PM pays respects to late President Ho Chi Minh

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung burns incense yesterday in honour of late President Ho Chi Minh. — VNA/VNS Photo Duc Tam

HA NOI — Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and his deputies yesterday lit incense in memory of late President Ho Chi Minh at his memorial house, preserved in his honour in the grounds of the Presidential Palace.

The delegation expressed respect and gratitude for the late President's contributions to national liberation and construction, stating that he was both a man of culture and a hero who made the Vietnamese nation shine in the eyes of the world. Memorial director Bui Kim Hong told the delegation that each year more than 2 million people visited the house.

"We staff and cadres at this historical site pledge to do our best to maintain and conserve these precious objects for future generations," Hong said.

Earlier on Sunday, a ceremony was held to launch the room where the late President presided over meetings and received foreign visitors."

Hong said many meetings to discuss important issues relating to national construction and defence and the struggle to liberate the South from 1954- 69 were held in the room.

"It was here, on December 28, 1967, that President Ho presided over a meeting with the Politburo to approve the plan to launch the 1968 Spring General Offensive," Hong said.

The two ceremonies were to mark the 65th anniversary of the August Revolution (August 19), National Day (September 2) and 41 years since the late President's testament was released to the nation. — VNS