"Uncle Ho's birthplace" is the simple term that people in Nghe An often use to refer to the Kim Lien Historical Relic Area. Anyone visiting Nghe An is reminded to stop by Uncle Ho's birthplace. Initially, I thought it was simply a familiar destination that anyone visiting Nghe An would want to see.
But then, after many visits, that place gradually became an indispensable part of our family's trips back home. And without realizing it, my love and pride in being a part of President Ho Chi Minh's homeland grew stronger and stronger.
Almost every time I return to Nghe An, I try to find some time to visit Sen Village. Sometimes I only have time for a little over an hour, quickly lighting an incense stick at Uncle Ho's altar; other times I leisurely stroll along the sun-drenched village road, admiring the rows of betel trees in front of the houses, gazing at the simple thatched roofs until late afternoon. These images have become familiar, yet strangely, each time I return, I still feel the same sense of nostalgia as the first time I set foot in Uncle Ho's hometown.
What I enjoy most is the leisurely stroll along the small path leading into the village. The path isn't wide or noisy, lined with lush green trees on both sides, encircling a large pond. During the lotus blooming season, a subtle fragrance permeates the air, carried on the breeze, gently spreading far and wide, making each step seem to slow down.
I've been here both during the scorching summer days of Central Vietnam and the chilly, drizzly winter nights. Amidst the blazing sun, the scent of lotus flowers from the village pond wafts on the breeze, and the shadows of trees stretching along the small path create a calming atmosphere.
And on winter days, walking through the light drizzle, with the wind seeping through layers of clothing, the entire village of Sen is enveloped in a serene and tranquil atmosphere that is deeply moving. It is precisely this simplicity and quietness that makes each visit to Uncle Ho's birthplace a poetic journey for me.
Perhaps it is the tranquility that makes me want to return to Uncle Ho's hometown many more times. Each time I pass through the gate of the historical site, I unconsciously walk slowly, quietly following the familiar small paths amidst the peaceful atmosphere. Despite the increasingly hectic pace of life, Uncle Ho's hometown still retains its gentle, simple, and unhurried charm, as if time has never changed it.
Of all the places I've been, the simple thatched house of President Ho Chi Minh's family is always the one I linger the longest. The low roof, the rustic wooden pillars, the wooden bed frame, the old chest, or the simple wooden dining tray evoke memories of the warm and cozy living space of the family of the late Deputy Scholar Nguyen Sinh Sac… The sweet potato rows in front of the house are still lush green, the tea bushes are straight and sprouting, and the old bamboo grove still rustles, embracing the small house as if preserving the peaceful atmosphere of a bygone Nghe An countryside. Because of this simplicity, each time I return, a very special emotion wells up inside me, difficult to put into words.
There were times I took my son along. Like me, he was always excited to return to Uncle Ho's hometown. He would happily run along the tree-lined village roads, curiously admiring the ancient well, attentively reading the explanatory signs, and listening to stories about Uncle Ho's childhood.
Watching my child so naturally engrossed, I suddenly understood that lessons about patriotism, simplicity, or love for one's homeland sometimes don't come from grand gestures. Just a peaceful trip like this is enough to instill beautiful and pure emotions in a child's heart.
Every time I leave Kim Lien, I often look back at the green bamboo groves hidden behind the old thatched-roof houses. I don't know why, but that place always gives me a feeling of familiarity, even though I wasn't born in Nghe An. Perhaps it's because after more than a decade as a daughter-in-law in Nghe An, I've come to regard this land as my second home.
Amidst the hustle and bustle of life, amidst the hurried journeys back and forth, Sen village still lies quietly with its rows of betel trees, thatched roofs, and peaceful little paths. And surely, on future journeys back home, Uncle Ho's hometown will remain a special stop that I never want to miss.
Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/cham-vao-binh-yen-noi-que-bac-post587541.html
