Comrade Ha Van Lau was from Sinh village, Phu Mau commune, Phu Vang district, Thua Thien Hue province. Joining the revolution before 1945, during the resistance war against the French, he was the commanding officer of Binh Tri Thien front. During the resistance war against the US, he held important positions on the military and diplomatic fronts. He was awarded many noble medals by the Party and State.

In early 1950, Comrade Ha Van Lau was the commander of the Binh Tri Thien front and went to the North to report the current situation of the Binh Tri Thien battlefield. At the ceremony to celebrate Uncle Ho's 60th birthday anniversary organized by the Central Party Committee and the Government, he briefly reported to Uncle Ho on the current situation of the Binh Tri Thien battlefield as well as the loyalty of the people of Binh Tri Thien towards the Party and the Uncle Ho. Before leaving, he took a photo of Uncle Ho's portrait taken in the Viet Bac war zone (a photo given by one of his compatriot from Thua Thien Hue who was working at the Department of Propaganda and Training) to ask for Uncle Ho’s signature as a souvenir to bring back to Binh Tri Thien. Uncle Ho wrote “The resistance is certain to win” and signed in the photo. The comrade promised Uncle Ho that he would join hands with the people of Binh Tri Thien to promote guerrilla warfare, win more victories, and on behalf of the army and people of Binh Tri Thien to wish Uncle Ho good health and long life.

On August 1, 1997, Comrade Ha Van Lau presented this photo to the Ho Chi Minh Museum of Thua Thien Hue.

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