"Red address" in western Yen Bai

In the heart of Nghia Lo town – a place that preserves the cultural essence of the Thai ethnic group and resonates with the age-old Xoe dance of Northwest Vietnam – lies a serene and sacred space, preserved with utmost reverence: the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Area. It is a "red address" steeped in revolutionary sentiment, where every step leaves a mark of the profound gratitude of the people of the Western region to their beloved President Ho Chi Minh.

>> The Ho Chi Minh Memorial Area in Nghia Lo town - a sacred and serene space dedicated to him.

>> The Ho Chi Minh Memorial Area in Nghia Lo town welcomed over 2,000 delegates who offered incense and reported their achievements to President Ho Chi Minh.

For the people of Nghia Lo, the saying "We have rice fields because we have Uncle Ho" is not just a saying passed down orally, but a living truth. Because it is thanks to the revolutionary light that he brought that the people have what they have today - a day of prosperity, independence, and the opportunity to sing traditional folk songs around family reunion meals.

In the early 1980s, the roads to the Northwest were still treacherous, and the people's lives were full of hardships. Visiting President Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum was almost impossible for the local people. Therefore, a deep-seated wish remained in the hearts of the people: to offer incense to President Ho Chi Minh, 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" to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the implementation of his sacred will, Yen Bai chose Nghia Lo as the starting point for a memorial site dedicated to Uncle Ho in the Northwest.

On July 2, 1982, thousands of hands, regardless of age or ethnicity, worked together to dig the earth, gather stones, and transport precious trees from all over the region to plant. After 14 months of construction, on September 3, 1983, the project was officially inaugurated amidst a sea of ​​flags and flowers, and a crowd of people from all over the Northwest region. Tears of emotion flowed as people stood before the statue of President Ho Chi Minh, offering him their first report of achievement from a remote part of the country.

Located in the heart of Nghia Lo town, the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Area, currently covering 2.1 hectares, comprises three main components: President Ho Chi Minh's stilt house, an orchard, and a fish pond, all of which fully recreate the familiar images of President Ho Chi Minh in his daily life. The stilt house is built of precious wood, almost exactly replicating the original house of President Ho Chi Minh in the capital. Remarkably, the first stilt house was not constructed by professional builders but is the culmination of the efforts, hands, and hearts of the local people of various ethnic groups…

In 1999, the stilt house was upgraded to a reinforced concrete structure with wood cladding, but it retained its original appearance. Every year, thousands of people, officials, and students come here to offer incense and report their achievements as a sacred ritual in their journey of "learning from and following Uncle Ho."

The Ho Chi Minh fish pond, located in front of the stilt house, is shaped to resemble the old Van Chan district – where Nghia Lo town used to be the center. The pond, covering over 2,000 square meters, now houses red carp donated by the Presidential Palace. Whenever the fish surface to nibble, the water ripples, evoking the image of President Ho Chi Minh caring for his fish in the Presidential Palace garden – a scene of simple, intimate closeness. The orchard surrounding the memorial is a collection of precious tree species from all over the country: Hung Yen longan, Xa Doai oranges, Phuc Trach pomelos, Yen Chau mangoes… Initially, the trees were brought and planted by local people out of kindness. Later, the State invested in collecting and adding more trees, creating a harmonious ecological area between nature and memory.

More than just a memorial site, the Memorial Area is also a vibrant space for historical and cultural education. The exhibition hall displays over 1,000 valuable artifacts and documentary photographs about President Ho Chi Minh's life and revolutionary career, arranged according to clear themes: from his background and ideology to his ethics and style; from his affection for the Northwest region to his exemplary life in daily living.

The wall newspapers written by students about Uncle Ho are also preserved and displayed, contributing to the creation of a miniature "Ho Chi Minh Library" amidst the vast forest.

Mr. Nguyen Viet Chung, Director of the Nghia Lo Town Communication and Culture Center, said: "In recent years, the Memorial Area has been invested in and made more spacious, welcoming over 2,000 delegates on the occasion of President Ho Chi Minh's birthday. Nearly 35,000 students from schools in the town also participated in incense offerings, visits, and extracurricular learning activities here. The effectiveness of educating on ethics and revolutionary ideals through this form is very clear."

Nguyen Huong Thao, a student from To Hieu Secondary School, emotionally shared: "Every time I visit the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Area, I feel like I'm close to Uncle Ho. I will strive to be more diligent 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 Area has increasingly affirmed its special importance.

Dr. Vu Manh Ha, Director of the Ho Chi Minh Museum, assessed: "This place is a model example in inspiring the people in mountainous areas to study and follow Ho Chi Minh's ideology, ethics, and style. Facilities such as the documentary film screening room, artifact exhibitions, and multi-purpose hall all contribute to vividly recreating the image of Uncle Ho, helping people feel 'closer to Uncle Ho' not only in their thoughts but also in their daily spiritual lives."

For over 40 years, the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Area in Nghia Lo town has not only been a place to preserve memories but also a spiritual anchor, a "red address" where each generation of cadres, Party members, students, and citizens can reflect on themselves, learn from President Ho Chi Minh's example, and live more beautifully and contribute more.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of modern life, amidst the vibrant traditional dances in the villages of western Yen Bai, the Memorial Area still preserves the sacred flame – the flame of gratitude, of revolutionary ideals, and of love for a man whose name has become immortal: Ho Chi Minh. The Ho Chi Minh Memorial Area – a fragrant flower in the vast Northwest mountains – 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