Ho Chi Minh

Ho Chi Minh
By Emma

Ho Chi Minh was born in 1890 in central Vietnam. He was originally named Nguyen Sinh Cung. His father spoke against the French colonists, and as a result, lost his job as a civic leader. Then Ho Chi Minh became part of a student protest and was kicked out of high school. He soon became a deckhand on a cargo ship. Then after visiting the United States and Great Britain, Ho settled in Paris.

Ho Chi Minh was still actually named Nguyen Sinh Cung and changed that to Nguyen Ai Quoc which settled more with his Vietnamese culture. He helped start the French Communist Party in 1920. He liked communism in Russia, so he moved there in 1923. Ho Chi Minh then slowly scooted closer to his homeland in southern China. He also helped open the first communist group in Vietnam - The Revolutionary Youth League. Thailand

Ho Chi Minh was forced out of China in 1927 by Chinese leaders. He moved to Thailand disguised as a monk and then stayed in Hong Kong. Then Ho finally moved back to Vietnam, Monk hiding in mountain caves. He led a club of guerilla warriors who used weapons and traps against the French. Minh and some younger leaders created a league called Vietminh. In 1954, Vietminh pushed the French out of their way.

Soon, Vietnam was split in half and Ho Chi Minh was made leader of the north. Ho tried to reunite the halves, but negotiating did no good. Ho didn't live to see reunification like he was hoping. He died in 1969.

Citations

Book

Willis, Terri. Vietnam. Canada: Children's Press, a Division of Scholastic Inc., (2002).

Images

All photographs and clipart used on this page from "Microsoft Office Design Gallery Live" <http://dgl.microsoft.com/?CAG=1> Images free for non-profit and personal use. (December-March, 2003).