Standing Vice Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee Nguyễn Thanh Nghị visits a photo exhibition honoring the life and legacy of Nguyễn Văn Linh. VNA/VNS Photo

HCM CITY A photo exhibition celebrating the life and legacy of Nguyễn Văn Linh, a revered leader of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) who spearheaded the đổi mới (renewal) policy, opened in Hồ Chí Minh City on July 1, coinciding with his 110th birth anniversary.

The five-day event, hosted by the municipal Party Committee, People’s Council, People’s Committee, and the municipal chapter of the Việt Nam Fatherland Front Committee, showcases 100 photos divided into two main sections.

The first section portrays Linh as a staunch communist fighter in the southern resistance, including his leadership as Secretary of the Sài Gòn-Chợ Lớn-Gia Định Party Committee, Secretary of the Southern Region’s Party Committee and a member of the Central Office for South Việt Nam. The second focuses on his role as the mastermind behind đổi mới – Việt Nam’s renewal policy, which reshaped the nation’s economy and society.

The photos offer a vivid window into Linh’s revolutionary career, particularly his strategic guidance during the 1968 Tết Offensive and the 1975 Spring Offensive, which culminated in the liberation of South Việt Nam and national reunification.

As Secretary of the municipal Party Committee, he championed grassroots-driven reforms, piloting innovative models that reshaped urban governance and economic policy. Known for his independent thinking and bold approach, he laid the foundation for breakthroughs in management and economic renewal.

Serving as CPV General Secretary during the early phase of đổi mới, he led the Party in issuing critical resolutions and policies that decisively advanced the country’s renewal process. His leadership steered the nation through tough times and set it on a path to “a prosperous people, a strong nation, and a just, democratic, and civilised society”.

The exhibition also paints his humble lifestyle, honesty, and close connection with the people, presenting him as a shining example of unwavering dedication and loyalty to the country and its citizens.

His legacy lives on in Hồ Chí Minh City through public works named in his honour, designed to inspire patriotism among younger generations.

On the same morning, a delegation led by standing Vice Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Nguyễn Thanh Nghị paid a floral tribute and offered incense to the late leader at the Lạc Cảnh Cemetery in Linh Trung ward. VNA/VNS