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The Patriotic Bourgeoisie: A Generous Donor to the Revolution, Offering Over 5000 Taels of Gold and a Residence for Remembrance.

24 September, 2024

The well-known patriotic bourgeois couple, Trinh Van Bo and his wife, Hoang Thi Minh Ho, have left their mark in history for their significant contributions during a crucial period in Vietnam’s history.

Since the August 1945 General Uprising and throughout the resistance war against French colonialism until the ultimate victory, the Trinh Van Bo – Hoang Thi Minh Ho family donated 5,147 taels of gold to the government, twice the amount in the national treasury in 1946. In addition, the family also offered their house at 48 Hang Ngang Street, where President Ho Chi Minh drafted the Declaration of Independence, proclaimed at the National Day ceremony on September 2, 1945.

Mr. and Mrs. Trinh Van Bo and Hoang Thi Minh Ho

A wealthy family with a simple lifestyle

Trinh Van Bo and his wife, Hoang Thi Minh Ho, were the owners of the renowned silk company, Trinh Phuc Loi, in Hanoi before 1945. Mr. Trinh Van Bo was well-versed in English and French and came from a prestigious family that owned the Phuc Loi silk trading company. He was a descendant of Khanh Quan Cong Trinh Kieu, the fourth son of Lord Trinh Cuong, and his mother was of Chinese origin. Mr. Bo’s uncle was also a renowned entrepreneur in the early 20th century, known for his Cua Hung business.

Mrs. Hoang Thi Minh Ho, born in 1914, came from a wealthy family of entrepreneurs who owned the Van Tuong silk company on 21 Hang Dao Street.

The couple married in 1932 and were given their own home at 48 Hang Ngang Street by their parents, along with the Phuc Loi business name and a starting capital of 30,000 Dong.

With their talent and hard work, the patriotic bourgeois couple quickly expanded their business. Soon, Phuc Loi began producing and trading with merchants from Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand and even did business with traders from France, Sweden, China, India, and Japan.

Despite their wealth and the presence of household help, Mr. and Mrs. Bo always taught their children to be frugal. Even when they evacuated to Phu Tho, they instructed their children to be mindful of their spending and avoid wastefulness.

Mr. and Mrs. Trinh Van Bo and Hoang Thi Minh Ho had seven children: Trinh Luong, Trinh Doan Trang, Trinh Tuyet Anh, Trinh Kiem, Trinh Kien Quoc, Trinh Can Chinh, and Trinh Quyet Thang. Even in their evacuation site, with four nannies in tow, Mrs. Minh Ho remained diligent and hardworking, tending to her children and cultivating the land to grow sweet potatoes and trade tea.

Great contributions to the revolution, forever etched in history

The couple secretly agreed to host a group of revolutionary cadres from the war zone at their private home at 48 Hang Ngang Street, Hanoi, among whom was President Ho Chi Minh, who drafted the Declaration of Independence. However, at the time, they were unaware that the group included Uncle Ho.

Mr. and Mrs. Trinh Van Bo donated 5,147 taels of gold to the revolution starting from the August 1945 General Uprising and throughout the resistance war against French colonialism until Vietnam’s ultimate victory.

In an interview, Mrs. Minh Ho shared that out of the 5,000 taels of gold they contributed, 1,000 taels were used by Uncle Ho’s envoy, Mr. Nguyen Luong Bang, to bribe three Chinese generals: Ha Ung Kham (500 taels), Lu Han (300 taels), and Tieu Van (200 taels). This was done to prevent clashes between Chiang Kai-shek’s troops and the Vietnamese forces, thereby minimizing casualties.

When asked about their decision to support the revolution, Mrs. Minh Ho explained that they trusted Uncle Ho and believed in his vision for the country. Additionally, they felt that even if they lost their wealth, it would be worth it if it meant sparing the Vietnamese people from the horrors of war.

During the great famine of 1945, the Trinh Van Bo family used their money to provide relief to the starving, purchasing 1,000 tickets to distribute porridge to those in need.

Mr. Trinh Van Bo passed away in 1988, and Mrs. Hoang Thi Minh Ho followed in 2017. In recognition of his contributions, a 50-meter-wide road with six lanes in Nam Tu Liem District, Hanoi, was named after him 31 years after his death.