Ho Chi Minh Early Life. Born Nguyen Sinh Cung on May 19, 1890 in central Vietnam (very rebellious area). Son of a minor mandarin who had lost his job due to nationalist articles. Attended school in Hue in order to prepare for role in government service. Young Adult. Left school in 1911 without graduating and signed aboard a French freighter under the name of Van Ba (Ba=3 rd child).

1913, signed aboard a different ship and sailed to the U.S. Visited Boston and San Francisco. Settled in Brooklyn. Year later sailed to London, changed name to Nguyen Tat Thanh. Met with nationalists from all areas. Added English to list of fluent languages (Russian, French, English, Vietnamese, and 3 dialects of Chinese).

WW I. Arrived in Paris. Adopted militant name Nguyen Ai Quoc (Nguyen the patriot). Wrote articles and nationalistic plays. Became acquainted with Jules Raveau, a Marxist who worked with Lenin before the Russian Revolution. Began to study Soviet writings.

End of War. Was at the peace talks in Versailles. Hoped to meet Woodrow Wilson. Had drafted a statement relating to Wilson’s 14 Points, specifically referring to the doctrine of self-determination. Did not see Wilson, but attracted the attention of French socialists, they invited him to join as “representative from Indochina”.

Attended party congress in December Encouraged by Russian revolution, a majority of socialists break off and form Communist Party (Ho among them). Wrote for French communist daily paper and edited Le Paria (Journal for Asian and African nationalists). Writings spread throughout Vietnam, spreads Lenin’s thesis that revolution and anti-colonialism were inseparable.

Communist moved to Moscow under the name of Linh. Attended the University of Oriental Workers (an academy for Asian revolutionaries). Turned him from a propagandist to an organizer.

Traveled to southern China with a Russian advisor and began to mobilize Vietnamese students. Created Revolutionary Youth League. Taught students to form small cells to avoid detection and write tracts for specific audiences (peasants). 1927, returned to Moscow and Europe, considered himself a professional revolutionary.

1928, traveled to Bangkok, a center for Vietnamese exiles. Worked from a Buddhist monastery, mastered Thai language, opened a school and published a newspaper. June 1929, traveled to Hong Kong and used depression to organize Indochinese Communist Party. Called for independence and a proletarian government. Arrested by the British, escaped to China and reported dead. Throughout the 30’s, constantly on the move throughout Asia, Africa, and Europe.

In 1941, returned to Vietnam and aligned himself with the Allies (opposed to Japanese Imperialism as well as French). With fellow communists, Pham Van Dong and Vo Nguyen Giap, formed the communist organization Viet Nam Doc Lap Dong Minh (Vietnam Independence League). Simply Viet Minh. Took the name Ho Chi Minh (Bringer of Light).