"Red address" in the middle of Western Yen Bai

>> President Ho Chi Minh Memorial Area in Nghia Lo Town - a sacred space, reflecting on Him

>> President Ho Chi Minh Memorial Area in Nghia Lo town welcomed over 2,000 delegates to offer incense and report to Uncle Ho

For the people of Nghia Lo, the saying "We have fields because of Uncle Ho" is not just a word of mouth but a living truth. Because, thanks to the revolutionary light that he brought, the people have today - a day of prosperity, independence, and singing xoe around the family reunion meal.

In the early 80s, the road to the Northwest was still dangerous and people's lives were still full of hardship. Visiting Uncle Ho's Mausoleum with the people here was almost impossible. Therefore, in the hearts of the people, there was always a wish to offer incense to Uncle Ho, to be closer to him. And then, that wish came true.

In 1979, when the whole country enthusiastically responded to the movement to build "Uncle Ho's Fish Pond" on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of implementing his sacred Testament, Yen Bai chose Nghia Lo as the place to start building a memorial area for Uncle Ho in the Northwest.

On July 2, 1982, thousands of hands, regardless of age or ethnicity, dug the soil, picked up rocks, and transported precious trees from all over the region to plant. After 14 months of construction, on September 3, 1983, the project was officially inaugurated in the sky full of flags and flowers, amid the flow of people from all over the Northwest region. Tears of emotion flowed when standing in front of Uncle Ho's statue, offering him the first words of gratitude from a distant part of the Fatherland.

Located in the heart of Nghia Lo town, the current 2.1-hectare Ho Chi Minh Memorial Area includes three main items: Uncle Ho's stilt house, fruit garden and fish pond, which fully recreate the familiar images of Uncle Ho in daily life. The stilt house is built of precious wood, almost replicating the original of Uncle Ho's house in the capital. What is special is that the first stilt house was not built by professional workers but was the crystallization of the efforts, hands and hearts of people of various ethnic groups...

In 1999, the stilt house was upgraded to reinforced concrete with wood paneling but still retains its original appearance. Every year, this place welcomes thousands of people, officials, and students to offer incense and report their achievements as a sacred ritual in the journey of "learning from Uncle Ho, following Uncle Ho".

Uncle Ho's fish pond is located in front of the stilt house, shaped like the old Van Chan district - where Nghia Lo town used to be the center. The pond is more than 2,000 square meters wide, and now it raises red carp given by the Presidential Palace. Every time the fish come up to catch the fish, the water spreads out into small waves, evoking the image of Uncle Ho taking care of the fish in the old Palace garden, so close and simple. The fruit garden surrounding the memorial area is a gathering place for precious tree varieties from all over the country: Hung Yen longan, Xa Doai orange, Phuc Trach grapefruit, Yen Chau mango... Initially, the trees were brought here by the people with their hearts. Later, the State invested in collecting and adding more, creating a harmonious ecological area between nature and memory.

Not only a place of remembrance, the Memorial Area is also a lively historical and cultural educational space. The gallery displays more than 1,000 artifacts and precious documentary photos about Uncle Ho's life and revolutionary career, arranged according to clear themes: from his background, ideology to morality and style; from Uncle Ho's feelings for the Northwest to his example in daily life.

Wall newspapers written by students about Uncle Ho are also preserved and displayed, contributing to creating a miniature "Ho Chi Minh library" in the middle of the forest.

Mr. Nguyen Viet Chung - Director of the Center for Communication and Culture of Nghia Lo town said: "In recent years, the Memorial Area has been invested in more spaciously, welcoming over 2,000 delegates on the occasion of Uncle Ho's birthday. Nearly 35,000 students from schools in the town were also organized to offer incense, visit and study extracurricular activities here. The effectiveness of moral education and revolutionary ideals through this form is very clear."

Nguyen Huong Thao - a student of To Hieu Secondary School emotionally shared: "Every time I visit Uncle Ho's Memorial, I feel like I am close to Uncle Ho. I will strive to be a good student and study harder to be worthy of being Uncle Ho's good grandchild". Since 1997, when it officially became the only branch of the Ho Chi Minh Museum in the Northwest region, the Memorial has increasingly affirmed its special importance.

Dr. Vu Manh Ha - Director of Ho Chi Minh Museum commented: "This place is a model in inspiring people in the mountainous areas to study and follow Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and style. Items such as: documentary film screening room, exhibition of artifacts, multi-purpose hall... all contribute to vividly recreating Uncle Ho's image, helping people "get closer to Uncle Ho" not only in their minds but also in their daily spiritual life".

After more than 40 years, the President Ho Chi Minh Memorial Area in Nghia Lo town is not only a place to preserve memories but also a spiritual support, a "Red Address" for each generation of cadres, party members, students, and people to reflect on themselves, learn from Uncle Ho's example to live better and contribute more.

Amidst the modern pace of life, amidst the bustling xoè dance in the villages of Western Yen Bai, the Memorial still preserves the sacred flame - the flame of gratitude, of revolutionary ideals, of love for a man whose name has become immortal: Ho Chi Minh. The Memorial of Uncle Ho - the fragrant flower in the middle of the Northwest will forever bloom in the hearts of the people.

Tran Ngoc

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/dia-chi-do-giua-mien-tay-yen-bai-post404127.html