Vietnam Independent

“Việt Nam độc lập thổi kèn loa” is a propaganda artwork created by Nguyễn Ái Quốc (Hồ Chí Minh) in 1941, during the early period of the Vietnamese struggle for national independence. It was published in the revolutionary newspaper Việt Nam Độc lập number 103, which was founded in the Pác Bó, Cao Bằng area to spread information, encourage unity, and mobilize Vietnamese people to support the independence movement.

The artwork shows a person holding a Vietnamese flag and blowing a horn, symbolizing a call for the people to unite and fight for independence. Its most distinctive feature is that the figure itself is formed from the words “Việt Nam độc lập.” Details such as the “ô” mark on the hat and the stylized lettering demonstrate how Nguyễn Ái Quốc combined Vietnamese writing with visual art.

The poem below the image says: “Việt Nam độc lập thổi kèn loa / Kêu gọi dân ta trẻ lẫn già / Đoàn kết vững bền như khối sắt / Để cùng nhau cứu nước Nam ta!” It calls on Vietnamese people, both young and old, to stand together and save the country. The artwork is historically significant as an early example of Vietnamese tranh cổ động, showing how simple images, words, and poetry were used to communicate the message of independence to ordinary people.