Fact-Check: This statue is not image of Vietnam’s prominent leader Ho Chi Minh

​Various sentiments against Vietnam and its people are often seen on platforms of social media. One of them is a photo showing a statue of Vietnam’s prominent leader Ho Chi Minh. The statue is seen sitting with a sword in hand. The implication of the statue is that the statue of founding father of the current Vietnam’s regime was built in Laos – a neighboring country to Cambodia. The photo of Ho Chi Minh statue had been shared more than 1,600 times by Khmer-speaking social media users along with mixed comments and reactions to. After running Google Reverse Image, however, it is found the photo is altered.

Social Media Claims

On September 14 in 2020, a photo showing the statue of Ho Chi Minh – founding father of Vietnam’s current one-party state – was posted on social media platform by a Facebook user. The statue shows Ho Chi Minh is sitting on the supporting pedestal with a sword in hand and Vietnam’s flag on his body.

The photo had been multiple shared by Khmer-speaking Facebook users; some of them also expressed mixed comments and reactions to it.

Below is a capture of the photo posted by a Facebook user on September 14 in 2020, and it reappears on the social media on the same day a year later.

Facebook Post | Archived Link

The photo of Ho Chi Minh statue was also posted on social media platform by other Facebook users on August 12 last year – more than a month before the post mentioned above. One of them is a Facebook page named ប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រ​ខ្មែរ [Khmer History] which posted the photo along with other two photos.

Facebook Post | Archived Link

The photo was also tweeted on another world’s largest social media platform Twitter on October 31 in 2020. Below is a capture of the tweet in Lao scripts.

Twitter Tweet | Archived Link

Fact Check

Fact Crescendo Cambodia begins verifying the photo by running Google Reverse Image, leading to the original photos of the statue and the photo caption as well. The original photo of the statue is rich in social media and search engine.

The photo of the statue can be found in Getty Images – one of the world’s largest photography archives. The factual photo shows the statue is of Lao’s great King Setthathirath who reigned the kingdoms of Lanna and Lan Xang between 1534 and 1571. The statue which was built in 2014 is seated at the compound of Wat Pha That Luang in Lao’s capital city Vientiane.

Getty Images | Archived Link

Who is King XaySetthathirath?

King Setthathirath or XaySetthathirath (Setthathiraj in Khmer language) is recognized as one of great leaders in Lao’s history because he successfully defended Lan Xang Kingdom (Million Elephants) from Burmese campaign in 16^th century. The Burmese soldier campaign successfully invaded Ayutthaya Kingdom in 1564.

In Lao’s history, the King was called King of two kingdoms because he crowned King of Lanna before he crowned King of Lan Xang.

Setthathirath crowned King of Lanna Kingdom after Ketklao – King of Lanna Kingdom and grandfather of Setthathirath – died without having male heir to success him.

Ketkalo was father of Setthathirath’s father King Photisarath of Lan Xang. After the death of King Ketklao, high ranking officials of Lanna unanimously crowned Setthathirath the new King. The new King was titled XaySetthathirath and set his capital at Chiang Saen – part of Thailand in present days.

Setthathirath was crowned King of Lan Xang Kingdom too after his father King Phothisarath died and Lan Xang Kingdom divided among high-ranking officials supporting different princes. Setthathirath became King of Lan Xang after defeating his half-brothers.

Conclusion

Fact Crescendo Cambodia found the photo of Ho Chi Minh statue as mentioned above is altered. The original photo does not show the statue of Vietnam’s prominent leader Ho Chi Minh. The factual photo is the statue of King Setthathirath – one of Lao’s great Kings in 16^th century – and this statue which was built in 2014 is seated at Wat Pha That Luang in Vientiane.