A tree-planting campaign is launched in Lâm Đồng Province yesterday to mark the 130th birth anniversary of late President Hồ Chí Minh. – VNA/VNS Photo

HCM CITY – The southern hub of HCM City and the Central Highlands province of Lâm Đồng on Sunday launched tree-planting campaigns to mark the 130th birth anniversary of late President Hồ Chí Minh (May 19).

Authorities and people in HCM City held tree-planting activities across 24 districts on the day. In 2019, the city planted more than 400,000 trees.

Meanwhile, Lâm Đồng Province planted 1,500 pines and wild Himalayan cherry trees at the campus sites of some universities.

The tree-planting campaign was launched by the late President in 1959 when he wrote an article published by Nhân Dân (People) newspaper, stressing the significance of tree-planting to each person, family and the nation. It has since become an annual festival at the beginning of each Lunar New Year.

“Spring is the time for planting trees. Making the country all the more resplendent as eternal springtime,” he wrote, advocating “it doesn’t cost much, yet brings enormous benefits.”

The call for tree-growing urged the need to beautify national landscapes and grow forests because the country had just stepped out of a devastating war to end years of colonisation by the French, which saw a severe decline in natural forests.

The tradition has also been associated with the cultivation, or the education, of a person.

Celebrations nationwide

Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc on Saturday cut the ribbon to inaugurate a temple dedicated to the ancestors of President Hồ Chí Minh in Kim Liên Commune, Nam Đàn District, the central province of Nghệ An where the president was born.

Located to the south of Chung Mountain, the ancestral temple is constructed on a 83.63ha area.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, PM Phúc hailed Nam Đàn as a land with cultural and historical richness where many extraordinary and noble people were born. He asked local youngsters to uphold the traditions of their forebears.

The temple symbolises a popular Vietnamese saying “When you drink water, remember the source,” the PM said, adding that it will serve as a historical place for people to pay tribute and show gratitude towards President Hồ Chí Minh and his ancestors for their contributions to the nation.

On the same day, PM Phúc attended the launching of a monument built by co-operatives and co-operative alliance across Việt Nam to show respect for President Hồ Chí Minh

Construction of the monument began at Kim Liên special national relic site in Làng Sen 3 village, Kim Liên Commune in August last year, aiming to mark the late president’s 130th birthday (May 19, 1890 – 2020). It has a total investment of VNĐ8 billion (US$343,000).

Another ceremony was also held on Sunday in Nghệ An, the hometown of late President Hồ Chí Minh, to mark his 130th birthday anniversary.

Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Thái Thanh Quý said the President left a precious spiritual legacy for the Party, people and army. His ideology has become a guiding star for the Party and people to win victories in the past, present and future.

The celebration took place when the country is preparing for the 13th National Party Congress, Quý said, adding that Nghệ An is striving to study and follow  PresidentHồ Chí Minh’s ideology, morality and lifestyle.

Earlier, local authorities held a conference on Saturday to honour outstanding individuals and collectives in studying and following President Hồ Chí Minh’s ideology, morality and lifestyle.

As many as 30 individuals and collectives were honoured in an online literature, arts and press work contest on the movement in 2015-20.

President Hồ Chí Minh was born on May 19, 1890, in Kim Liên Commune, Nam Đàn District. He devoted his whole life to national liberation while tirelessly striving for peace and progress in the world.

He led the national struggle for national independence to success and established the Democratic Republic of Việt Nam, now the Socialist Republic of Việt Nam, in 1945.

He died in 1969. – VNS