Spreading the spirit of Ho Chi Minh — Viet Nam’s cultural journey reaching the world

Updated: 11:18, 30/05/2025

For the first time, a dedicated exhibition about President Ho Chi Minh was held at a World Expo. This was not only a commemorative event but also a landmark in Viet Nam’s journey to bring its culture to a wider global audience, affirming the country’s increasingly proactive and engaged role in the international cultural space.

Titled “President Ho Chi Minh — Symbol of peace and friendship”, the exhibition was held at the Viet Nam Pavilion within EXPO 2025 Osaka, which ran until May 25.

Delegates cut the ribbon at the opening of the exhibition.

It then continued in Fukuoka, a major cultural and educational centre of Japan, on May 28 and 29. This expansion not only brings the image and ideology of Ho Chi Minh closer to international friends, but also reflects a thoughtful, well-structured effort to promote the cultural values of Viet Nam to the world.

Taking place on the occasion of the 135th birth anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh and the 52nd anniversary of Viet Nam-Japan diplomatic relations, the exhibition holds special symbolic significance.

Speaking about the exhibition, Tran Nhat Hoang, Deputy General Representative of Viet Nam at EXPO 2025, noted that this was the first time an exhibition on President Ho Chi Minh has been introduced comprehensively at a World Expo — an international, multicultural event attracting millions of visitors from across continents.

Through images and documents on the late president’s revolutionary journey, international audiences have the opportunity to gain deeper insight into his ideology and character.

With a modern yet approachable presentation, the exhibition recreates the image of President Ho Chi Minh through rare materials, vivid photographs, archival footage, and historical artefacts — from his early journey in search of national salvation as Nguyen Tat Thanh to his role as an outstanding leader, a steadfast internationalist, a clever diplomat, and a great friend of progressive peoples around the world.

The exhibition space is not merely a retelling of history; it serves as a bridge connecting national memory with the universal values of humanity — peace, cooperation, and compassion.

In the turbulent 20th century, President Ho Chi Minh was one of the few leaders whose legacy extended beyond national borders. His core messages, such as “Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom”, not only inspired the Vietnamese people but also became a guiding light for national liberation movements in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

The choice of Japan — a country with which Viet Nam shares a comprehensive strategic partnership — as the host of this exhibition at a World Expo, reflects the deepening cultural solidarity between the two nations.

At a time when the two countries are strengthening ties across politics, economics, culture, and people-to-people exchange, Japan’s collaboration in organising this culturally and historically meaningful event is also a testament to mutual trust and respect.

The theme of EXPO 2025, “Designing future society for our lives”, not only reflects a vision of sustainable and humane development but also conveys a global message about building a more harmonious and equitable world.

Within that spirit, presenting Ho Chi Minh’s intellectual legacy is not only a tribute to history but also a proposal for a new development model, one where culture serves as a foundation for social progress.

Viet Nam’s participation at the EXPO goes beyond showcasing technological products or traditional arts, it promotes a nation rooted in cultural values, offering powerful “soft assets” such as the thought, ethics and personality of Ho Chi Minh, creating a unique cultural imprint in the minds of international friends.

Each stop of the exhibition “President Ho Chi Minh — Symbol of peace and friendship” serves as a bridge, conveying the longing for independence and the love of peace — values deeply embedded in Ho Chi Minh’s thought.

The thematic exhibition “President Ho Chi Minh — Symbol of peace and friendship” in Osaka, Japan.

This exhibition is also a way for Viet Nam to affirm its cultural identity and spread the image of a peace-loving country that actively integrates into and contributes to the international community.

Viet Nam’s international cultural integration strategy is being implemented in a coordinated and methodical manner. Alongside its regular presence at major multilateral forums such as the World Economic Forum, the UN Climate Change Conferences (COP), and the Asia–Europe Meeting (ASEM), Viet Nam has been actively organising events such as Viet Nam Culture Week/Day abroad, along with culinary, music, cinema, and folk-art showcases, as well as the export of creative products.

These efforts, combined with the active engagement of intellectuals, artists, and overseas Vietnamese communities, are contributing to the development of a dynamic and forward-looking cultural diplomacy.

From global cultural forums to EXPO 2025 Osaka, Viet Nam is gradually asserting itself as a nation that integrates through its unique cultural identity and actively spreads the values of humanity, peace, and cooperation.