Ho Chi Minh City is set for a massive street renaming program in honor of historical figures from both Vietnam and abroad, according to Tuoi Tre. Along with the obvious Vietnamese heroes, such as general Vo Nguyen Giap, there are a few surprise appearances such as Cuban revolutionary, Che Guevara.
Plans are in the works to rename 1,000 HCMC streets, with names in honor of those who have helped shaped Vietnamese history in a positive way. Beyond war heroes, street names will include Vietnamese “researchers, artist and technologists” along with foreigners who have championed the country’s cause. Of the 8 foreigners, one particularly stands out – Che Guevara, the favorite Marxist icon of college students and hipsters around the globe.
A recent piece in the Wall Street Journal drew the connection between 'El Che' and Vietnam:
“The Argentine revolutionary famously backed the Viet Cong guerrilla force that fought against South Vietnam during the war in the 1960s. In a 1967 speech, Mr. Guevara said the world needed “two, three, or many Vietnams” to achieve a true proletarian revolution.”
As the renaming scheme is still in its early phases, it’s unclear which street will bear the name of Latin America’s most iconic Marxist.
