That is Mr. Le Xuan Niem - Director of the Center for Traditional and Historical Education, who has dedicated more than 30 years of his life to reconnect the underground culture of the nation with a heart burning with the fire of his profession.
1. Symbol of continuity: 95 years under the glorious flag
On the morning of March 19, 2026, the golden spring sun, stretching across the historic Ba Dinh square. In that quiet and solemn space, the color of the sun seems to not only warm all things, but also gently awakens the sacred memories that are sleeping peacefully in the heart of the Capital. That light is not only radiant on the green lawns, but also creeps in and shines into the hearts of each child who is looking towards their roots. It is in that moment that a magical painting is woven - where the present is brilliantly reflecting the brilliant golden pages of the nation's history. Standing in the windy square, each step of the "Returning to the Source" delegation seems to touch the pulse of their ancestors, igniting a choked emotion and creating an invisible, miraculous connecting thread between the heroic past and the present.
In the solemn atmosphere of the reporting ceremony to Uncle Ho, the image of more than 400 delegates representing 5 generations of Vietnamese people gathering here created a touching picture of the nation's longevity. Standing in the operating position, the man with a resolute but gentle face - Mr. Le Xuan Niem, quietly observed each rank. This is not just a field trip, but a gathering of history. From veteran revolutionaries U90 born in slave shackles, to young people growing up in the digital age, all stand together under the same flag.
This event becomes even more meaningful when placed in the milestone of "95th anniversary of the founding of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union". Mr. Niem understands that: Youth is the pillar, but for the pillar to be strong, the foundation must be deep. That "main" is tradition. For him, traditional education for the young generation is not dry moral lectures, but practical experiences "seeing with the eyes, hearing with the ears, feeling with the heart". More than 400 fresh flowers offered to Uncle Ho today are proof of the continuous continuation that he has painstakingly cultivated for more than three decades.
2. The iron will of soldiers and the "Achometer" of cultural managers
Few people know that, to take steady steps on the "Return to the Source" journey, Mr. Le Xuan Niem had to overcome extreme physical pain. As a veteran, a wounded soldier who donated a part of his blood and bones to the Fatherland, at an age of rarity, he had to face a harsh health upheaval leading to having to have one leg amputated.
But "dead but not useless", the prosthetic leg could not stop the footsteps of the soldier of the past. The image of the Director walking slowly but steadfastly, directly directing every small detail from rituals to educational content, has become a symbol of dedication.
Mr. Le Xuan Niem's "Scale" is not only in will, but also in modern management thinking. He does not follow tradition in a temporary "movement" style. For more than 30 years, he has run the Center for Traditional and Historical Education in an intellectual, scientific, and methodical manner, in accordance with the Party's educational principles.
Socializing education: He has turned historical trips into vivid cultural programs, attracting millions of participants without completely relying on the budget. This is proof of management capacity and strategic vision in "socializing education".
Accurate and standard: Each event has a detailed script, with the participation of traditional art troupes, ensuring solemnity but still imbued with humanity.
The fact that the Center and he personally received the Second and Third Class Labor Medals along with many certificates of merit from the Central Propaganda Department is a worthy recognition for a strategic vision: To turn history into a part of social life.
3. "The Director of the People's Hearts" – The Heart touches millions of hearts
If "Tầm" creates respect, then Mr. Le Xuan Niem's "Tâm" creates absolute trust and love. There is a story that witnesses on March 19 could not help but feel emotional: After the Mausoleum visitation ceremony, when the delegation moved to the Presidential Palace area, a group of girls in militia uniforms of Hoang Mai district rushed in, hugging him tightly. They hugged him with respect like fathers and uncles. If'Tầm' creates respect, then Mr. Le Xuan Niem's'Tâm' arouses absolute trust and love. There are values that cannot be measured by material things, but can only be felt by the beat of gratitude.
Or another story tells that, during the recent Tet holiday, the Center received a red lucky money envelope and a meticulously handwritten card from Mr. Le Trong Hien (residing in Phu Thinh, Minh Khai, Hanoi). Amidst the hustle and bustle of the digital age, that card was like a silent note full of emotion. On the paper, handwritten lines are meticulously meticulously, verbatim as follows: "To express what has been and is being implemented by the Center for Traditional and Historical Education for veterans and young generations. Sincerely'. Signed: Le Trong Hien
Just a few words, but it is the heartfelt voice of a citizen sent to the Director and the collective of the Center - a confirmation of the noble values that he and his colleagues have been and persistently cultivate every day. Those red lucky money envelopes are "spiritual gifts" containing the vast feelings of the people. That is why, from the Hoang Mai self-defense militia to people across the country, everyone shares a common way of calling - a respectful title: "The Director of the People's Hearts". I was fortunate to capture that card - a vivid document showing: When a soldier works with his heart, they will receive a sea of love.
Why is a person working in history so loved by the people? Because he works not for fame and fortune. There are people from distant provinces who come to the Capital just to hold his hand, give him simple hometown gifts. They see in him the image of a loyal comrade, a dedicated teacher. He not only organizes trips, he also builds Centers of Comradeship, opens classes of compassion. He turns gratitude into action, turns history into kind gestures between people, turns pain into revolutionary action. For him, the morality of "Drinking water, remembering the source" must be expressed in practical actions: taking care of wives of martyrs, raising children of successful wounded soldiers... Because after all, the most noble title does not lie on certificates of merit or speeches recognizing it, but lies in the two words "People's hearts", and in the honor of the journey that person has gone through, has made efforts, courage, helped, and loved someone in this life.
Legs walking tirelessly, minds brightly not fade – he is still there, that old soldier – although his body and health have been depleted over the years, he still cherishes and cherishes every breath, taking the bright mind as ink to continue writing the golden history with his whole heart of enthusiasm.
4. Aspiration for a rising era: Culture is still there, the nation is still there
Standing before the spirit of President Ho Chi Minh, Mr. Le Xuan Niem and the delegation showed iron determination: Bringing the nation into the "Easter of Rising".
He often recalls the saying: "Culture is the nation". In the context of a volatile world, when technology and artificial intelligence are changing the face of life, Mr. Niem is still steadfast in the traditional "anchor". He believes that a young intellectual, no matter how good at technology, if he does not understand his roots, does not know about the oath "Determined to die for the Fatherland to live", then that person still does not really have a "root".
His report is the promise of a loyal soldier to the "Father of the nation". He is still diligently training the 4th and 5th generations of young people - those who will bring the spirit of thousands of years of building the country into the modernization of the country.
The life of Mr. Le Xuan Niem is a heroic epic about dedication. A wounded soldier who lost one leg, but he is the person with the "double legs" who goes the furthest, most persistent, most persistently on the journey to find historical values to nurture for the future. He is not only the Director of a Center, he is the "firekeeper". That flame is ignited from a heroic past, nurtured with a kind heart and passed down to today's young generation with a strong belief in a powerful Vietnam in 2045. That Director of the people's heart is still igniting the fire every day, so that Vietnamese spirit will last forever.
There is a song that still often echoes in the "Returning to the Roots" journeys of the Center: "Live like river life, to know how to love the roots/ Live like mountain life, reaching for heights...".
Mr. Le Xuan Niem lived exactly like that. A life like a steadfast mountain in the wind, like a river diligently carrying heavy historical sediment to build up for the young generation. Today, he is not only leading the delegation to visit the Mausoleum, he is leading a journey to preserve the soul of the nation. I would like to express my gratitude to that kind war invalid - the person who persistently stepped forward, extending the bloodline of the heroic past to the future.
