Bac Son – the (former) district in southwestern Lang Son province – is a strategically important area. Its rugged mountains and forests provided ideal conditions for covert operations and the establishment of resistance bases. Bac Son lies on the route from the Vietnam-China border to Thai Nguyen and further south, and also provides access to Binh Gia, Trang Dinh, and Long Chau (China), a former base of the Vietnamese revolution overseas… Since establishing their rule in Lang Son at the end of the 19th century, the French military established numerous outposts in the district, such as the Mo Nhai outpost (Hung Vu commune) and the Dang Lang outpost (Bac Son commune)… Under the oppression and exploitation of the colonial and feudal regime, the people of Bac Son increasingly nurtured their patriotic traditions and revolutionary fighting spirit.
Since the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam in 1930, the people here have quickly embraced the influence of Marxist-Leninist ideology. In 1934, to carry out the task of building the movement in the mountainous areas of Cao Bang, Bac Giang, and Lang Son, a number of cadres from Thai Nguyen and Cao Bang were sent by the Party to Bac Son to develop the revolutionary base. Patriotic young people like Ha Khai Lac (Hoang Doan Tao), Duong Van Tu (Quang Long)... were enlightened and became key figures in the mass movement.
During this period, many Red Peasant Associations were established in Vu Lang, Bac Son, and Huu Vinh. Through mutual aid activities and assistance during times of hardship, funerals, and famine, these organizations attracted a large number of people sympathetic to the revolution. These organizations actively propagated the Party's slogans such as "National Independence," "Land to the Tiller," and "Workers, Peasants, and Soldiers United in Support of the Red Nghe Tinh" to the people of Bac Son. They also organized activities to encourage and support the Nghe Tinh Soviet, distributing revolutionary propaganda leaflets, etc.
In particular, in early 1935, Duong Van Thong (from Vu Lang commune), upon returning to his ancestral home in Kheo Meo (Long Chau, China), reconnected with comrades in the Long Chau Party branch. He received direct guidance and instruction on Party principles and methods from comrades Hoang Van Thu and Hoang Dinh Giong. Upon returning to Vu Lang, Duong Van Thong actively built a revolutionary base to facilitate the establishment of a Party branch. At the same time, the First Party Congress in Macau (China) in March 1935 outlined the policy of developing the revolutionary movement in the mountainous border regions of northern Vietnam inhabited by ethnic minorities.
Recognizing that Bac Son possessed all the necessary conditions for developing a revolutionary movement, in late July 1936, Comrade Hoang Van Thu, along with Comrades Luong Van Tri and Ma Khanh Phuong, returned from China to Bac Son to connect with Duong Van Thong and develop the revolutionary movement there. After a period of active propaganda and building a mass base, on September 25, 1936, the second Party branch in Lang Son was established in Mo Tat village (now Bo Tat), Vu Lang commune. The branch consisted of four comrades: Duong Van Thong (also known as Duong Ky Tan) - Secretary, Ha Khai Lac (also known as Hoang Doan Tao), Duong Van Tu (also known as Duong Quang Long), and Mai Huyen (also known as Nguyen Van Phong).
Evaluating this historical event, the book "History of the Bac Son District Party Committee" states: "The establishment of the Party branch was a crucial turning point in the revolutionary struggle of the people of Bac Son. It proves that one of the policies set forth by the First National Congress of the Party in Macau, which was to consolidate and develop the Party in areas inhabited by ethnic minorities, was implemented correctly and promptly." Although the first Party branch in Bac Son had a small number of members, all of whom were outstanding young people with the ability to mobilize the masses and full of revolutionary enthusiasm. They became the core and nucleus in building and developing the revolutionary movement in Bac Son at that time.
Immediately after its establishment, the Party cell assigned comrades Ha Khai Lac and Duong Van Tu to develop Party bases in the northern and southern communes of Bac Son district – bordering Vo Nhai district (Thai Nguyen) and Binh Gia district (Lang Son). Initially, Party development work did not spread throughout the district but focused on a few communes such as Vu Lang, Vu Le, Huu Vinh, and Ngu Vien… To ensure absolute secrecy, Party development work was mainly carried out through relationships with friends and relatives. During the Indochinese Democratic Front period (1936-1939), the Party cell organized many rich and vibrant activities demanding people's rights and democracy, such as: protesting against village chiefs and hamlet leaders who arbitrarily increased taxes, harassed, and oppressed the people; demonstrating against conscription and forced labor during the harvest season… As a result, village officials were forced to back down, becoming less aggressive and no longer daring to oppress the people or violate the physical integrity of laborers as before. In addition, through various factions and associations, the Party branch established many groups for publicly reading the Party's newspaper…
Thanks to the initial active efforts of the Party branch, in late 1937 and early 1938, the Northern Regional Party Committee also sent cadres to assist the movement. From then on, the Party branch was continuously strengthened and developed in both quantity and quality. The revolutionary movement in Bac Son also rapidly grew in both breadth and depth. By the end of 1938, a series of Party branches had been established in the communes of Bac Son district: Party branches in Vu Lang, Bac Son, Huu Vinh, Hung Vu, Vinh Yen, Vu Dich, Chieu Vu, Ngu Vien, and Vu Le communes.
In response to the new demands of the revolution, at the end of May 1938, a conference of key commune officials held in Na Kheo (Vu Lang commune) unanimously elected the Bac Son District Party Committee, consisting of 7 members, with Comrade Le Xuan Thu as Secretary. This event was significant as the founding day of the Bac Son District Party Committee (later the Bac Son District Party Committee). It marked a milestone in the growth and development of the Bac Son revolutionary movement. In just under three years, from an initial branch with four party members, Bac Son had a Party Committee directing the entire system of party branches from the district to the commune level. From then on, under the direction of the Northern Vietnam Regional Party Committee, the District Party Committee assumed the leading role in the Bac Son revolutionary movement, carrying out important tasks: building guerrilla forces and bases, combating enemy terrorism and sweeps, and building revolutionary armed forces to ultimately seize power for the people.
Having matured through revolutionary struggle, the party members of the first Bac Son branch became increasingly seasoned and steadfast, always maintaining a pioneering role in the movement. During the Bac Son Uprising on September 27, 1940, they were active participants, contributing to the resounding victory of the revolutionary army. In October 1940, when the Bac Son guerrilla unit and base were established under the command of Comrade Tran Dang Ninh, the party members of the branch became the first members of the Bac Son Guerrilla Unit. Among them, Comrade Ha Khai Lac was assigned to be in charge of supplies and maintaining contact with the people.
When the Bac Son National Salvation Army (National Salvation Army I) was established in February 1941, comrades Ha Khai Lac, Nguyen Van Phong, Duong Van Thong, and Duong Van Thuc had the honor of being members of the National Salvation Army Platoon – one of the precursors of the Vietnam People's Army. They were the core force in building the Bac Son – Vo Nhai base and developing the revolutionary movement in the communes. They were also steadfast fighters in combating terrorism, preserving forces, and maintaining the revolutionary movement in Bac Son. Together with the people of various ethnic groups in the district and province, they actively contributed to the success of the August Revolution of 1945.
As one of the early "red seeds" of the Party that sprouted in the homeland of Lang Son, the first Party branch of Bac Son laid the foundation and created a solid basis for the birth and development of the district's Party organization system. The growth of the Party organization here has made a significant contribution to creating a heroic Bac Son in the history of the nation, the cradle of the Vietnamese revolution. This is also a bright spot that will forever shine in the golden pages of the history of the Lang Son Provincial Party Committee.
Source: https://baolangson.vn/dau-son-trong-lich-su-dang-bo-tinh-lang-son-5095531.html
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