On the morning of August 18, the Hanoi Party Committee, People’s Council – People’s Committee, and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Hanoi held a ceremony to install a commemorative plaque and open an exhibition at the historical site 48 Hang Ngang (Hoan Kiem, Hanoi), where President Ho Chi Minh drafted the Declaration of Independence, founding the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
Delegates attended the plaque installation and exhibition at the 48 Hang Ngang site.
Photo: Viet Thanh
The ceremony was attended by: Politburo member and Standing Secretary of the Party Central Committee Tran Cam Tu; Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission Nguyen Trong Nghia; Politburo member, President of Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics and Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council Nguyen Xuan Thang; Politburo member, Secretary of Hanoi Party Committee, Head of Hanoi National Assembly Delegation Bui Thi Minh Hoai; and representatives of relevant central agencies.
Also present were Nguyen Van Phong – Permanent Deputy Secretary of Hanoi Party Committee; Nguyen Ngoc Tuan – Deputy Secretary of Party Committee, Chairman of Hanoi People’s Council, Deputy Head of Hanoi National Assembly Delegation; Vice Chairman of Hanoi People’s Committee Vu Thu Ha; along with representatives of related municipal units and the family of patriotic bourgeois Trinh Van Bo – Hoang Thi Minh Ho.
Bach Lien Huong, Director of Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, speaks at the ceremony.
Photo: Viet Thanh
Reporting at the ceremony, Ms. Bach Lien Huong – member of the Hanoi Party Committee and Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports – stated that the house at 48 Hang Ngang, where President Ho Chi Minh wrote the Declaration of Independence on September 2, 1945, founding the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam), was recognized as a National Historical and Cultural Site by the Ministry of Culture and Information (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) under Decision No. 54-VHTT/QD dated April 29, 1979. In the early days of the August Revolution 1945, the house served as the working place of the Party Central Committee and President Ho Chi Minh. Here, President Ho Chi Minh and the Central Committee decided on key policies regarding domestic and foreign affairs, government formation, and the organization of Independence Day. In particular, in a small room on the second floor, President Ho Chi Minh drafted the Declaration of Independence, which he read at Ba Dinh Square, Hanoi, on September 2, 1945, establishing the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. The Declaration embodies the timeless values of the Vietnamese nation with aspirations for independence, freedom, and happiness, while also containing universal values of human rights and national self-determination. The house has become a “red landmark” in the heart of Hanoi, symbolizing revolutionary intellect, strategic vision, patriotism, independence, and the nation’s aspiration for peace. Ms. Bach Lien Huong emphasized: “The plaque installation and exhibition marking the 80th anniversary of the successful August Revolution and the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam not only honor the past but also transmit memory and inspire the younger generation, who will continue the journey of preserving and developing an independent, self-reliant, and prosperous Vietnam.”
The historical space is presented through a scientific exhibition applying modern technologies such as Mapping, VR, and hologram, with rich documentary depth and high educational value, reflecting Hanoi’s commitment to innovating approaches and elevating cultural heritage in the digital transformation era.
The exhibition is organized around three main themes: the 48 Hang Ngang house and the family of patriotic bourgeois Trinh Van Bo – Hoang Thi Minh Ho; the historical context and necessity of drafting the Declaration of Independence; and the significance of the Declaration and the journey of defending national independence.
Central and municipal leaders at the historical site 48 Hang Nga
Photo: Viet Thanh
The first floor introduces the historical value of the 48 Hang Ngang house where President Ho Chi Minh drafted the Declaration, highlighting the contributions of the patriotic family Trinh Van Bo – Hoang Thi Minh Ho. A model in the center of the room depicts streets from Hang Ngang, Hang Dao, and Cau Go to the historic Ba Dinh Square, where President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration.
Leaders of the central and Hanoi authorities perform the ribbon-cutting ceremony to inaugurate the exhibition at 48 Hang Ngang
Photo: Viet Thanh
The second floor re-creates the scene of President Ho Chi Minh drafting the Declaration. Hologram technology depicts him seated at the desk preparing the historical document, combined with mapping technology to recreate the moment he read the Declaration at Ba Dinh Square, founding the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. Souvenir artifacts associated with President Ho Chi Minh are digitized with QR codes for visitors to explore historical information in depth.
The third floor honors and commemorates President Ho Chi Minh’s historic role, with a traditional-style altar room marking his contributions to the national independence struggle. This space hosts incense offerings and memorial activities. The exhibition also reconstructs the living space of the patriotic family Trinh Van Bo and Hoang Thi Minh Ho, showcasing images and artifacts from the early days of the August Revolution and their subsequent contributions.
The fourth floor offers an immersive VR experience depicting Hanoi in 1945. Visitors can observe and envision the capital nearly a century ago, with its historic streets, local residents in period attire, and the vibrant atmosphere of the August Revolution.
The 48 Hang Ngang site was officially marked with a commemorative plaque for the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution (August 19, 1945 – August 19, 2025) and the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (September 2, 1945 – September 2, 2025). The exhibition is open to the public, serving delegates, students, citizens, and tourists for learning, research, and heritage education.
Binh An