I always carry within me a deep sense of pride to live and work in Ho Chi Minh City. The image of Uncle Hồ’s statue, standing with a welcoming gesture before The People’s Committee Building on Nguyễn Huệ street, has become a landmark, drawing visitors from near and far. Each time a music festival takes place, the boulevard turns into a vibrant sea of people. The five-star Rex Hotel sparkles in luxurious splendor, while beams of light sweep across the night sky, and the crimson flag with its golden star flutters proudly atop the grand building. Especially during Tết and festive seasons, the city feels more alive than ever: cheerful music fills the air, adults stroll hand in hand with children, and street dance groups immerse themselves in energetic rhythms. With its year-round gentle and pleasant weather, it seems as though sorrow has no place to linger here.
My generation was born after Uncle Hồ had already passed. Yet his ideology, his simplicity, and his noble character remain an everlasting beacon for us to study and follow. In my school years, I found myself most captivated by history lessons about his life and revolutionary career. I still remember exam questions about the day he departed from Bến Nhà Rồng to seek a way to liberate the nation, about the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam, and the profound significance of the August Revolution. Later, when I had the chance to visit his Mausoleum and the vast Hồ Chí Minh Museum, I was overwhelmed by the greatness of his legacy. I often dream that if I had a large home, I would collect and display every book written about him, so that my children and grandchildren might read, learn, and carry forward his example.
To me, this city is the very symbol of integration, of youthful vigor, of dynamism, creativity, and boundless energy. A city that bears the name of President Hồ Chí Minh will forever be a source of pride, and also a reminder that each citizen must live with responsibility – worthy of the honor of calling this place home.
