Nguyen That Thanh is a Vietnamese name spelled as /ŋʷjɛn tʰat tʰan/. The first part, Nguyen, starts with the voiced velar nasal sound /ŋ/ and is followed by the voiced palatal glide /j/. The second part, That, starts with the voiceless aspirated dental stop /tʰ/, which is pronounced with a puff of air. The last part, Thanh, begins with the voiceless alveolar stop /t/, followed by the voiced velar nasal /ŋ/. In Vietnamese, the surname comes first followed by middle and given name.
Nguyen That Thanh was the birth name of Ho Chi Minh, a renowned Vietnamese revolutionary leader and statesman who played a significant role in the anti-colonial movement and the formation of modern Vietnam. Born on May 19, 1890, in the Nghe An province of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh adopted the name Nguyen Sinh Cung during his early revolutionary activities and later changed it to Nguyen Ai Quoc. However, he is widely known by his final pseudonym, Ho Chi Minh.
Ho Chi Minh is primarily recognized for his leadership in the Vietnamese independence movement against French colonization, as well as his instrumental role in the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in 1945. He served as the President of North Vietnam from 1945 until his death in 1969, during which time he led the Vietnamese resistance against other colonial powers and, later, against the United States during the Vietnam War.
Nguyen That Thanh, or Ho Chi Minh, is often regarded as a charismatic leader who advocated for communism, nationalism, and social justice. He employed guerrilla warfare tactics in his fight for Vietnamese independence and inspired a generation of Vietnamese nationalists. His profound impact on shaping the history and politics of modern Vietnam has solidified his status as one of the most influential figures in 20th-century Southeast Asia.