Being the great father to the Vietnamese people, the Ho Chi
Minh Mausoleum and Complex are a necessary starting point for a trip to Hanoi.
Ho Chi Minh lived an extraordinary life travelling the world and learning its
ways as a young man. Later he would go on to help change the fate and direction
of Vietnam several times in the course of his life. Today he remains the poster
boy and symbol of the nation.
His Mausoleum resembles that of many other political and
military figures from around the world. He himself is on vacation from his tomb
however and for several months a year is removed to be preserved and
maintained, as was the case this week. Still thousands of visitors come to view
it with a proud Vietnamese flag waving overhead and overlooking adjacent development
projects, foreshadowing the future of the nation.
Surrounding the Mausoleum is a grand museum showcasing a
giant bronze statue of the legendary man. The museum contains pictures and hand
written letters and correspondences of his. It contains quotes on the walls
that remain as anchors for the people of Vietnam to continue on the path and
what’s best for the nation while maintaining the fight against westernization.
Also surrounding the complex is Ho Chi Minh's former
residence which although small certainly does not give you the communist feel of
equality and sharing. It seems quite elaborate for its time. In addition the
nearby presidential palace in its blindingly bright yellow paint stands as a
newer symbol of the nation and surrounded with 1000’s of soldiers casually
meandering around.
True communism seems like a fix all for hate,
discrimination, poverty and all other injurious sufferings that afflict the
world. The only flaw appears to be that it goes against human kinds primal
thoughts of always trying to do better and to never be content with what you have. Only the
resilience of its people and time will tell the fate of Communist Vietnam.
No comments:
Post a Comment