What do Americans think of Ho Chi Minh?

The leaders, of course. As John-Charles Hewitt says, "Americans in general don't think of Ho Chi Minh except when they're studying for an exam." That's because Vietnam is not in a culturally influential position like Japan. That's what happens when you are decades behind other countries. read more

Americans in general don't think of Ho Chi Minh except when they're studying for an exam. He was a talented guerrilla leader who defeated two empires on a budget. His political philosophy was bankrupt, however. read more

During this time, while Ho Chi Minh was demonized in the United States, he continued to push the United States to respect Vietnam's sovereignty. He passed away in 1969 at the age of 79, not living to see the eventual Vietnamese victory in 1975. In 1976, Vietnam's capital city, Saigon, was renamed Ho Chi Minh City in his honor. read more

Ho Chi Minh: Founding of the Viet Minh and North Vietnam When Germany defeated France in 1940, during World War II, Ho saw it as an opportunity for the Vietnamese nationalist cause. Around this time, he began to use the name Ho Chi Minh (roughly translated as “Bringer of Light”). read more