50th Anniversary of Dalat Map Enterprise's Traditional Day: Imprints and Contributions

Dalat Map Factory Building is a unique architectural work.

• UPS AND DOWNS OF THE OLD DAYS

In 1939, Da Lat - a large plateau with a characteristically cold climate favorable for preserving machinery, materials and storing maps - was the place chosen by the French colonialists to locate the Indochina Geographical Office (the largest military map factory in Indochina to serve the colonial invasion policy) after 40 years in Hanoi. After moving to Da Lat, this place was renamed Da Lat Geographical Office. From 1954 to 1975, the Da Lat Geographical Office was occupied by the US and the Saigon government to become a map production center serving the war of aggression against Vietnam and was renamed Nha Dia Du.

In early April 1975, the army and people of the two provinces of Lam Dong (old) and Tuyen Duc rose up to fight for the liberation of their homeland. The war was fierce, but the army and people of Da Lat city in general and the workers of the Nha Dia Du in particular resolutely protected this especially important factory, not giving the enemy a chance to destroy it before fleeing. The liberation flag was raised and fluttered on the flagpole in front of the Nha Dia Du. The revolution came to take over the factory. All the workers of the Nha Dia Du did not evacuate but returned to the factory to conduct explosives screening, check technical machinery... The entire modern Surveying - Cartography facility with a complete system of equipment was safe. The workers of the Nha Dia Du were so happy that they could not breathe because as long as the machines were still there and the Nha Dia Du was still there, they could immediately start producing maps and printing all kinds of propaganda documents to serve the revolution. During those days, the Geography Office operated at full capacity, printing 3,000 sets of documents, 15,000 flags and 10,000 photos of Uncle Ho in two days, promptly distributing them to organizations and people on the day of welcoming the revolutionary government to take over the city and the day the whole province was liberated (April 3, 1975).

General Vo Nguyen Giap visited the Geography Department in October 1975. Photo: TL

On April 22, 1975, the Da Lat City Military Management Committee officially handed over the Geographical Office to the General Staff's Map Department. From here, the history of the Geographical Office turned a new page. Although it had only been a free citizen for less than a month and the General Staff's Map Department had been directly managing it for less than 10 days, the workers of the Geographical Office worked day and night, increasing shifts, changing teams to "race" against time to complete the printing of more than 1,500 sets of 1:100,000 scale maps of the Saigon - Gia Dinh, Bien Hoa, Vung Tau, Long An areas by April 26, 1975 to promptly serve the tactical troops; printing thousands of maps, mainly 1:25,000 scale maps and maps of different scales to serve the troops participating in the Ho Chi Minh Campaign. Along with that, Uncle Ho's pictures, liberation flags, and propaganda documents were also printed in large quantities to be delivered to cadres, soldiers, and the people of Saigon. All the workers of the Geography Department silently contributed to the common victory of the nation.

After the liberation day, General Secretary Le Duan, Prime Minister Pham Van Dong and General Vo Nguyen Giap all visited the Da Lat Geography Department. Here, the leaders of the Party, State and army acknowledged the important contributions of the Geography Department to the army and people of the whole country in defeating the invading forces, liberating the South and unifying the country. At the same time, they encouraged and advised the officers and soldiers of the Geography Department to promote their achievements, strive to constantly master science and technology, and successfully complete all assigned political tasks. That is the motivation for the officers, soldiers and employees of the Geography Department to continue to make efforts and contribute to the cause of national construction and development.

Workers of the Geography Department printed a photo of Uncle Ho in preparation for the liberation day in 1975. Photo: TL

• “THE PRECIOUS GEM” OF DA LAT

After many name changes according to the decision of the Ministry of National Defense, on October 19, 1993, the Geographical Office was officially renamed the Dalat Map Enterprise until today. In addition to its particularly important political tasks, the Dalat Map Enterprise building with its architecture bearing the typical architectural features of Southern France is also the "precious gem" of Dalat City, a part of the memories of many generations of Dalat people. The Dalat Map Enterprise building, together with Dalat Railway Station and Lycée Yersin School (now Pedagogical College) in three close locations, is still a mark that stands the test of time about the period of the formation of a miniature European city on this plateau.

Until now, many people in Da Lat City still cannot forget the fire that broke out at the Da Lat Map Enterprise in the early morning of June 9, 2014. Fortunately, the archives at the Enterprise were still safe, but the unique architectural style of the building was somewhat affected. For the people of this city, it was a loss of memory. According to the leader of the Da Lat Map Enterprise, during the process of repairing the burned part of the building, many options were proposed, even the option of demolishing the building and rebuilding it, but the Enterprise's leader proposed to the superiors the option of restoring the exterior to its original state. Because in addition to the political mission, it was also a way to preserve the memories of the people of Da Lat. This option was implemented. With great efforts of related units, the building of Da Lat Map Enterprise has been basically restored to its original state and is still the "precious gem" of Da Lat city, still an intact part of the memories of Da Lat people.

Staff of Dalat Map Enterprise today

The Dalat Map Enterprise is a military unit under the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, stationed in Da Lat City. Currently, the Enterprise is carrying out key political tasks of producing topographic maps for staff work, combat, exercises, etc. in the army. Specifically, the Enterprise has successfully completed the editing, reprinting and printing of new maps; established 1:50,000 scale topographic maps outside the territory (China, Laos, Thailand); established topographic maps to ensure the Vietnamese peacekeeping force at United Nations peacekeeping missions (scale 1:25,000 and 1:50,000); built a database and established a map to search for and collect martyrs' remains in Military Region 5; Building a military geographic database and 1:10,000 scale topographic maps to serve disaster response and search and rescue in key areas...

In carrying out its economic tasks, the Enterprise has done well in map production, field surveying and industrial printing. Compared to the previous term, in the 2020 - 2025 term, the Enterprise's average revenue reached 78.44 billion VND, an increase of 31%; average income per capita reached 26.57 million VND, an increase of 94%.

In addition to the Ministry of National Defense's continuous investment in modern equipment and machinery, the employees of the Dalat Map Enterprise are always proactive in studying to improve their professional qualifications. Up to now, the unit has 11 master's degrees and 44 university degrees. Scientific research activities have been promoted. Over the past 5 years, the Enterprise has had 6 technical innovation initiatives recognized, awarded and effectively applied in production. The unit also encourages and motivates on-site training, boldly assigning tasks to competent and qualified staff. At the same time, it invests in, renovates and upgrades the infrastructure system, machinery and equipment of the Industrial Printing industry. Effectively operating the processes of the quality management system according to ISO 9001-2015 standards contributes to improving labor productivity and regularity for the unit.

Dalat Map Enterprise has also synchronously deployed measures to build a comprehensively strong unit "Exemplary, typical"; strictly maintain discipline and order to create a solid change in building discipline, complying with discipline, and ensuring absolute safety.

In the work of Party building, the Party Committee of the Da Lat Map Enterprise focuses on thoroughly grasping and implementing the directives and resolutions of the Party Committees at all levels, applying them to the actual situation of the unit, and proposing accurate and timely annual and quarterly leadership resolutions. Focusing on leading the successful completion of political tasks, giving top priority to national defense tasks, especially urgent, key and focal tasks. Widely deploying the political activities on Party building and rectification with the theme of "self-reflection" and "self-correction", thoroughly grasping the exemplary responsibility of cadres and party members; strengthening the grasp of the ideological situation among cadres, party members and the masses, strengthening solidarity and unity, maintaining discipline and order. Over the past 5 years, the entire Party Committee has considered and proposed to admit 9 outstanding masses into the Party; considered transferring the Party officially to 7 probationary party members. With great efforts, from 2020 to 2023, the Party Committee successfully completed its tasks, and in 2024, it successfully completed its tasks. Party members completed their tasks well and excellently from 98% to 100%, with no party members violating their qualifications...

Dalat Map Enterprise is always the flagship of the Surveying and Mapping Company Limited, one of the leading units in the Central Highlands and Southeast markets in the fields of surveying, creating maps of all kinds; building geographic database, 3D maps; industrial printing.

With what it has had and is having, Dalat Map Enterprise with people who have the qualities of Uncle Ho's soldiers will continue to promote the unit's tradition, uphold the spirit of overcoming difficulties, being proactive and creative to meet the requirements of tasks in the new period.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/xa-hoi/202504/50-nam-ngay-truyen-thong-xi-nghiep-ban-do-da-lat-nhung-dau-an-va-dong-gop-0a75d31/