'From Viet Bac to Hanoi': Recreating Uncle Ho's revolutionary struggle journey

The opera was adapted from volume 3 of the novel “Nuoc non van dam” by Associate Professor, Doctor, writer Nguyen The Ky, depicting the image of Nguyen Ai Quoc-Ho Chi Minh after 30 years of searching for a way to save the country.

In order to practically celebrate the 80th anniversary of the success of the August Revolution and National Day September 2, the Vietnam National Traditional Theater (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) performed the reformed opera "From Viet Bac to Hanoi " on August 11-12 at the Hanoi Opera House.

The Cai Luong play was adapted from episode 3 - "From Viet Bac to Hanoi" of the novel "Nuoc non van dam" by Associate Professor, Doctor, writer Nguyen The Ky, depicting the image of Nguyen Ai Quoc - Ho Chi Minh after 30 years of searching for a way to save the country, encountering the light of Marxism-Leninism, founding the Communist Party of Vietnam and on January 28, 1941, he returned to the Fatherland, directly leading the Vietnamese revolution.

Through the work, viewers will have more interesting surprises when learning more about the rich activities, strategic vision, and sharpness of leader Ho Chi Minh when he was active in Cao Bang, Bac Can, Tuyen Quang, Thai Nguyen; his trips back and forth across the Vietnam-China border like a shuttle to connect with the Communist Party of China, grasp the situation of the Nationalist government; his arrest and detention by Chiang Kai-shek's government for more than a year, exiled through dozens of large and small prisons.

Associate Professor, PhD, writer Nguyen The Ky shares about the work. (Photo: Minh Thu/Vietnam+)

Viewers also learn more about the circumstances of the poems in “Prison Diary” ; the affection of the Chinese people for Ho Chi Minh and his comrades; the mysterious and important American figures present in China; the weak and opportunistic faces of some politicians from the Viet Quoc, Viet Cach, Viet Nam Giai Phong Dong Minh Hoi, Viet Nam Phuc Quoc Quan parties… who are exiled in China.

Scriptwriter Nguyen The Ky, director Trieu Trung Kien and the play's production team always focus on building a simple, everyday yet great image of leader Ho Chi Minh.

According to scriptwriter Nguyen The Ky, the image of Ho Chi Minh is always filled with patriotism, boundless love for the people, and a sincere and profound spirit of national solidarity.

Doctor, People's Artist, director Trieu Trung Kien. (Photo: Minh Thu/Vietnam+)

His highest principles were independence and freedom for the nation; happiness, democracy, and prosperity for the people. His revolutionary method and thinking was “to respond to all changes with the unchanging,” absolutely not dogmatic or mechanical. His ethics were “to put public service first,” “to be impartial and selfless,” and to sacrifice oneself for the Fatherland and the people. Those thoughts, qualities, ethics, and styles were expressed through concrete, practical actions, often quiet and humble.

Basically faithful to the main content of the novel “From Viet Bac to Hanoi,” Doctor, People's Artist, director Trieu Trung Kien remains consistent with the chronicle narrative style of the novel, proactively creating a story line in the play that flows in a linear time order.

The realistic context of the play part 3 "From Viet Bac to Hanoi" is compressed from 1941 to 1945, where the Vietnamese revolution, although seemingly quiet on the outside, is seething inside, waiting for the opportunity to erupt into a big storm.

“The biggest challenge is to carry out the story in a realistic period of 5 years, in a large space with a huge number of characters, events, many intertwined relationships, and complex aspects, in order to tell the historical story in an attractive, vivid, and convincing way,” said Mr. Kien.

Artist Van Thuan will portray Ho Chi Minh. (Photo: CTV/Vietnam+)

Choosing an artist to portray President Ho Chi Minh was also not a simple matter. The director had to work with four artists who were expected to play the role, and finally, artist Van Thuan was chosen.

“At first, I was very worried, even having many sleepless nights, because this was such a big challenge for me. But with the encouragement and motivation of the Director and my colleagues, I gradually became confident and determined to complete the role well. I myself also worked hard to practice, learn from the voice to the appearance, style, especially the very special demeanor of Uncle Ho, to be able to fully play the role,” artist Van Thuan shared./.

Artists practice hard to prepare for the performance day. (Photo: CTV/Vietnam+)

From 2022 to 2025, the Literature Publishing House and Lien Viet Culture and Communication Joint Stock Company printed and published a 5-volume historical novel titled “Nuoc non van dam” by Associate Professor-PhD, writer Nguyen The Ky. Director Trieu Trung Kien and playwright Hoang Song Viet, along with artists from the Vietnam Cai Luong Theater (now the Vietnam National Traditional Theater), planned to adapt and stage 5 parts (5 stage plays) of the epic art work of the same name.

Part 1: "Debt to the Country" was introduced to the public in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and many provinces and cities across the country from 2022 until now with over 100 performances on wooden floors and on television and radio.

Part 2: "Drifting on the Four Seas" is in the planning stage.

Part 3: "From Viet Bac to Hanoi" was given priority to be built first and premiered to the public on August 11-12 at the Hanoi Opera House, practically celebrating the 80th anniversary of the successful August Revolution and National Day September 2 (1945-2025).

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/tu-viet-bac-ve-ha-noi-tai-hien-hanh-trinh-dau-tranh-cach-mang-cua-bac-ho-post1054295.vnp