Exactly 50 years ago, the delegation of the Communist Party and the Cuban revolutionary government led by President Fidel Castro visited Vietnam and the southern liberated zone in Quang Tri . The people of Quang Tri greatly admired the steadfast and loyal heart of President Fidel Castro and Cuba for Vietnam. Quang Tri province held a State-level commemoration of this meaningful event on September 26.
The visit was kept a special secret.
Some of the places Cuban President Fidel Castro visited 50 years ago have now become monuments, reflecting the deepest feelings of the Vietnamese and Quang Tri people for Fidel and Cuba. On normal days, many people visit the monuments and lay flowers in memory of Fidel at the park named after him in Dong Ha city.
In September 1973, Mr. Truong Dinh Than, Secretary of the Party Cell of the Office of the Administrative Committee of Vinh Linh Special Zone, Head of the Driving Team specializing in serving the leaders, received a secret mission from the Standing Committee of the Vinh Linh Special Zone Party Committee to urgently drive to Hanoi, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to receive supplies for the Cuban delegation, led by Cuban President Fidel Castro, who was about to visit Vinh Linh and the southern liberated zone in Quang Tri.
Mr. Than, 86 years old this year, recalled that before Fidel Castro visited, the Office of the Administrative Committee of Vinh Linh Special Zone asked Le The Hieu Wood Enterprise, in Hiep Kieu area, Vinh Long commune, directed by Mr. Ho Xuan Mai, to make a wooden bed 2.2 m long and 1.6 m wide and place it at the Giao Te House. Vinh Linh Special Zone built an additional house with wooden pillars and bamboo walls, about 10 m x 7 m wide, including three rooms for Fidel Castro to rest right in the Giao Te Area.
On the afternoon of September 14, 1973, Mr. Than drove the Vinh Linh Special Zone leaders, including: Secretary of the Special Zone Party Committee Tran Dong; Chairman of the Administrative Committee Duong Ton; Political Commissar Vu Ky Lan; Chief of Police Tran Dinh Thach... to welcome the delegation at Le Thuy intersection, Le Thuy district, Quang Binh province. At about 3:00 p.m. on September 14, 1973, the Cuban delegation arrived at the Diplomatic House in Ho Xa town, then stayed overnight.
That evening, the Standing Committee of the Vinh Linh Special Zone Party Committee held a reception for Cuban President Fidel Castro, his delegation and Prime Minister Pham Van Dong. What a few witnesses in Vinh Linh recalled was very similar to the content mentioned in the newly published diary of Dr. José Miguel Miyar Barruecos (personal physician of Cuban President Fidel Castro) given to the leaders of Quang Tri province by Cuban Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Orlando Nicolas Hernandez Guillen in Vietnam, titled "Unpublished notes on Fidel's historic trip to Vietnam in 1973".
The diary reads: "On the night of September 14, 1973, at exactly 9:20 a.m., Cuban President Fidel Castro and his delegation officially stayed overnight in Vinh Linh. The delegation was prepared a secret place to stay by the leaders of Vinh Linh Special Zone, with a number of wooden and bamboo cabins, in which beds were placed in separate rooms. Fidel Castro stayed in room number 2, which was spacious with a bed, a living room, the entrance door had painted bamboo curtains, the floor was covered with mats and beautifully decorated. The attention that Vinh Linh Special Zone gave to the delegation was meticulous and unbelievable."
The next day, at exactly 4:58 a.m. on September 15, 1973, just after dawn, Cuban President Fidel Castro and Prime Minister Pham Van Dong left Vinh Linh by car along National Highway 1 across the Ben Hai River by pontoon bridge, officially entering the liberated zone of the South, then visiting Dong Ha, going along Highway 9, up Hill 241 in Cam Lo, opening their eloquent speech at the mass rally: "We have traveled more than 20,000 kilometers to get here. It is a symbol of the great friendship and solidarity of our people towards the people of Vietnam. We, the Cuban people, have followed the selfless struggle of the Vietnamese people every day...".
He and his delegation continued to visit the headquarters of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam in Cam Lo town, Cam Lo district. At noon on September 15, 1973, President Fidel Castro returned to Dong Ha, went to Gio Linh, Vinh Linh and then to Quang Binh in the afternoon of the same day. The journey of Cuban President Fidel Castro to the southern liberated zone in Quang Tri was always kept a special secret until the last minute to ensure the safety of the visit with special political significance. At that time, although Quang Tri had been liberated, 15% of the southern area was still occupied by the old southern government, so the work of organizing protection was always given top priority by the Party Central Committee and Quang Tri province.
Education of patriotism and solidarity
Hill 241 in Tan Phu village, Cam Thanh commune, Cam Lo district has now become a provincial relic, welcoming many visitors every day. The day we returned to this relic with Mr. Duong Tu Anh, 83 years old this year, former Secretary of Cam Lo District Party Committee in 1973, we met Mr. Nguyen Cong Doan, 100 years old in Cam Phu village, Cam Thanh commune, and his youngest son Nguyen Van Nam visiting Hill 241 relic in great emotion.
Mr. Doan recalled that at that time he was holding the position of Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Cam Lo district, so he was honored to be present to welcome the Cuban delegation. "The image of Fidel Castro, tall, with a clear voice, majestic and brave steps, made everyone admire. Having Fidel Castro visit and encourage our army and people made us more confident to fight with determination to win the final victory for our country's independence and unity" - Mr. Doan said.
The image of Fidel Castro, tall, with a clear voice and majestic and brave steps, made everyone admire him. Having Fidel Castro visit and encourage our army and people made us more confident and determined to fight for the final victory for our country's independence and unity.
Mr. Nguyen Cong Doan, 100 years old, in Cam Phu village, Cam Thanh commune
On holidays, Tet as well as normal days, organizations and unions such as the Youth Union, Veterans Association, Farmers Association... of Cam Lo district organize to welcome tourists to visit the Hill 241 relic. The People's Committee of Cam Lo district has zoned off a protected area of up to 2,000 m2. About 8 km north of the Hill 241 relic is the Headquarters of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam in Cam Lo town, Cam Lo district, now a national relic. To match the historical value of the relic, Cam Lo district proposed that Quang Tri province support 7 billion VND to renovate and restore the items of the Headquarters of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam such as: Gate of Building A, front fence according to the original state; restoration of guard booth; renovation of the house presenting credentials; house to receive visitors; collection of artifacts. Chairman of Cam Lo District People's Committee, Tran Anh Tuan, said that promoting the highest value of these relics aims to contribute to educating the younger generation about patriotism, solidarity and greater responsibility for the cause of building and defending the Fatherland.
The remaining concern
Half a century has passed, Ho Xa town, Vinh Linh district has always grown strongly, becoming a force of attraction to the north of Quang Tri province, with many effective economic development projects. Thanks to the solidarity and joint efforts of many generations, Ho Xa urban area today has a modern and vibrant appearance. However, what makes many people wonder is that the Diplomatic House, where Cuban President Fidel Castro and his delegation as well as Prime Minister Pham Van Dong stayed overnight during their visit and work in Vinh Linh Special Zone, no longer exists.
Regarding the reason for the loss of this house, Vice Chairman of Vinh Linh District People's Committee, Nguyen Thien Tung said that time, harsh weather as well as the mergers of administrative units at district and provincial levels have caused the management of the house to not receive proper attention, leading to the total loss of the house. At the current location of the Giao Te House, there are six households living on a land area of about 1 hectare in Hoa Phu Quarter, Ho Xa Town.
Former member of the Party Central Committee, former Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Dinh Bin, who interpreted for Cuban President Fidel Castro when he visited Vietnam and the liberated area of Quang Tri, and slept at the House of Relations at that time, said: "That night, Cuban President Fidel Castro and Prime Minister Pham Van Dong slept at the House of Relations with the delegation. Vinh Linh Special Zone welcomed Cuban President Fidel Castro, Prime Minister Pham Van Dong and the delegation in a very solemn, warm and emotional manner. This was a great effort by Vinh Linh Special Zone at that time. Vinh Linh District needs to restore the House of Relations, build this place into a historical relic, and also a tourist attraction."
Cuban President Fidel Castro and Prime Minister Pham Van Dong stayed that night in the House of Relations with the delegation. Vinh Linh Special Zone welcomed Cuban President Fidel Castro, Prime Minister Pham Van Dong and the delegation in a very solemn, warm and emotional manner. This was a great effort by Vinh Linh Special Zone at that time. Vinh Linh District needs to restore the House of Relations, build it into a historical relic, and also a tourist attraction.
Former member of the Party Central Committee, former Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Dinh Bin
As a young leader, Vice Chairman of Vinh Linh District People's Committee, Nguyen Thien Tung is full of concerns and shares the concerns of the people of Ho Xa town, as well as Vinh Linh district because the Communal House no longer exists. According to comrade Tung, the district will analyze this process fundamentally and fully; direct the Department of Culture and Information to advise and ask for opinions from the Standing Committee of the District Party Committee to develop a project to preserve and restore the Communal House. This is a difficult task, but if we don't start doing it right away, we don't know when it will become a reality.
In particular, it is necessary to promptly mobilize those who were present at the event to welcome Cuban President Fidel Castro and his delegation to collect evidence and related artifacts, restore the House of Relations, propose recognition as a historical relic, contribute to educating revolutionary traditions for generations, further depict the special solidarity relationship between the two Parties and the two States of Vietnam and Cuba, and at the same time serve as a tourist destination.
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