Vietnam, Kyrgyzstan Inaugurate Hồ Chí Minh Statue in Bishkek

Bishkek, The Gulf Observer: Vietnamese Vice President Võ Thị Ánh Xuân attended the inauguration ceremony of a statue of President Hồ Chí Minh at Hồ Chí Minh Square, located within the Royal Central Park complex in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.

The ceremony was held as part of Vice President Xuân’s working visit to Kyrgyzstan to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Plus Summit and undertake bilateral activities.

Addressing the ceremony, Vice President Xuân highlighted the significant contributions of President Hồ Chí Minh and the deep affection and respect for the revered Vietnamese leader among Vietnamese people living around the world.

She expressed gratitude to the Kyrgyz authorities and the Bishkek administration for supporting the construction of the monument, which also provides a meaningful gathering place for the Vietnamese community in Kyrgyzstan.

Following the speeches, Vice President Xuân, representatives of the Kyrgyz leadership and other delegates jointly cut the ribbon to inaugurate the statue. The delegates subsequently laid flowers and observed a minute of silence in memory of President Hồ Chí Minh.

The statue is made of 99.99 per cent pure bronze, while the statue and its nameplate weigh more than one tonne. It is a replica of a bust of President Hồ Chí Minh created by sculptor Trần Văn Lắm, which is currently displayed at the Hồ Chí Minh Museum.

Two plaques on the pedestal provide brief biographies of President Hồ Chí Minh in Vietnamese and Kyrgyz.

The inauguration of the statue is considered significant in introducing President Hồ Chí Minh, as well as Vietnam’s country, people and culture, to the Kyrgyz people. It also adds another symbol of friendship between Vietnam and Kyrgyzstan and is expected to promote mutual understanding and people-to-people exchanges.

The project carries particular significance as Kyrgyzstan is the 53rd of the 56 countries visited by President Hồ Chí Minh.

The ceremony was held against the backdrop of positive developments in the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Kyrgyzstan. The two countries established diplomatic relations in 1992.

In March 2025, Kyrgyz Prime Minister Adylbek Kasymaliev paid an official visit to Vietnam, becoming the first Kyrgyz head of government to visit the country since diplomatic relations were established. The visit provided fresh impetus to bilateral relations.

During his visit, Prime Minister Kasymaliev laid a wreath and paid tribute to President Hồ Chí Minh at his mausoleum. Together with the Vietnamese Prime Minister, he also visited President Hồ Chí Minh’s stilt house at the Presidential Palace historical site.

Hồ Chí Minh Square and the statue in Bishkek further demonstrate the respect and affection for President Hồ Chí Minh while adding to the symbols of friendship between the two countries.

The square and statue are expected to become cultural and friendship destinations where Kyrgyz people, the Vietnamese community and international visitors can learn more about President Hồ Chí Minh and Vietnam, contributing to stronger friendship, mutual understanding and people-to-people exchanges between Vietnam and Kyrgyzstan.