[Photo series] Cho Gao (Hung Yen) - Headquarters of Geological Federation 36

[Photo series] Cho Gao ( Hung Yen ) - Headquarters of Geological Federation 36

In November 1969, Geological Federation 36 (General Department of Geology) was established, headquartered in Cho Gao.

We arrived at Cho Gao (Hung Yen City) on a late autumn day. It was not easy to find the place that was once the “Headquarters” of many Research Teams of the General Department of Geology – a place of great fame. We only knew that this place was somewhere near Cho Gao.

Cho Gao used to be a famous place in the 1970s and 1980s.

Fortunately, through some friends who are currently working in Hung Yen City, we finally found the right address. The headquarters of the former Geological Federation 36 is nestled under the canopy of acacia and longan trees adjacent to Le Van Luong Avenue (near the intersection of Le Van Luong - Nguyen Van Linh, Hung Yen City).

The headquarters of the former Geological Federation 36 is now nestled under the canopy of acacia and longan trees adjacent to Le Van Luong Avenue (near the intersection of Le Van Luong - Nguyen Van Linh, Hung Yen City).

It is known that in October 1969, Geological Federation 36 (General Department of Geology) was established, with headquarters located in Cho Gao. Under this unit are Group 36F (Seismology), Group 36D (Electricity), Group 36T (Gravity), Geological Group 36C An Chau; Structural Drilling Group 36K and Deep Drilling Group 36S.

Geological Federation 36 has a total of 2,300 staff and workers, including about 500 technical staff and skilled workers, with the help of hundreds of Soviet experts, engineers and doctors.

It is hard to realize that this place was once home to thousands of engineers, workers, and experts who worked and lived selflessly.

Since 1973, the 36F, 36T, and 36D groups were merged to form the 36F General Geophysical Group; the 36K Structural Drilling Group and the 36S Deep Drilling Group were merged into the 36K Drilling Group; Group 36B was established to conduct petroleum geological research.

Some officers and engineers of Geological Federation 36 in Hung Yen period.

According to the memory of Mr. Nguyen Quyet Thang, a Petroleum Geology expert at Petrovietnam , former General Director of Lam Son Joint Operating Company (LSJOC), in the years 1973-1980 this was one of the "bustling" areas of Hung Yen town, Hai Hung province (old).

The area where the unit's headquarters was located was once called "Western Street" because of the presence of Soviet experts, and was quite "bustling" when overseas students returned home, bringing with them Con Co, Start, Spac motorbikes, and hoe bicycles...

At Cho Gao, most of the brothers and sisters were young and full of enthusiasm.

Soviet experts were given priority to live in a single two-story building, while Vietnamese cadres lived in many rows of tocxi buildings, with about 10 people per room.

Despite countless difficulties, generations of cadres and workers of Geological Federation 36 worked and studied selflessly for the Oil and Gas industry, creating a solid foundation for the future "take-off" of Petrovietnam.

The headquarters of the 36th Geological Federation has changed owners several times.

After the agencies under the General Department of Geology left, Nguyen Van Linh Political School took its place, followed by Chu Van An University.

Unfortunately, after Chu Van An University moved away, this area has been almost "abandoned" ever since.

The next generation of oil and gas officials only hear about the exciting times of their fathers. Currently, the only traces left are “The soul of autumn grass, the shadow of the sunset…”

Minh Tien - Phong Son

Source: https://www.pvn.vn/chuyen-muc/tap-doan/tin/99be7c5a-aa29-407c-b105-32e66ca34db0