Vietnam : Post #2 The Immortal Ho Chi Minh

Everyone dies but there are men and women who continue to live on forever. They have become an immortal but there are various degrees of immortality. Some are legendary figures remembered in "recorded" history or ancient tales. They may or may not historically exist. Others were once living individuals, their deeds recorded in history books. A minority exist in both books and has a physical/bodily presence.

And so this was the case, this morning when I trotted out to the Ho Chi Minh Maosoleum to see the Man himself; Ho Chi Minh. He was the founder of the Republic of Vietnam, more than 60 years ago he declared independence from French rule in Hanoi. He died I think in 1969, 36 years ago. His wish was to have his cremated ashes scattered over three places in Vietnam. That did not happen of course. Such a person is more than a person really.

A perpetual symbol was needed by the communist goverment of North Vietnam. After 1975, when North and South was reunited by force, the country went through a period where Marxist economic systems were implemented. Rice farms in the Mekong Delta (South Vietnam) was collectivised. The result was a fall in rice production and a nation wide famine.

For 10 years after 1975, the now united Vietnam went through severe hardship caused by the foolish and misguided policies dictated by the central goverment. Food shortages were common and inflation rates shot up to hundreds of percent in one year.

In 1986, the situation in the country was perilious. Drastic change was needed - a new policy was introduced "Doi Moi" or Renovation. An open market economic system was gradually introduced. Almost 20 years later, the policy has been very successful in improving the economy. Vietnam's economic growth rates has beeb around 7 percent per year over the past 10 years. Even the Asian economic crisis in 1997/1998 failed to make a dent.

One thing hasn' t changed though. The goverment is still not an elected entity by the citizens of Vietnam. Today, Vietnam is only one of five remaining communist nations on the planet. This is where the immortal Ho Chi Minh comes in handy for the goverment.

His speeches and writings are extracted for mass public campaigns. His images are shown on posters and numerous television programs. You can't miss him really his visage stares out from on every Vietnamese Dong currency note and coin. Ho Chi Minh is truly an immortal in Vietnam.

A bit of news about my running activities in Hanoi. This morning at 6.30 am I ran around Hoam Kiem lake. It was quite cold during the 5 minutes from my hotel to the lake. The place was already crowded when I got there. There were Tai Chi groups, women dancing holding red colour fans, badminton and sepak takraw players. The majority were walkers. There were only 3 or 4 runners. Most are dressed in track suits and track pants. There were no branded shoes in sight.

It was incredibly refreshing to run in the cold temperature. I think I was easily running at 5 min per 1 km pace. One loop around the lake is about 1.6 to 1.8 km. I ran for four laps (6.4 to 7.2 km). I did not see anyone else running close to my pace. I guess there are very few Vietnamese runners around; everyone is too busy making a living. Perhaps only the well off or those living in relatively more developed countries can Afford the time for exercise.

Tomorrow I will be going on a tour to Hoa Lu and Tam Coc, 3 hours South from Hanoi. I will stay for 2 nights in Ninh Binh town before returning to Hanoi on Friday.