Grand ceremony marks President Ton Duc Thang’s 130th birthday

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Ton Duc Thang (R) is the first president of the reunified Socialist Republic of Vietnam from 1976 - 1980

Prominent among delegates at the event were President Tran Dai Quang, head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Education and Popularisation Vo Van Thuong, National Assembly Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu and many incumbent and former senior officials of the Party, the State, the Vietnam Fatherland Front. 

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc sent baskets of flowers to the ceremony. 

President Tran Dai Quang delivered a speech, looking back at the life and revolutionary career of the late President, also known affectionately as Uncle Ton. 

Born on August 20, 1888 at Ong Ho islet, An Hoa village, now My Hoa Hung commune of Long Xuyen city, An Giang province, Ton Duc Thang joined the patriotic movement against the French colonialists since young age. During the time working abroad, he participated in workers’ movement in France, the rising of the French Navy in the Black Sea in support of the October Revolution in Russia.  

Returning to Vietnam in 1920, the late President founded the first workers’ union in Vietnam and led the worker’ movement in Sai Gon, with the Ba Son strike being the most typical example of the movement’s activities. He then joined the Vietnam Revolutionary Youth's Union and was entrusted with several key positions. He was arrested by the French colonialists in 1929 and was imposed 20 years of hard labour in prision. In Con Dao prison, he was among the founders of the first Party cell in prison. 

With the success of the August Revolution, Ton Duc Thang regained his freedom and immediately joined the resistance war against the French invaders. He was assigned many important missions by the Party, and in any position, Ton Duc Thang fulfilled his duty, setting a bright example of patriotism, firm revolutionary will, loyalty and revolutionary ethics.

His great contributions to the Vietnamese revolution, the world peace movement and international friendship had won recognition in the form of many noble order and awards. He was the first person to be conferred with the Sao Vang (Golden Star) Order by the Vietnamese Party and State. He was also awarded with the Lenin Order and the Lenin Prize of the Soviet Union. 

President Tran Dai Quang delivers a speech at the ceremony

President Tran Dai Quang stressed that with nearly 70 years engagement in the Vietnamese revolution, 26 successive years serving as President of the Lien Viet Front and the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and more than 10 years holding the Presidency of the nation, Uncle Ton’s 92-year life and revolutionary career was a bright example of patriotism, devotion to the revolutionary cause, firm will and revolutionary ethics. 

On behalf of the Party organisation, administration and people of An Giang province, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Vo Thi Anh Xuan said the province is proud of the land’s son Ton Duc Thang. 

In Ho Chi Minh City, a delegation of the city’ Party Committee, People’s Council, People’s Committee and Vietnam Fatherland Front offered incense and floral tribute to the late President Ton Duc Thang at the museum dedicated to him on the occasion of his birthday. 

The museum is holding a display on the childhood of President Ton Duc Thang, with around 100 exhibits showing the situation in An Giang province and the southern region in late 19th and early 20th centuries. 

Many delegations of local organisations and people also paid tribute to the great leader at the museum.