On September 2 in Hanoi, the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO), in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant agencies, hosted a “Meeting of gratitude for international friends” to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Vietnam’s National Day. The event was attended by senior officials including Do Van Chien, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, and Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee.

Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung, VUFO President Phan Anh Son, leaders of ministries, political and social organizations, and more than 100 international delegates also participated. These guests included individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions to Vietnam’s fight for national independence, reunification, and its efforts in nation-building and protection.

At the event, international delegates expressed heartfelt admiration for President Ho Chi Minh and the Vietnamese people. They shared memories from their years supporting Vietnam’s national struggle and its post-war development, while reaffirming the global impact of Vietnam’s August Revolution and the significance of National Day, September 2, to international peace and justice movements.

In his remarks, Do Van Chien extended deep gratitude to international friends for their unwavering support during Vietnam’s revolutionary history. He affirmed that throughout every phase of the revolution, the Party, State, and people of Vietnam have always cherished the profound friendship and valuable support of the international community.

A guest of honor

One of the most touching moments of the day was the return of Elisabeth Helfer Aubrac - Ho Chi Minh’s goddaughter - who brought with her a special gift.

At 80 years old, she still vividly remembers the connection between her family and the beloved Vietnamese leader and his role in the country’s journey toward independence.

“On August 15, 1946, when President Ho Chi Minh held me in his arms and agreed to be my godfather, our family was forever connected to the extraordinary history of Vietnam - a history of courage, freedom, and human dignity,” Elisabeth recalled.

In July 1946, during his visit to Paris, President Ho Chi Minh sought to meet French citizens who had helped Indochinese people living in France during World War II. Her father, Raymond Aubrac, was one of them.

On July 27, 1946, at an event in Paris, Ho Chi Minh and Raymond Aubrac met and immediately discovered a shared sense of purpose and values.

Raymond Aubrac invited Ho Chi Minh to stay at their family’s large home in Soisy-sous-Montmorency, a suburb of Paris. Ho Chi Minh accepted and lived there for several weeks.

Each morning, he would read the newspaper in the garden. In the afternoons, after a short rest, he would meet with delegations or attend gatherings in Paris. In the evenings, he returned to Fontainebleau to meet with conference delegates. He even invited a Vietnamese friend, a cook named Thi, to prepare simple meals of rice and vegetables.

“These memories have endured through the decades,” Elisabeth shared. “Our family often recalls those special moments as part of our connection to Vietnam’s history and struggle.”

The last time her father saw Ho Chi Minh was in 1967. On that occasion, Elisabeth sent her godfather a symbolic gift - a stone egg representing hope and a bright future. In return, Ho Chi Minh gifted her a piece of silk to be used for her wedding dress.

“To this day, I keep that gift as a priceless treasure,” she said. “Now, both my father and my beloved godfather are gone, but our children and grandchildren continue to cherish our bond with Vietnam.”

Her husband has spent over 40 years teaching Vietnamese students at the Franco-Vietnamese Center for Management Education in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

“When Vietnamese students come to France, we welcome them into our home with open hearts,” she said. “They know that it’s not just a house, but a home - where their teacher also happens to be President Ho Chi Minh’s goddaughter.”

At the commemorative ceremony, Elisabeth presented a unique gift directly to Do Van Chien, expressing her hope that it would become part of Vietnam’s national historical archives.

The gift was one of the earliest audio recordings of two songs preserved on a 78-rpm vinyl record from the early 1950s. One side features the song “Anthem to President Ho Chi Minh,” while the other plays “March of Youth to the Frontline.”

She said she had found the record just days before in a cabinet containing the treasured items her father had collected. Due to the record’s age, some musician friends helped clean and digitize the audio so she could bring it to Vietnam.

Tien Phong