"With hearts united in deep friendship, Binh Thuan and Tuyen Quang share a profound bond," April 3, 1960 - April 3, 2025 marks 65 years since the two provinces of Tuyen Quang and Binh Thuan became fraternal. Officials and people of the two provinces joyfully, proudly, and emotionally recall the day they officially became "brothers in one family."
Binh Thuan road in Tuyen Quang city. Photo: Quoc Viet
"We are all from the same root, all children of the same family."
In response to the North-South brotherhood movement launched by the Central Committee, in March 1960 the Central Party Committee approved the fraternal relationship between the people of Tuyen Quang and Binh Thuan provinces.
Recognizing this as a significant political event, the Tuyen Quang Provincial Party Committee requested widespread dissemination and promotion among the masses. Simultaneously, they urged intensified work and production, focusing on immediate priorities, creating a vibrant atmosphere in preparation for the fraternity ceremony.
Binh Thuan Street is one of the busiest streets in Tuyen Quang city today. Photo: Quoc Viet
At 7:00 AM on April 3, 1960, a ceremony to establish a fraternal relationship between Tuyen Quang and Binh Thuan provinces was held in a joyful and enthusiastic atmosphere at the Tuyen Quang Provincial Grand Hall. This marked the beginning of a close, unwavering, and affectionate relationship between the Party Committees and people of the two provinces.
Next, ceremonies establishing fraternal ties between districts and towns were held. Specifically: Tuyen Quang town twinned with Phan Thiet town, Yen Son district twinned with Ham Thuan district, Na Hang district twinned with Tanh Linh district, Chiem Hoa district twinned with Hoa Da district (now Bac Binh district), and Ham Yen district twinned with Ham Tan district.
The headquarters of Phan Thiet ward (Tuyen Quang city). Photo: Quoc Viet
From the very beginning of their fraternal relationship, Tuyen Quang province launched numerous labor and production emulation movements to support the South and Binh Thuan. Notable examples include: "The day to build a road connecting Tuyen Quang and Binh Thuan," "For our beloved South, for our sister province Binh Thuan, for the reunification of the Fatherland," "Month of labor and production emulation for the South," "High-intensity labor day, producing goods and donating money to support women in Binh Thuan"... Many schools, production teams, shops, and streets in Tuyen Quang bear the names of Binh Thuan and Phan Thiet. Similarly, Binh Thuan also has schools and streets named after Tuyen Quang.
Particularly on the agricultural front, the army and people of Tuyen Quang competed vigorously with the spirit of "We advance into the fields like the people of Binh Thuan storming the enemy's forts." It was from this spirit that rice from the Tuyen Quang rear was continuously transported to the front lines, regardless of years of natural disasters, enemy attacks, or famine.
On the cultural front, Tuyen Quang and Binh Thuan became one. This included the collection of poems and essays "For Our Beloved South," written by writers from Tuyen Quang. The work was created during the week of struggle against American imperialism and its puppets, promoting production and supporting the people of the South and Binh Thuan, from December 15th to December 25th, 1963.
The current state of Phan Thiet Street (Tuyen Quang City). Photo: Quoc Viet
Works sent to the Southern battlefield contributed to "igniting the flame" on the front lines. Representative works include: "Honor" and "If You Understand What's So Terrible" by former Provincial Party Secretary Tran Hoai Quang, "To You, a Liberation Army Soldier" by poet Gia Dung, and "Throwing the Ghost" by Nong Ngoc Thuan…
With the spirit of "All for the front lines, for our beloved South," the Party committees and people of the two provinces were closely bound together, supporting each other to defeat the American invaders, unify the country, and unite the nation as one.
With peace restored, the fraternal bond between Binh Thuan and Tuyen Quang deepened even further. Tuyen Quang continued to send Binh Thuan many leading and managerial cadres, as well as providing food, supplies, plant and animal seeds to restore production and stabilize the lives of the people; and also sent books and newspapers as gifts.
A view of the Tuyen Binh Forestry Station, Trang Da commune (Tuyen Quang city) today. Photo: Quoc Viet
In September 1993, in particular, officials, Party members, and the people of Tuyen Quang organized a ceremony to bring a banyan tree from Tan Trao as a gift to their homeland in Binh Thuan. This sacred and meaningful gift was received with respect and care by the local people. Today, the Tan Trao banyan tree has been planted in the grounds of Duc Thanh School and the Ho Chi Minh Museum in Binh Thuan.
We love each other and share both the good and the bad times…
For the past 65 years, the people of Tuyen Quang and Binh Thuan provinces have continuously preserved, nurtured, and deepened their fraternal bond. This bond has taken root and flowed in the hearts and minds of generations of officials and people in both provinces, becoming an invaluable spiritual value.
Over the years, in order to nurture and strengthen the loyal and enduring fraternal relationship, and to jointly rebuild a prosperous and beautiful homeland, the leaders of the two provinces and their sister districts have regularly visited each other, exchanged experiences in economic and social development, and effectively implemented social welfare policies.
The Chairman of the Spreading Love Charity Association of Binh Thuan province presented gifts to the people of Tan Long commune (Yen Son district) who suffered damage from floods.
Comrade Nguy Van Than, former Standing Deputy Secretary of the Tuyen Quang Provincial Party Committee, recounted that during his years of service, he had the honor of welcoming delegations from Binh Thuan province to Tuyen Quang on several occasions. His most memorable experience was when a delegation from the Binh Thuan Veterans Association visited the province. Among them was a veteran who, out of love for Tuyen Quang, went exploring on his own and got lost, ending up in Lang Quan commune (Yen Son district). After being found, he even wished to stay for a few days because the people of Tuyen Quang were so friendly and welcoming. Coming here felt like returning home; he felt incredibly familiar and comfortable.
It's not just the people of Binh Thuan who have affection and love for Tuyen Quang; the people of Tuyen Quang also feel the same way when they visit Binh Thuan. Comrade Nguy Van Than added: "Whenever the Tuyen Quang delegation comes to the South, they must visit Binh Thuan because it is their homeland, their home."
The education, agriculture, culture, youth union, and press sectors of both provinces have engaged in numerous activities to support, strengthen, and exchange ideas, further solidifying their solidarity and close ties. The most notable example is the exchange of staff for work and the sharing of experiences.
The school is named after the province of Tuyên Quang in Bình Thuận.
Comrade Nguyen Van Mach, former Editor-in-Chief of Tuyen Quang Newspaper, shared: “In 1997, Tuyen Quang Newspaper and Binh Thuan Newspaper implemented a reporter exchange program between the two provinces. For about two months, two reporters from Tuyen Quang Newspaper, the late journalist Do Hung and journalist Ngo Thi Thu Ha, worked at Binh Thuan Newspaper. Binh Thuan Newspaper also sent two reporters to work at Tuyen Quang Newspaper. This was truly a meaningful program aimed at exchanging practical experiences and training at the partner newspaper, making it very effective in improving the skills of journalists.”
Despite being more than 1,000 kilometers apart, the twinning activities and strengthening of close cooperative relations have been consistently maintained and developed by agencies, units, and localities of the two provinces. In the fields of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, the two provinces have many exchange and performance activities to serve the cultural and spiritual life of the people; connecting and promoting local culture and tourism to friends in both provinces.
The Fatherland Front Committees of the two provinces regularly exchange experiences on social monitoring and criticism activities. The Youth Unions of the two localities maintain activities to educate on political ideology and participate in ensuring social welfare. Cultural and artistic exchange activities are regularly organized...
The schools are named after very familiar places in neighboring provinces. For example, in Tuyen Quang there is Phan Thiet Primary School, Binh Thuan Primary School, and Binh Thuan Secondary School; in Binh Thuan there is Tuyen Quang Primary School. Teachers and students from the two provinces regularly engage in fraternal activities, exchanging teaching and learning experiences.
Students in Binh Thuan province enjoy learning at Tuyen Quang Primary School.
The districts of the two sister provinces also have many activities demonstrating the strong and warm connection between the two localities. Chiêm Hoá district (Tuyên Quang) and Bắc Bình district (Bình Thuận) regularly have exchange activities and support each other in economic and social development.
Comrade Ma Doan Tai, Secretary of the Chiêm Hóa District Youth Union, shared that the Youth Unions of the two districts organize many meaningful activities and programs such as: annually, building the "Connecting Arms of Chiêm Hóa - Bắc Bình" project for our beloved younger generation, and constructing outdoor libraries at schools in the two districts.
Nguyen Tuan Anh, an official from the Provincial Youth Union, said: "Although the two provinces are 1,000km apart, I feel everything is very close. Youth Union officials at the provincial and district levels in both provinces know each other well and connect regularly, sharing in work and life. Everyone treats each other like brothers and sisters, ready to help when needed."
The two provinces have continuously maintained acts of sharing and mutual support throughout the years. Tuyen Quang has assisted Binh Thuan in building charitable houses and other projects such as bridges and clean water systems. Whenever the people of Binh Thuan face hardship or difficulties due to storms, floods, or epidemics, they receive both material and spiritual support from the people of Tuyen Quang.
Binh Thuan also provided many gifts and supported the construction of dozens of "Great Solidarity" houses for disadvantaged policy beneficiary families in Tuyen Quang. In September 2024, Tuyen Quang was damaged by Typhoon Yagi, and the people of Binh Thuan, from citizens, officials, civil servants, and students, participated in contributing funds to support the people of Tuyen Quang. Members of the "Spread Love" Charity Association of Binh Thuan province directly visited the affected communes to offer support, providing thousands of gifts, essential goods, and funds for house repairs to dozens of households and schools to help them overcome the consequences of the storm.
Throughout history, the ups and downs of the nation have proven the strength forged from national unity, forming a majestic and enduring "fortress" alongside the country. Within this great strength, the close relationship between Tuyen Quang and Binh Thuan provinces has become a shining symbol of unwavering loyalty and friendship: "Tuyen Quang and Binh Thuan, with their deep affection and strong bonds, have remained steadfast for sixty-five years."
Source: https://baobinhthuan.com.vn/65-nam-ay-biet-bao-an-tinh-129541.html
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