President Hồ Chí Minh with Prince Souphanouvong, oil on canvas by Nguyễn Trọng Hiệp, 2012.

HÀ NỘI – Prince Souphanouvong (1909 –95) of Laos was not only a supporter of late President Hồ Chí Minh but also had a close relationship with Vietnamese people, which is shown at an exhibition that opened on Friday in Hà Nội.

Hồ Chí Minh and Kaysone Phomvihane museums joined hands to organise the exhibition President Souphanouvong – A Close Friend of Vietnamese People to commemorate the 110th birthday anniversary of the man who was also President of Laos for 26 years.

The photos and documents on display reflect the life and career of Prince Souphanouvong, a man who studied in Hà Nội, married a Vietnamese woman and had 10 children with Vietnamese names who all studied in Hà Nội, too.

“President Souphanouvong was a great leader of Lao people, who devoted his life to the country’s liberation and prosperity, he was a faithful and close friend of Vietnamese people,” said Vũ Mạnh Hà, director of the Hồ Chí Minh Museum.

“Together with President Hồ and President Kaysone Phomvihane, President Souphanouvong established a foundation for the special friendship between Việt Nam and Laos.”

The exhibition is divided into three parts, reviewing milestones in the life of Prince Souphanouvong and his relationship with Việt Nam.

After 10 years studying in Hà Nội, he went to a university in Paris. After graduation, he was appointed to work in Việt Nam, where he designed irrigation systems such as Bái Thượng Dam in Thanh Hóa, Đô Lương Dam in Nghệ An and Phan Thiết Water Tower.

The exhibition also features his activities from 1945 - 1995, when he supported the revolution in Việt Nam. He made many trips to Việt Nam to meet President Hồ Chí Minh, during which they talked, planted trees, went fishing and had simple meals in the north of Việt Nam.

The third part of the exhibition reflects the special friendship between Việt Nam and Laos from past to present.

Apart from photos, documents and objects, the exhibition also features the oil painting President Hồ Chí Minh with Prince Souphanouvong by Nguyễn Trọng Hiệp.

Hiệp said he found inspiration from photos taken during Prince Souphanouvong's visits to Việt Nam.

The exhibition will run until the end of August at the Hồ Chí Minh Museum, 19 Ngọc Hà Street, Hà Nội. – VNS