly with the Russian Federation Institute of Medicinal Herbs and Essential Oils, while strengthening research cooperation with scientists inside and outside the Army to directly serve the requirements of political tasks.

During this time, when there were no regular experts, the unit overcame difficulties to take charge of the task of preserving Uncle Ho's body. On the basis of promoting the spirit of independence, self-reliance, self-reliance, and self-strengthening, the unit actively prepared adequate supplies, chemicals, technical equipment, as well as medical staff and employees for this task. Notably, from 2004 to present, Institute 69 and Russian experts have successfully prepared 18 solutions in Vietnam to use as medicine for President Ho Chi Minh's body, achieving good results.

Through the process of mixing the special solution, we have been proactive in the entire mixing process, from preparation, implementation, analysis, and evaluation of the solution quality. At the same time, the medical staff of Institute 69 also have a better understanding of the purpose and basic requirements in adjusting and using the solution to preserve the body for a long time.

In 2019, the State-level Scientific Council on long-term preservation, preservation, and absolute safety protection of President Ho Chi Minh's body and the State-level Medical Science Council inspected and assessed the condition of President Ho Chi Minh's body and concluded: "President Ho Chi Minh's body after 50 years is being preserved very well, no changes have been detected compared to the figures in the body inspection records of previous Councils (1970, 2009)".

“This is the result of will and determination to overcome difficulties and challenges, creating a decisive change, preparing prerequisites to affirm the ability to firmly master, and move towards complete mastery of the medical task of preserving Uncle Ho's body for a long time,” Major General Bui Hai Son affirmed.

Promote the spirit of independence, self-reliance and self-improvement

In addition to the task of preserving Uncle Ho's body for a long time, the technical work and architectural management of the project have always been well organized by the unit. The unit has overcome all difficulties, proactively innovated; on the one hand, it has effectively managed and exploited the technical equipment system with the motto of "preserving well, using durably, safely, and economically", on the other hand, it has taken advantage of the expertise of leading experts inside and outside the military; gradually replaced, upgraded and innovated the technical equipment system in a modern, synchronous, energy-saving, and environmentally friendly direction.

Realizing that Uncle Ho's Mausoleum and Ba Dinh Square are the political centers of the whole country, politically sensitive places, and places where hostile forces focus on sabotage, in recent years, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Management Board has built, supplemented and completed plans to ensure security and combat readiness and organized training according to expected situations. The unit closely coordinated with the forces in the Mausoleum Management Board, Ba Dinh District Police, Hanoi City Police, with local Party committees, authorities and people, agencies and units in the area to ensure absolute safety for the visit to Uncle Ho, the Party Congress, National Assembly sessions, major holidays, rallies, military parades and mass marches taking place in Ba Dinh Square; at the same time, solemnly performed rituals and ceremonies at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the Monument to Heroes and Martyrs.

In addition, the organization of reception and propaganda has been invested in, improved and innovated in content and form, constantly improving the quality of service for people and international visitors to visit Uncle Ho. From the opening day of the Mausoleum (August 29, 1975) to July 27, 2021, the unit has welcomed and served nearly 60 million compatriots and international visitors thoughtfully and safely; including more than 10 million visitors from most countries, territories and international organizations; more than 1,000 delegations of people with revolutionary contributions... The officers and staff of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Management Board are always attentive, warm and make efforts to ensure that the visit takes place solemnly and respectfully.

Ms. Hoang Thi Xuan, a staff member of the Reception Committee, said: “Being close to Uncle Ho and serving visitors to Uncle Ho every day is a great honor that not everyone has. It all stems from the love and respect for Uncle Ho. Every officer and soldier who works at the unit strives to overcome all difficulties to complete their assigned tasks well.”

Having been the main tour guide at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Da Chong, Ba Vi District, Hanoi for 7 years and since being assigned to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (2017), Ms. Xuan cannot remember how many times she has witnessed touching images.

“The delegations with revolutionary contributions who met and visited Uncle Ho were all moved to tears. Many elderly people were old but only wished to visit Hanoi once to visit Uncle Ho. Many very young children, who could not even speak fluently, still attentively listened to the explanations or watched documentaries about Uncle Ho. International delegations, including many heads of state around the world, all had very special feelings for him... All of these memories made me more aware of my responsibilities, urging me to try and make efforts to fulfill my duties well for the country and the Fatherland,” Ms. Hoang Thi Xuan shared.

To continue promoting the achievements and successfully completing the special political tasks, in the coming time, the leaders of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Management Board are determined to uphold the spirit of independence, self-reliance, proactiveness, creativity, grasp the opportunity to rise up and firmly master the medical task of preserving the body of President Ho Chi Minh for a long time, absolutely protecting the safety of the body of President Ho Chi Minh and promoting the political and cultural significance of the Mausoleum in the new period. The focus is on implementing the major contents and orientations on medical tasks; engineering and architecture of the Mausoleum; ensuring security and rituals; reception and propaganda; training and building a team of cadres, especially medical and technical cadres with comprehensive knowledge, in-depth professional qualifications, solid practical capacity, capable of inheriting, receiving and firmly mastering the political tasks in the new period...

Major General Bui Hai Son, Acting Head of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Management Board, emphasized: Promoting the achievements, entering a new stage of the revolution, cadres, civil servants, public employees, soldiers and workers in the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Management Board continue to strive to excellently fulfill the special political tasks entrusted by the Party, State and people, so that the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum will always be a sacred space with historical, political and cultural values, contributing to fostering and fostering patriotism and revolutionary traditions for all Vietnamese people today and tomorrow.

According to VNA