Ho Chi Minh

The ideological founder of Vietnamese Communism was Ho Chi Minh. Originally named Nguyen Ai Quoc, he found himself immersed in the writings of Marx and Lenin. In particular, he studied heavily Lenin’s writings on colonialism and this is what sent him into becoming a full-on marxist. Of these works he declared, “What emotion, enthusiasm, clear-sightedness, and confidence it instilled in me!”

Nguyen came from a middle-class background and was well-educated, but was expelled from school for being a 'troublemaker.' He had several different odd jobs including a sailor, a photogrpher's tech, and an assistant chef.

Nguyen began his journey into radicalization after having his hopes of autonomy for the Vietnamese people dashed by US president Woodrow Wilson's indifference toward the subject. He supported only the colonial European powers' right to self-determination, but not colonial subjects. In response, Nguyen turned to Lenin and the Soviet Union for support. After estabishing the French Communist Party, in 1920, he left for the Soviet Union to study the revolutionary ideals of Communism at the Comintern school for Asian Communists. It was there that he took on the name 'Ho Chi Minh', or 'he who enlightens.'

During the  power vaccum immediately following the conclusion of WWII and Japanese occupation, Ho Chi Minh and his new revolutionary following took advantage. The National Liberation Committie was formed, with Ho as its chairman. He declared the Dmocratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) to be an indepedent state with its own provisional government.

Ho Chi Minh