The TFS film crew during the production of 'Ho Chi Minh City – Half a Century Bearing His Name.' Photo: TFS
Produced by Vietnam Television (VTV) and Ho Chi Minh City Television Film Studios (TFS), the documentaries A Historic Proposal and Ho Chi Minh City – Half a Century Bearing His Name explore the origins of the city's name, tracing proposals that emerged surprisingly early in Vietnam's modern history.
A Historic Proposal
According to historical materials featured in A Historic Proposal, Professor, physician and distinguished educator Tran Huu Nghiep proposed renaming Saigon as Ho Chi Minh City during a gathering of southern Vietnamese residents in Hanoi on August 25, 1946.
The suggestion was intended to honor the contributions of the nation's leader, President Ho Chi Minh.
The proposal was reported in the August 27, 1946 edition of Cuu Quoc newspaper and received the support of 57 southern intellectuals attending the event.
What began as an individual initiative soon evolved into a reflection of the aspirations and sentiments of many people in Saigon-Gia Dinh and across southern Vietnam at the time.
The documentary tells this story through Dr. Tran Kieu Mien, daughter of Prof. Nghiep, as well as family memories, testimonies from former students, witnesses and historians.
Beyond explaining the origins of a place name, the film emphasizes that the decision to name the city after President Ho Chi Minh represented a convergence of the people's aspirations for independence and national reunification, as well as the enduring trust southern Vietnamese placed in the revolutionary leader.
The documentary is scheduled to air on VTV on July 6.
Ho Chi Minh City – Half a Century Bearing His Name
The five-part documentary series Ho Chi Minh City – Half a Century Bearing His Name follows a broader historical journey, examining how the name emerged and endured through decades.
Drawing on archival documents and eyewitness accounts, the series revisits a 1946 petition from the people of southern Vietnam and presents a compelling perspective that the name ‘Ho Chi Minh City’ emerged very early as a heartfelt expression of popular support.
It survived years of war and national division, remaining deeply embedded in the consciousness of southern Vietnamese people for decades.
One notable historical detail highlighted in the series concerns March 1946, when National Assembly (NA) delegate Huynh Van Tieng is believed to have proposed the name Ho Chi Minh City during a sitting of the first NA.
Researchers have yet to uncover official archival records that fully verify the event.
Nevertheless, the filmmakers argue that whether the account represents a documented historical fact or a memory preserved through generations, it reflects the special affection and admiration that the people of southern Vietnam held for President Ho Chi Minh from an early stage.
The documentary series extends beyond the historical origins of the name to examine the city's transformation over the past five decades through iconic songs associated with different historical periods.
In its final episodes, the series presents the name ‘Ho Chi Minh City’ as more than an administrative designation.
Instead, it is portrayed as a source of inspiration and a driving force behind the city's growth.
Viewers can watch the series Ho Chi Minh City – Half a Century Bearing His Name on HTV9 at 5:20 pm from June 28 to July 2.
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