In Vietnam, one of the last communist nations, Ho Chi Minh remains the father figure for the nation. For many in the West there remains a fascination with Uncle Ho, the frail, idealistic leader who against seemingly insurmountable odds humiliated two of the world's strongest armies, the American and the French.

This film, based on newsreel footage and interviews with contemporaries, traces the story of his life. Born into a mandarin family in 1890 when Indochina was part of the French empire, he gravitated towards Paris like many in his generation. There he founded the Indochinese Communist Party, calling for an independent Indochina composed of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

The following years were spent between Russia and Asia where he learned guerrilla warfare from MaoTse Tung. His big chance came during World War II when the Japanese occupied Indochina. The film goes on to show how his army, the Viet Minh, drove them out and then went on to fight the French for control of the country. Independence for North Vietnam was achieved with the defeat of the French at Dien Bien Phu. He never lived to see the victory over the Americans or the unification of Vietnam.