Activities in Netherlands, Canada mark President Ho Chi Minh’s birthday hinh anh 1 Vietnamese Ambassador to the Netherlands Ngo Thi Hoa presented certificates of merit to outstanding Vietnamese students in the Netherlands at the ceremony. (Source: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – The 128th birth anniversary of late President Ho Chi Minh (May 19, 1890) was marked with a ceremony in The Hague, the Netherlands, and a discussion in Toronto, Canada, recently.

At the celebration in The Hague, Vietnamese Ambassador to the Netherlands Ngo Thi Hoa said on May 19 every year, each Vietnamese people think of Ho Chi Minh with great respect and gratitude.

The movement of studying and following the late leader’s ideology, morality and style has been enhanced, helping Vietnamese people at home and abroad to better understand the significant values of his ideology, morality and style, she noted.

Participants in the ceremony offered incense to pay homage to President Ho Chi Minh. A documentary was also screened to give participants an insight into his journey abroad to seek ways to save the country.

At the event, the embassy also presented merit certificates to eight Vietnamese students with excellent achievements in youth activities in 2017 and 2018.

Meanwhile, the discussion in Toronto, organised by the Canada Vietnam Society, talked Ho Chi Minh’s viewpoint on women empowerment. It drew Canadian scholars and researchers, along with many Chinese, Indian and Vietnamese students in the Canadian city.

Opinions focused on gender equality and women empowerment, which President Ho Chi Minh used to mention for a long time and are still hot issues nowadays not only in Vietnam but also around the world.

Dr Nguyen Dai Trang, who wrote two books about President Ho Chi Minh, said the leader called on Vietnamese women to join the fight against foreign invaders, exercise their rights and take part in the global women’s rights movement. He also wrote many articles about many women’s movements in the world.

Trang said after Vietnam gained independence in 1945, the leader called on people nationwide, especially women, to learn the national language to create opportunities for them to keep up with men and be able to vote and run for election. He also encouraged support for women to hold leading positions and more communications about women successes.

President Ho Chi Minh (1890-1969) was the founder of the Communist Party of Vietnam. He led the Vietnamese revolution to victory with the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, in 1945.-VNA
VNA