Built on the very spot where President Ho Chi Minh met, conversed with, and encouraged the people in their fight against drought, the Cat Tuong Memorial Area in Binh My commune, Ninh Binh province, not only preserves sacred memories of President Ho Chi Minh but also becomes a significant site for educating about traditions, fostering revolutionary ideals, and instilling patriotism in today's young generation.
Proud of our homeland, where President Ho Chi Minh's footsteps are still imprinted.
According to the History of the Party Committee of Ha Nam (formerly) province, now Ninh Binh province, in early 1958, due to a prolonged drought lasting many months and a severe water shortage for production, tens of thousands of acres of newly planted rice in the area faced the risk of drying up and burning.
Faced with the urgent situation, tens of thousands of laborers were mobilized to dredge canals and build dams across the Sat River to bring water from the Lien Mac sluice gate to irrigate the rice fields (known as the Cat Tuong dam).
On January 14, 1958, President Ho Chi Minh visited the Cat Tuong dam construction site, commending the people's spirit in combating drought and encouraging them to speed up the progress so that water could be brought to irrigate all the cultivated land as soon as possible.
Following Uncle Ho's teachings, the people of Binh Luc district completed the construction of the Cat Tuong dam in less than 5 days. The dam is 120m long, more than 2m wide, and as high as the dike, blocking the Sat River and preventing water from flowing into the Ninh River, thus saving thousands of acres of rice fields from drought.
At the conference summarizing drought relief efforts held at the Ha Nam Provincial Administrative Committee hall, President Ho Chi Minh praised the cadres and people of Ha Nam for their heroic efforts in both resistance and production, and for their many achievements in drought relief in recent years. He presented the "Best Drought Relief" rotating flag to Binh Luc district and awarded drought relief badges to individuals with outstanding achievements.
Right where Uncle Ho stood and spoke, the local people planted a banyan tree. To this day, the tree remains lush and green, providing abundant shade, and is known as "Uncle Ho's banyan tree."
At the site of the former Cát Tường dam, a modern bridge has now been built, connecting the two villages of Cát Tường and Phú Đa. In 2011, with the attention of the central government, various levels and sectors, and in response to the aspirations of the people, the Cát Tường Memorial Area was started construction.
In 2018, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's visit to Ha Nam, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism awarded the Cat Tuong Memorial Area a certificate recognizing it as a national historical and cultural relic.
Nearly 70 years have passed, but for the people of Binh My, the event of welcoming President Ho Chi Minh to visit and encourage the people in the fight against drought remains a great source of pride for their homeland.
Mr. Nguyen Van Huan, from Cao Cat village, Binh My commune, shared that the people of Cao Cat village are very proud that their hometown was once visited by Ho Chi Minh. The simple image and words of encouragement and advice from Uncle Ho are still remembered by many generations of local people with deep respect and affection. The construction of the Cat Tuong Memorial Area has fulfilled the people's wish to preserve these sacred memories of Uncle Ho.
Bearing in mind President Ho Chi Minh's teachings, the officials and people of Binh My commune have always strived to overcome difficulties, compete in socio-economic development, and build a homeland that is increasingly modernized. The locality has successfully implemented the task of reorganizing administrative units and streamlining the political system in a way that is close to the people, serves the people, and meets the requirements of a two-tiered local government model.
By 2025, the average per capita income of Binh My commune will reach 83 million VND/year, the multidimensional poverty rate will decrease to 1.92%, and budget revenue will reach 143.4% of the projected amount.
Along with economic development, traditional cultural values and historical relics continue to be preserved and promoted; cultural and sports movements are developing widely, contributing to improving the spiritual life of the people.
A historical site for traditional education for the younger generation.
The Cát Tường Memorial Area is located on a large plot of land, divided into two main sections facing the Sắt River. The memorial house is built in the style of a pavilion, with a central stele commemorating President Ho Chi Minh's visit to the local officials and people while they were building the Cát Tường dam.
The temple dedicated to President Ho Chi Minh is built on a 5,400m2 plot of land with many structures. The memorial area preserves and displays many valuable images and documents about President Ho Chi Minh and his visit to encourage the people in the local area to fight drought in 1958.
From a place that commemorated President Ho Chi Minh's visit to encourage the people in their fight against drought, this place has become a significant historical site for educating today's young generation about national traditions.
Every year, the Cat Tuong Memorial Area welcomes thousands of young people and youth union members who come to visit, offer incense, report their achievements, and hold ceremonies for joining the Youth Union and the Young Pioneers. Through these meaningful activities, it contributes to fostering ideals, patriotism, a sense of self-improvement and learning, and a desire to contribute to the younger generation, helping them strive to become good children, good students, and good grandchildren of Uncle Ho.
According to Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, Principal of Binh My Junior High School, every year the school organizes a ceremony for students to offer incense and report their achievements at the Cat Tuong Memorial Area to educate them about revolutionary traditions, patriotism, and pride in their homeland.
Through hands-on activities, students gain a deeper understanding of local history, including President Ho Chi Minh's visit to encourage the people in combating drought in the past, thereby enhancing their awareness of learning, self-improvement, and responsibility towards their homeland and country.
Nguyen Manh Dung, a student in class 8A3 at Binh My Junior High School, shared that attending the ceremony to report achievements to President Ho Chi Minh at the Cat Tuong Memorial Area was a great honor and source of pride for him.
While offering incense and listening to explanations about Ho Chi Minh and the history of my homeland, I gained a deeper understanding of the sacrifices of previous generations and the teachings of Uncle Ho. From that experience, I resolved to be well-behaved and study hard to live up to the traditions of my homeland.
The Cát Tường Memorial Area is also where Ninh Bình province and Bình Mỹ commune organize activities to commemorate major holidays and important political events of the country and the locality, expressing their reverence and reporting their achievements to President Ho Chi Minh.
The project involved digitizing information by the former Ha Nam Provincial Youth Union. Using VR 360 virtual reality technology on a digital platform, combined with video clips, audio, and 2D images, a simple "QR code scan" provides complete and detailed information about the historical site in a realistic and engaging way.
According to Ms. Van Thi Linh, Director of the Public Service Center of Binh My Commune, the commune has identified the Cat Tuong Memorial Area not only as a place to preserve historical values but also as a significant historical site for educating the younger generation about traditions.
Over the past period, the Center has coordinated with schools and organizations to organize field trips, thematic activities, and visits to historical sites, helping students understand more about the history of their homeland, the affection and concern of President Ho Chi Minh for the people, and enhancing their awareness of learning, self-improvement, and responsibility to the community.
In the coming time, the Center will continue to promote propaganda associated with digital transformation, strengthen the organization of visits, experiences, and exchanges for youth union members and young people in the province and other localities to learn and study at the memorial site. These activities will contribute to making this place a typical historical site, a meaningful destination in the journey of learning, training, and emulating President Ho Chi Minh for the younger generation.
Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/cat-tuong-dia-chi-do-don-bac-ho-ve-tham-dong-vien-nhan-dan-post1110168.vnp
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