We collect 79 songs about Ho Chi Minh, 12 of which were written by international artists. This section features many of these songs.
THE BALLAD OF HO CHI MINH
Ewan MacColl (1915-1989) was a British folk singer, songwriter and labour activist who became one of the main composers of protest songs in Britain during the 1950s and 1960s. In 1954, MacColl recorded The Ballad of Ho Chi Minh, an upbeat folk song that recognized Ho Chi Minh’s strong leadership and devotion to the people of Vietnam. MacColl was inspired by the Viet Minh victory at Dien Bien Phu. According to MacColl’s ballad, Ho Chi Minh is a leader who seeks to “drive invaders from his land” in order to secure “peace and freedom” for the Vietnamese people. MacColl’s song became popular around the world, particularly in North Vietnam. Source: Ewan MacColl: Ballad of Ho Chi Minh (1954). Alpha History. Video by NoiTraiTim.
TEACHER UNCLE HO
Pete Seeger (1919-2014) was an American folk singer who “played an important role in singing the songs and engaging in the struggles of the civil rights, free speech, human rights, anti-war, environmental, peace, anti-nuclear, and social justice movements.” He regarded Ho Chi Minh as “one of my all-time heroes” and wrote Teacher Uncle Ho in 1970. Source: Cohen and Capaldi (2014, eds.) The Pete Seeger Reader. Oxford University Press, 2014. Video by Pete Seeger – Topic.
EL DERECHO DE VIVIR EN PAZ
(THE RIGHT TO LIVE IN PEACE)
Victor Jara (1932-1973) was a Chilean teacher, poet and songwriter who saw Ho Chi Minh as “a figure through whom a unity of political identification was established between Chile and Vietnam.” Jara dedicated the song, The Right to Live in Peace, in 1971. Source: Ness and Cope (2016, eds.). The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Imperialism and Anti-Imperialism. Springer, p. 516. Video by Victor Jara – Música.
INOLVIDABLE HO CHI MINH
(UNFORGETTABLE HO CHI MINH)
Venezuelan musician Alí Primera (1941-1985) composed Unforgettable Ho Chi Minh in 1973. He described Ho Chi Minh as a poet and a dreamer of a “small figure and white beard” who inspired people around the world to fight for peace.
Source: La figura de Ho Chi Minh en la música venezolana. La Voz De Vietnam, 2013. Video by Valera.
VIETNAM’S MOST BEAUTIFUL NAME IS UNCLE HO
Vladimir Fere (1902-1971) was a Russian composer. After Ho Chi Minh’s passing in 1969, he used Đỗ Nhuận’s poem to compose the song, Vietnam’s Most Beautiful Name is Uncle Ho. Video by VTV1, translation by New Vietnam Publishing.
THE YOUTH OF THE HO CHI MINH ERA
The Youth of the Ho Chi Minh Era (Tuổi trẻ thế hệ Bác Hồ) was written in 1977 by Triều Dâng (1933-2020), an artist from the southern province of Hậu Giang. It portrays the optimism of a young generation of Vietnamese people who were ready to work hard to build the country and defend their homeland.
Souce: “The Youth of the Ho Chi Minh Era.” Dân Trí, 2012.
Video by BCC, translation by New Vietnam Publishing.
OUR UNCLE MARCHES WITH US
Our Uncle Marches with Us (Bác đang cùng chúng cháu hành quân) was composed in 1970 by songwriter Huy Thục to motivate the people in fulfilling Uncle Ho’s wish of having a reunited and independent Vietnam. Source: Unforgettable moments and melodies. Nhân Dân Online News. Video by BCC, translation by New Vietnam Publishing.
WHO LOVES UNCLE HO CHI MINH MORE THAN THE CHILDREN
Uncle Ho has a special place in the hearts of the Vietnamese children because he represents Vietnam’s future. President Ho Chi Minh wrote a letter to the students in September 1945, stating, “From now on, you will receive a completely Vietnamese education… not one of slavery.”[1] Songwriter Phong Nhã (1924-2020) from the northern province of Hà Nam and known as a “songwriter of the young,” composed this song in 1945.[2]
Sources: [1] Letter from Uncle Ho to students in 1945. Nhân Dân Online News. [2] Children’s love for the song “Who Loves Uncle Ho Chi Minh More Than the Children.” State Records and Archives Department of Vietnam. Video by VTV1, translation by New Vietnam Publishing.