Directed by Thai scholar Artha Nantachukra, a documentary series titled ‘Spirit of Vietnam’ - which features President Ho Chi Minh’s time in Thailand - will be aired on Channel 7 and Mornine TV in April.

Artha (L) gave the copyright of 'Spirit of Vietnam' to VTV's representative in February.Photo: VTV

Vietnam’s VTV channel also plans to broadcast the program - consisting of 15 episodes, each lasting 15 minutes - twice a week since April 11.

The documentary covers the time Nguyen Ai Quoc (an alias of President Ho Chi Minh) lived and worked in Thailand (1928-29) and features Vietnamese communities in various localities in Thailand, like Ubon Rachathani, Mukdahan and Nakhon Phanom.

On his personal blogsite, Dr. Arthe made a statement: “Actually, I have the idea of making such a documentary for more than 10 years … when I did research for my PhD in Hanoi University.”

“I would like to present the documentary to the public in this year (2011) to mark 100-year anniversary of President Ho leaving Vietnam to seek ways to save the country,” he added.

The series, which took two years to produce, was backed with financial support from the Vietnamese community in Thailand.

Vietnam’s VTV earlier purchased copyright to 12 episodes “Ho Chi Minh – Vietnam’s great leader” produced by Thailand’s NBT channel, and documentary films “President Ho Chi Minh’s National Funeral Ceremony” by Japan’s NDN channel.

Born in 1959 in Ubon Ratchathani, Nantachukra is now working as deputy head of the History Department of Mahasarakham University in Maha Sarakham Province, according to Vietnam News.

He did research on Thai ethnic groups in Vietnam’s north-eastern region for his doctorate thesis at Hanoi National University between 1995 and 1999.

He also initiated the building of a Thailand-Vietnam friendship village at Nachok Village in Thailand's Nakhon Phanom Province, where President Ho Chi Minh once lived.

Source: Tuoitre