Tracing Hồ Chí Minh's Sojourn in Siam

Abstract

Ho Chi Minh1) was a Vietnamese revolutionary leader who sacrificed his life for Vietnam's independence. He left Vietnam for the first time in 1911 on a French steamer Amiral Latouche-Treville in order to canvas support for the fight. He visited and stayed in many countries before arriving in Siam. Ho Chi Minh was in Siam from 1928-29 and briefly in March and April 1930. Ho Chi Minh did not just stay in Siam but also crossed the Mekong river to briefly meet the Vietnamese in Laos in order to learn about the resistance against the French and assist in the setting up of the Vietnamese Revolutionary Youth League in Laos.As Ho Chi Minh's mission in Siam was confidential, there is very little information regarding his activities. However, multiple sources exist that shed light on his sojourn. These include the memoirs of his revolutionary compatriots who worked closely with him during his mission; interviews given by people whose family member worked or travelled with him or who lived in the same house in Siam; discussions with the Vietnamese scholars at the Museum of Ho Chi Minh in Hanoi; documentary films produced by the museum; as well as discussions with elderly Vietnamese who used to live in Thailand2) and with Viet Kieu3) who are still living in Thailand.The memoirs, considered primary sources, contain much precious informative and have been used by many writers, Vietnamese and foreigners. They include Giot Nuoc trong Bien Ca (Hoi Ký Cach Mang) [A drop in the Ocean: Hoang Van Hoan's revolutionary reminiscences] by Hoang Van Hoan; Cuoc Van Dang Cuu Quoc Cua Viet Kieu ? Thai Lan [The patriotic mobilization of the overseas Vietnamese in Thailand] by Le M?nh Trinh, etc. These two memoirs may be slightly contradictory on the dates of some events as they were written years after the end of the 1920s, but this is easily clarified by cross-checking various documents. Some other Vietnamese books that made use of these memoirs also reproduced minor mistakes regarding the name of places in Thailand. Another notable source is Con Nguoi va Con Duong [People and pathways] by Son Tung, based on his interview of the revolutionary Dang Quynh Anh, who resided and participated in the anti-colonial and revolutionary movement in Siam or Thailand from 1913-53. The book provides invaluable details about the role of the Vietnamese emigres in the salvation of their homeland from the French, as well as Ho Chi Minh's activities at Ban Dong (), in Phichit (). As Ho Chi Minh stayed in her house in Ban Dong for a while before leaving for Udon Thani (), briefly called Udon (), and Vo Tung, her husband worked closely with Ho Chi Minh, she came to know about Ho Chi Minh's whereabouts and activities while he was in Ban Dong and when he left Ban Dong for Udon. She did not know his true identity at that time but was very suspicious about his activities.Ho Chi Minh Toan Tap, an official 12-volume set of documents of the Vietnamese Communist Party is another useful document. It compiles information from various sources, including Ho Chi Minh's reports submitted to the Comintern (the Communist International) and translated into Vietnamese. It includes his report dated February 18, 1930, containing information on Siam and the period when he arrived in Siam for the first time.Books by foreign scholars have also been very informative and useful. They are, among others: Thailand and the Southeast Asian Networks of the Vietnamese Revolution (1885- 1954) by Christopher E. Goscha; Ho Chi Minh: A Life by William J. Duiker; Ho Chi Minh: Du revolutionnaire a l'icone by Pierre Brocheux; Ho Chi Minh notre camarade: Souvenirs de militants Francais edited by Leo Figueres; and Ho Chi Minh: The Missing Years by Sophie Quinn-Judge. However, most of these authors, apart from Goscha and Sophie Quinn-Judge, provided little detail about Ho Chi Minh's whereabouts and activities in Siam, with whom he resided, and his companions when moving from one place to another place. …