THE GREEN LOTUS BUD - English Version: President Ho Chi Minh Life Story, Influential Vietnamese History Revolution with Illustrations

by Sơn Tùng

A part of Vietnamese glorious

First published in 1982, The Green Lotus Bud is the very first historical novel about the life of President Hồ Chí Minh, beloved former leader of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, from his childhood to the day he left his homeland to embark on a journey seeking a way to save the country.

Writer Sơn Tùng spent thirty years of his life researching, recording and collecting documentary about Hồ Chí Minh. He visited all places where Hồ Chí Minh once lived and worked to meet witnesses and seek any possible chance to talk to the President’s siblings. Especially, when taking a role of reporter, Sơn Tùng had the opportunity to interview Hồ Chí Minh. He had reassembled and recreated vividly and truthfully in his book an important period in President Hồ Chí Minh's life.

“Genius does not come ready-made. One’s character and potential to succeed is rooted in family and homeland.” - SƠN TÙNG

356 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2023

Reviews

[Ajay S · Rating 4 out of 5]

didnt realize the english edition had its own page so putting my review up here too:

exceeded expectations. i knew it was a children's book going in but lowkey 11 year old me would have struggled a little bit. maybe thats because I lacked the context that a vietnamese audience would have. anyways, this was a very enjoyable part novel, part historical recounting of Ho Chi Minh's early life before his departure for france and his other world travels. I honestly did not know too much about uncle Ho so this was a great introduction. it'll be nice to have this humanized context of his upbringing and colonial vietnam before getting to any of his politcal writings. it was also a very interesting case study of how vietnam is building a socialist culture through its literature. it was nice to see socialist and anti-colonial values gently encouraged throughout the narrative. it definitely picked up a lot more in the second half tho. the first section, "childhood", kind of dragged on.

4/5

**so i looked at some of the english reviews and ppl here were complaining of how Ho Chi Minh seemed too perfect and unrealistic... its a children's book lol. obviously theyre going to skip the nuance and focus on the values they wish to instill upon their youth. its not even like that much of an exaggeration imo. in america we got ppl trying to white wash being a slave owner for george washington (like everyone thinks he was wooden teeth when he actually pull the teeth of his slaves to replace his).

[Rosie Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed learning about Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh and also the country’s love for poetry ❤️

[Ngan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is set during a time when Vietnam was under French control and westernization. It tells the story of Bac Ho( Ho Chi Minh president) from his childhood to adulthood. Born in an educational and patriotic family, he was taught to love his country and value proper conduct. As a child, he was seen as intelligent and insightful, recognizing flaws in effort to liberate Vietnam. For example, Bac Ho had a different perspective from Phan Chau Trinh who sought to save country by relying on Japanese support. However, Ho Chi Minh President told "Vietnam is belong to the Vietnamese". With a strong educational foundation, he could have chosen a stable life as a teacher. However, his heart was always occupied with thought about how to free the country, improve people's lives. This passion drove him to search for solutions to liberate the country. I feel proud of Vietnam's first president for courage to choose unconventional paths and his unstoppable desire for learning. His story inspires me to reflect deeply on the responsibilities toward Vietnam

[Shima Vezvaei · Rating 5 out of 5]

"How can someone who is oppressing us liberate us?"

"So what do you suggest?"

Thanh brushed his hair off his forehead. "Searching out the path to national salvation is a very important task. We must act, think and plan carefully. If we make a misstep, we will regret it for the rest of our lives. When we look back at what we have done, we will already be too ate too fix our mistakes, as our forefathers have said."

For Ho Chi Minh:
Oh rivers, Don't raise your rocks! Oh ocean, Don't raise your fierce waves ... Let him have a good journey. Oh far away horizons... Welcome him, please, welcome a young Vietnamese, who belongs to the country and the people. All are waiting for him to come back ...

[Miguel Carlos Lazarte · Rating 3 out of 5]

This reads easily like a children’s book and as a foreigner reading the translation, I found appreciation as I sift through the pages understanding a bit of Vietnam in every turn. Marked with philosophical musings and wanton for freedom, the novel posits itself quite well in establishing Uncle Ho’s character - as much was shaped by homeland and family. Partly, at times although, accounts seem too propagandistic and unbelievable, yet still rings true in its general sense of its narrative.

I learn deeply about Vietnam, its forefathers and what it took to build and retake a nation from its oppressors, albeit a short account of the leader’s early days, it gives a clearer picture of what life was like and society needed during that time.

3/5

[liyashif · Rating 4 out of 5]

such a beautiful, poetic writing style, felt like i was fully immersed in an entirely different state of mind and reality! the translation from vietnamese to english was still fully embedded in its original imagery and rhythms, sometimes not that easily grasped (as I have no concept of vietnamese like that) but it kinda rewired my brain chemistry? all in all BEAUTIFUL book

also i genuinely ate this book up so quickly but then didn't read the last 2 pages for 5 MONTHS god knows why so I only 'finished' it now but whatever lmaooo

[Fernanda Heemstede]

I bumped into this book when I was in Vietnam, and I was looking for a Vietnamese writer. The story of Ho Chi Minh has always sound interesting to me, and that was the reason I chose this book.
Although the story shows some very interesting points of Vietnamese history - such as the mandarins and their uprising against the French - the character lacks any development. Ho Chi Minh character is treated like a god with no flaws whatsoever which gives a shallow tone to the book.

[Ya Wei · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was great getting to know more about Ho Chi Minh's early life from a Vietnamese writer/perspective rather than what's on the internet (mainly from Western sources). Broadened my perspective while reading about his upbringing, him questioning the French in Vietnam, and ultimately him leaving to find answers. Makes me wish there was a whole additional part after that.

[kirsteggg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think i would have enjoyed this more if i knew more context behind ho chi minh’s life, but this just gave background to his childhood. I did love the philosophical and political sayings, but it did just feel like a novel going on about how much people loved ho chi minh. I didnt realize this is a childrens book either

[Théophile Saez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite a rightfully described atmosphere of what Vietnam looked like during early XXth century, the grandeur of Ho Chi Minh seems exaggerated to a point where it blurred the image of the President. Historical facts and myths merge in this nonetheless beautifully poetic book.

[Minh Trang · Rating 4 out of 5]

as a Vietnamese i really enjoyed reading this book—getting to know Bac Ho from a young age to when he decided to leave the country to save the country.

and because of him, we’re now living in freedom.

wish & hope the same for Palestine 🇵🇸

[Katerina Poly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked up this book in Hoi An, hoping to learn more about Ho Chi Minh’s life. Unfortunately the translation of the book, as well as the storyline itself were far from what I expected.

[Ngan Ngo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crying so hard when I was reading The Green Lotus Bud - a quick scence shown us the life of Uncle Ho

[Chloe Naegeli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful storytelling !

[Niamh Foley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was not written for someone like me so I'm sure there are many nuances that I have missed because of this and potentially due to the translation.

The background of this book intrigued me, a historical fiction of Ho Chi Minh's early life. It is written by his unofficial biographer who himself spent years with the Vietnamese leader and interviewing his friends and family.

Unfortunately the backstory is where my interest largely fizzled. Everyone who encounters Uncle Ho is in awe of him and he is outstandingly wise from the moment he can speak, dumbfounding everyone around him. I struggled to through the second half of this book. I picked this book hoping to learn more about the man but the structure is mostly focused on political and philosophical musings.