"Red Address" spreads patriotism

VHO - Nghe An - Soviet Nghe Tinh Museum is a special "red address", where thousands of artifacts and original documents associated with the revolutionary movement of 1930-1931 are preserved and displayed.

President Ho Chi Minh signed the "Preface" to present to the Nghe Tinh Soviet Museum on February 3, 1964. Photo: Archive

Most proudly, this is one of two museums in the country to have President Ho Chi Minh sign the "Preface", affirming the historical stature of the movement and the role of the museum in the cause of preserving and promoting traditional revolutionary values.

Flags and drums echo forever in the mountains and rivers

Nearly a century has passed, but the fiery spirit of the Nghe Tinh Soviet movement still resonates throughout the country. Special collections of artifacts including flags and drums kept at the Nghe An - Nghe Tinh Soviet Museum (Nghe An) have become living proof of the resilient, sacrificial but extremely glorious fighting spirit of our people.

Thousands of documents and artifacts collected and preserved at the Museum are authentically “retelling” the process of fighting for national independence. The artifacts are mainly associated with the climax of 1930-1931, when the people of Nghe An and Ha Tinh , under the Party’s flag, created a brilliant heroic epic. The phrase “Soviet Drum” has since become a symbol of the power of the masses, a call to rise up and break the chains of slavery.

Flag of Bac Ninh people supporting Nghe Tinh Soviet movement 1930-1931

Leading visitors to the museum, Ms. Tran Thi Hong Nhung, Deputy Director of the Museum, emotionally recounted: “On February 3, 1964, President Ho Chi Minh signed the “Preface” for the Soviet Nghe Tinh Museum (now the Nghe An Museum – Soviet Nghe Tinh). That is a sacred milestone, affirming the Museum’s mission in preserving and transmitting the revolutionary flame to future generations”. Up to now, this place still respectfully preserves the photo of Uncle Ho signing the “Preface” along with the manuscript, autographs and many other memorabilia associated with him.

Not only that, the museum also preserves more than 16,000 documents and artifacts, including more than 3,500 original artifacts, nearly 6,000 personal files of imprisoned Soviet soldiers, hundreds of memoirs of veteran revolutionary cadres and many intangible cultural heritages such as poetry, folk songs, music, films, etc.

From those simple yet sacred relics, this place has become a “red address” that fosters national pride and educates revolutionary traditions for today’s and future generations. “Each artifact is a testament, each flag and drumbeat is a flame. That flame will burn forever, giving strength to generations to continue on the path that their ancestors have chosen,” affirmed Ms. Tran Thi Hong Nhung.

"Preface" by Uncle Ho Photo taken

Among the valuable artifacts, the most prominent is the collection of 11 Party flags that flew during the 1930-1931 movement. Each flag is a historical story: From the flag of the people of Luong Son village, Bac Son commune, Dang Son canton, Do Luong district (now Do Luong commune), the flag hung on the banyan tree in Tien Hoi to call on the masses, to the flag of the Hung Nguyen Party Committee used in the memorial service for martyrs after the bloody demonstration on September 12, 1930. The red hammer and sickle flags were handmade, dyed red fabric, painted with white lime into the shape of a hammer and sickle, and became a symbol that aroused the uprising spirit of the workers and farmers of Nghe Tinh, and at the same time spread the fighting spirit throughout the country.

Besides the flags, the drum collection is also a “living witness” of the revolutionary movement. The drum sound of Loc Da village resounded during the Vinh - Ben Thuy demonstration on May 1, 1930, urging more than 1,200 workers and farmers to take to the streets, shaking the entire colonial and feudal ruling apparatus. The drum sound of Phu Long opened a large demonstration in Hung Nguyen on September 12, 1930, where dozens of revolutionary soldiers fell, but the fighting spirit became even more intense.

The drum collection was used to encourage the people to fight.

In particular, the Vi family drum (Mon Son - Con Cuong) was associated with the August 1931 demonstration of the people of Western Nghe An, contributing to proving the widespread influence of the Soviet movement. Along with the drum, many folk instruments such as gongs, wooden fish, cymbals, etc. also became "special weapons" in the fierce struggles, and are now respectfully preserved by the Museum.

What is admirable is that today, not only groups of students but also many people and tourists from all over the world come to the museum to see the collection of flags and drums with their own eyes. In front of the red flags with hammer and sickle that have faded with time or the drum sounds imprinted with the traces of time, many people are moved to tears, clearly feeling the source of history flowing in their hearts.

Mr. Nguyen Van Tung (a tourist from Ha Tinh) shared: “Standing before the artifacts that were once associated with the Soviet movement, I felt like I was hearing the drumbeats of the past. It is not only history, but also pride, a lesson for the younger generation like us to follow in the footsteps of our ancestors.”

Ms. Nguyen Van Anh, Officer of the Collection and Inventory Department of Nghe An - Soviet Nghe Tinh Museum, preserves artifacts.

Connecting tours to the source

The Soviet Nghe Tinh relic system stretches across Nghe An and Ha Tinh, most of which is managed by Nghe An. This is a priceless cultural and historical resource, however, the work of conservation and restoration still faces many difficulties. Many relics have been invested in restoration, but due to lack of funds, it has only stopped at a patchwork level; some items, even though just completed, have shown signs of deterioration. The harsh climate and limited sources of donations also make the maintenance and protection of relics face many obstacles.

To overcome this situation, localities are promoting the role of Party committees and authorities in preserving and promoting the value of relics; at the same time, reviewing the current status, setting up protective markers, and avoiding encroachment. Along with that, propaganda and community education work is given more attention; funding is prioritized for key and severely degraded relics; socialized resources are also mobilized to turn the relic system into an attractive cultural and historical destination for people and tourists.

In the development orientation, the Nghe An Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism determined that the exploitation of the value of the Soviet Nghe Tinh relics must be associated with the construction of tours and tourism routes to the source. At the Nghe An - Soviet Nghe Tinh Museum and other relic sites, innovation and diversification of display forms, improvement of the quality of explanations, and improvement of landscapes and environment are given top priority. Along with that is the strengthening of training for staff and tour guides, connecting with travel businesses to create unique and attractive tourism products. In particular, the work of digitization and documentation in the management of artifacts is gradually implemented.

According to Mr. Tran Xuan Cuong, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Nghe An, tourism based on relics and heritages is increasingly chosen by tourists because it not only brings sightseeing experiences but also helps them discover and understand the unique historical and cultural values ​​of the locality. "Relic sites need to go hand in hand between serious conservation and effective promotion, thereby both preserving traditional values ​​and creating momentum for socio-economic development, turning tourism back to the source into a sustainable product."

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/van-hoa/dia-chi-do-truyen-lua-long-yeu-nuoc-164750.html