Our Uncle Ho: His Journey and Struggles Abroad

The article delves into the early life of Ho Chi Minh, focusing on his journey to France aboard the ship "Admiral Latouche-Tréville." During this voyage, Ho Chi Minh served as a ship's cook, a demanding role he accepted to facilitate his travel to France. This period is presented as a testament to his dedication to his mission.

Drawing on the work of historian Sophie Quinn-Judge, the article suggests that Ho Chi Minh's family had a history of participating in patriotic, anti-colonial activities. Quinn-Judge, based on French records, believes the Ho family's involvement in such movements from an early stage likely influenced Ho Chi Minh's own path toward opposing French colonialism.

Upon arriving in France, Ho Chi Minh's experience was far from easy. He worked various jobs, including as a photographer, to earn a living, expand his network, and raise awareness about Vietnam's plight among people in France and the United States. The article quotes the poet Tan Da, "My shoulders carry a heavy burden, the road is long. Do I know myself?" to illustrate the solitary and arduous nature of Ho Chi Minh's quest for national independence.

The narrative emphasizes that Ho Chi Minh's departure was not a formal study abroad program, as his request to be admitted as a student was denied by colonial France. His ability to master the French language, engage in advocacy, and write in French was achieved through immense personal effort, albeit with the support of fellow patriots. The article portrays his journey as a great undertaking, undertaken with an uncertain awareness of the challenges he would face in a foreign land.

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Bác Hồ sang Pháp không phải đi theo đường du học, dù Bác có đề nghị để được nước Pháp tiếp nhận như một du học sinh. Nước Pháp thực dân đã thẳng thừng từ chối.