HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL RELIC OF THE HOUSE OF HEROIC VIETNAMESE MOTHER NGUYEN THI THU – A PLACE THAT MAKES PASSION FOR THE COUNTRY AND SACRIFICE

In the struggle for national liberation, many generations of Vietnamese people fell on the fierce battlefield, dedicating their youth and sacrificing their lives for peace and independence of the country. In the journey to protect the Fatherland, there were many mothers who silently sent their husbands and children to the battlefield, never to return. Among them, the heroic Vietnamese mother Nguyen Thi Thu (1904-2010), from Dien Thang Trung commune, Dien Ban district, Quang Nam province (now An Thang ward, Da Nang city) is an immortal symbol, the embodiment of patriotism, sacrifice and steadfast loyalty.

The relic of the heroic Vietnamese mother Nguyen Thi Thu's house, located in Gung hamlet, Thanh Quyt 2 village, Dien Thang Trung ward, Dien Ban town, Quang Nam province (now An Thang ward, Da Nang city) is a sacred and emotional place, marking the noble sacrifice of the mother and her family in the two resistance wars, and is also a symbol of patriotism and the indomitable spirit of the Vietnamese people. It is an ancient 3-room, 2-wing house with many sophisticated cultural carvings. During the war years, Mother Thu's house was the meeting place of the Dien Ban District Party Committee, the headquarters of the 91st Special Forces Battalion, Military Region 5. The mother's house's garden was large, with 5 secret bunkers hiding many revolutionary cadres. Around the garden were many trees and grass, and many cows were raised for camouflage. When safe, Mother Thu and her children opened the bunker door slightly to make it easier for everyone to breathe, and when there was a disturbance, they pretended to look after the cows to repair and camouflage the bunker's mouth. Hundreds of cadres, soldiers, and guerrillas were sheltered and cared for by Mother Thu’s family… Mother and her husband, along with their eldest daughter, stayed in the village, both producing and digging tunnels to hide cadres. Every night, Mother left a light on by the altar as a safety signal for cadres and guerrillas to return to work. When the Fatherland needed her, Mother Thu encouraged and sent her children off to the battlefield. Mother Thu had 12 children (11 boys and 1 girl), of which 9 boys died. Her eldest child and only daughter, Mrs. Le Thi Tri, was a war invalid and was also awarded the title of Vietnamese Heroic Mother (VNAH) because her husband and 2 daughters were martyrs.

On June 18, 1948, Le Tu Xuyen, a liaison soldier, was shot by the French at the village entrance. On October 5, 1948, Le Tu Han Anh, her son, died while carrying out his duty as a medical ambulance. Ten days later, Le Tu Han Em, her son, fell in a battle against a sweep. Le Tu Lem, her son, turned 20 and died while fighting in his home district in April 1954. Within 6 years, Thu's mother lost 5 children. Her grief was overwhelming, but every time her children grew up, she encouraged them and sent them off to the battlefield.

In September 1966, Le Tu Nu's son died. In 1972, Le Tu Muoi and Le Tu Trinh died. In 1974, Le Tu Thinh - a company commander in Duy Xuyen district died while commanding a unit to attack an enemy post. The eldest son, Le Tu Chuyen - a Saigon commando, died at 9:00 a.m. on April 30, 1975, right on Rach Chiec bridge at the gateway to Saigon, just a few hours before the country was reunified.

Mother's son-in-law, Ngo Tuong (husband of VNAH mother Le Thi Tri), participated in the revolution during the anti-French period, was captured by the American invaders in 1956, was tortured until his death, and was recognized as a martyr. Mother Thu also had 2 granddaughters (daughters of Mother Tri), Ngo Thi Dieu, who was captured and interrogated by the American invaders, died in August 1970, and Ngo Thi Cuc, who died during a mission behind enemy lines in 1973. The touching story of the 12 martyrs and Mother Thu's family - is a powerful testament to the power of maternal love and deep patriotism . With such great sacrifice, on December 17, 1994, President Le Duc Anh signed a decision to confer the title of Vietnamese Heroic Mother on Mother Nguyen Thi Thu.

President Le Duc Anh visited Heroic Mother Nguyen Thi Thu in 1996 (mother is 92 years old)

The Mother Thu relic site is now spaciously planned, including a memorial house, a tomb and a memorial yard. Inside the house are old furniture, a corner of the altar filled with incense smoke, a black and white portrait of each child - each photo frame is a silent pain. The house is simple but cozy, evoking the image of a warm home filled with human love, a place that witnesses wordless pain but is also an indomitable symbol of maternal love and patriotism. On the solemn altar are portraits of martyrs - Mother's beloved children, who left for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland. Many times Mother quietly placed a tray of offerings in front of the altar, hoping that her children far away would be at peace because the country was at peace. Those images are not clearly shown through words, but appear very clearly in the mind of every person who sets foot here. That is the power of memory, of the noble sacrifice that has become a symbol.

Mr. Le Tu Hiep, grandson of Heroic Mother Nguyen Thi Thu - Worshiper, is sharing a touching story about his family at the House of Heroic Mother Nguyen Thi Thu (Photo: Author)

In 2012, Quang Nam province held a ceremony to recognize the house of Vietnamese Heroic Mother Nguyen Thi Thu in Dien Thang Trung commune, Dien Ban district, Quang Nam province as a provincial historical and cultural relic. This place is not simply a place to preserve the relics marking the pain of a mother, but also a testament to the immortal patriotism, spiritual strength and perseverance of Vietnamese women during the war, a place for us to stop, bow our heads in gratitude, and move forward firmly with deep gratitude in our hearts. And that gratitude is not just a word, but also a way of life, a responsibility to preserve and continue the sacred values that our ancestors left behind.

In the modern flow, the relic of the heroic Vietnamese mother Nguyen Thi Thu reminds every Vietnamese person of an unforgettable historical period - where the mother's love and the people's love blend into the strength of a nation. The Southern Women's Museum has collected, preserved and displayed many artifacts about the heroic Vietnamese mother to recreate the spirit of patriotism, struggle, protection and construction of the country of Vietnamese women. Through these heritages, today's generation has more understanding and appreciation for the good lifestyle of their ancestors. This is also the pride of the whole nation because a long-standing revolutionary tradition is still preserved intact.

Every year, July 27 is War Invalids and Martyrs Day, a special occasion for all Vietnamese people to remember and pay tribute to heroic martyrs, wounded soldiers, sick soldiers, and Vietnamese Heroic Mothers - those who sacrificed their blood and bones for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland. This is not only a holiday in the history of the nation but also has profound humanistic values, demonstrating the morality of "When drinking water, remember its source" of the Vietnamese people.