(QBĐT) - In the last days of 2024, on the journey to follow the footsteps of General Hoang Sam, an outstanding son of Quang Binh, the first captain of the Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Army, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army (December 22, 1944 - December 22, 2024) in Cao Bang , we visited the Pac Bo National Special Relic Site (Truong Ha Commune, Ha Quang District). This place still preserves intact the images of Uncle Ho 83 years ago, when he returned to the Fatherland to directly lead the Vietnamese revolution.
The old soldier in Pac Bo
Pac Bo National Special Relic Site has never been without domestic and international tourists coming to visit and experience. Following the path under the ancient forest along Lenin stream, we went upstream. It felt as if the image of the father of the nation still exists forever: This is where Uncle sat fishing, there is the stone table where Uncle worked, a little deeper, Coc Bo cave - where Uncle rested.
In 1961, Uncle Ho returned to Cao Bang, spending a whole day at Pac Bo. Coming to Coc Bo cave, where he used to live and work, he left a souvenir: "Twenty years ago in this cave/The Party outlined the path to fight the Japanese and the French/Leading the entire people to fight/The beautiful country we have today".
Not far from the stone table and chairs where Uncle Ho worked, we came across a straight-stemmed goldenrod tree, proudly reaching straight up to the sky. Under the tree was a sign that read: “The goldenrod tree planted by General Vo Nguyen Giap in 1975.”
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While we were chatting happily under the golden needle tree, a man in an old military uniform approached and timidly asked: "You guys seem to have come from far away?". "Yes, we are from Quang Binh". The man softly exclaimed: "Ah! Quang Binh... the hometown of General Vo Nguyen Giap. I am a soldier of Uncle Giap". When asked, his name was Nong Thanh Bang, a Tay ethnic group (born in 1959), living in Pac Bo village, Truong Ha commune. Mr. Nong Thanh Bang joined the army and fought to protect the northern border. After returning to his hometown, he received a part of the forest land in the Pac Bo historical relic area to plant forests and develop the farm economy .
Mr. Nong Thanh Bang recalled: “In 1994, the General visited Pac Bo. I was there at that time. Meeting and chatting with the people, General Vo Nguyen Giap asked intimately in the Tay language: “Bai pi noong mi rong bau?” (How are you, my fellow countrymen?). After such a long separation, Uncle Giap still did not forget the voices of the people. Right at this golden needle tree, the General spoke intimately with the people. Uncle Giap said that the people should try to preserve the Pac Bo historical site well, because this is the place where the revolution originated, closely associated with beloved Uncle Ho. The General encouraged the people to take care of their business, develop the economy, pay attention to escaping poverty, and build a prosperous and happy life. Then the General advised: In order for the Pac Bo historical site to maintain its historical value, promote the revolutionary tradition of the heroic Cao Bang land, the people should try to plant forests, take care of them, and protect them even better. Obeying the General, later on, I boldly took the lead, receiving forest land to plant forests and build farms. Thanks to that, life is now stable."
While chatting, Mr. Nong Thanh Bang gave us several kilos of local oranges grown on his farm. The oranges were cool, sweet, and full of affection.
The General's Second Homeland
In 1994, returning to visit Cao Bang, speaking at the scientific -practical conference "Uncle Ho with Cao Bang" organized by Cao Bang province, General Vo Nguyen Giap simply said: "I came to visit Cao Bang as if I were returning to my second homeland, as if I were returning home, because during many years of living, working, and fighting alongside President Ho Chi Minh and the leaders of Cao Bang and the people of Cao Bang, my feelings for Cao Bang are the same as my feelings for my own homeland or my homeland Nghe Tinh".
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In 1975, after the country was independent and the country was reunited, the General returned to Cao Bang. Visiting Coc Bo cave, the General planted a golden needle tree and said: Planting it to commemorate Uncle Ho. I remember the first days Uncle Ho returned to the country through milestone 108, not far from Coc Bo cave after 30 years of searching for a way to save the country. I remember the winter in the cold cave, the two of us discussed national and military affairs. Without Pac Bo, there would be no Dien Bien Phu, nor the Ho Chi Minh Campaign. Uncle confided to the General: Uncle Van! To make a revolution, we must "put public service first".
The General's golden needle tree planted in Coc Bo cave is now 49 years old, still standing tall and proud, shoulder to shoulder with countless other green ancient trees in Pac Bo forest.
| As General Vo Nguyen Giap confided: Cao Bang is his second homeland. Since the country's reunification in 1975, the General has visited Cao Bang 5 times, the last time in 1994. With the ethnic people of Pac Bo, Cao Bang, the General's feelings for the people of Pac Bo, Cao Bang are always intact. And in the heart of every Pac Po resident, there is always the memory of General Van - Commander-in-Chief Vo Nguyen Giap. |
During our stay in Cao Bang, we visited the historical site where the first Party cell of Nguyen Binh district was established (November 1935) with comrade Duong Mac Thach (alias Xich Thang) as Secretary in Minh Tam commune (Nguyen Binh district). Near this location are other historical sites, including: Mr. Duong Mac Thach's house, where Uncle Ho lived and worked in early 1942; Keo Quang cave, where Van-Vo Nguyen Giap and some key comrades worked. Mr. Duong Mac Thang, son of comrade Duong Mac Thach, former Secretary of Cao Bang Provincial Party Committee, after retiring, returned to live right on the land his parents left him.
Remembering General Vo Nguyen Giap, Mr. Duong Mac Thang sincerely said: "The General is a typical, loyal revolutionary soldier, the eldest brother of the Vietnam People's Army... From a family perspective, I call the General uncle because the General and my father recognized each other as sworn brothers, the General is older than my father so he is my brother."
According to his memories, Mr. Duong Mac Thang said: “The first day General Vo Nguyen Giap came to my house, my father only briefly introduced him to my mother as “Teacher Van, a lowland native who came to teach the Tay and Nung people of Cao Bang”. But, with a woman’s intuition, my mother knew that Teacher Van was a revolutionary like her husband. Teacher Van was very intelligent, my mother taught him the Tay language, and in just a short time he was able to communicate normally with the people in the area”.
Teacher Van opened a class to train revolutionary cadres in Keo Quang cave, not far from Mr. and Mrs. Duong Mac Thach's house. Mr. Duong Mac Thang's mother supplied food and provisions to everyone in Keo Quang cave every day. Also in Keo Quang cave, in May 1942, Uncle Ho continued to open a political training class for key revolutionary leaders of Cao Bang province.
On the occasion of the Lunar New Year of 1942, teacher Van celebrated Tet with Mr. Duong Mac Thach's family. After Tet, Mr. Duong Mac Thach and teacher Van secretly entered Tam Kim commune under the direction of Uncle Ho, preparing to establish the Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Army.
Ho An
Source: https://www.baoquangbinh.vn/dai-tuong-vo-nguyen-giap/202501/cay-kim-giao-dai-tuong-vo-nguyen-giap-trong-o-hang-coc-bo-2223990/
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