Change in heroic lands

During the war, places like U Minh Thuong and Hon Dat were steeped in blood, bones, and tears. Half a century after the country's reunification, drawing on the heroic spirit of the past, the people here are building a new, beautiful, and prosperous life.

From "red" soil to sweet gold

At the end of August 2025, we returned to Ba Hon in Hon Dat commune, a place marked by many glorious battles and victories of our army and people during the two wars of resistance against France and the United States. From afar, the cluster of mountains Hon Dat, Hon Me, and Hon Queo stand majestically amidst the lush green plain, becoming silent witnesses of history. At the foot of the mountains, a winding asphalt road stretches out, with red flags bearing yellow stars fluttering in front of the houses. Mr. Tran Van Minh, a resident at the foot of Hon Me mountain, recounted: "Now, traveling by motorbike is very fast, but in the old days, cadres and soldiers all walked through the forest and climbed the mountains."

Rural roads in Vinh Binh commune have been paved with concrete. Photo: THUY TIEN

Ba Hon was once a vital weapons transit point on the legendary Highway 1C, a place stained with the blood of nearly 1,000 soldiers from all over the country. Within the Ba Hon National Historical and Scenic Site, stone monuments bear the names of those who fell, some newly enlisted, others regimental officers who perished before the battle was over.

We stopped before the tomb of Phan Thị Ràng, a Heroine of the People's Armed Forces – a steadfast woman who has gone down in history. The B52 bomb crater from years ago is now a well, with water lilies blooming year-round, symbolizing life reborn from loss. Wreckage of airplanes, tanks, helicopters, bomb casings... are displayed in the historical site, recounting a time of "bombing and shelling." This place has now become a "red address" for educating the younger generation about traditions. Huỳnh Thảo Nguyên, a student from Hòn Đất commune, said emotionally: "We understand that today's peace was bought with countless sacrifices, so we must strive to study hard to show our gratitude and be worthy of our ancestors."

From the fiery red soil of the past, Hon Dat today writes a new chapter of prosperity. This place is famous for its golden, sweet Hoa Loc mangoes, reflecting the very rebirth of the homeland. Mr. Nguyen Thanh Do, Director of the Ba Hon Mango Cooperative, said: “We started with only 30 hectares, and now we have nearly 400 hectares. Each hectare yields about 6 tons of mangoes, providing a stable income. Thanks to mango trees, many people have escaped poverty, and their children have received a proper education.”

Not only mangoes, but the rice fields are also thriving. People have shifted from fragmented farming to large-scale, two-crop farming, combining shrimp and rice cultivation in a sustainable model. Over 8,000 hectares are linked to contract farming, significantly reducing the problem of "bumper harvest, low prices." The total rice production in Hon Dat commune over the past five years has exceeded 1.3 million tons, affirming its position as a key production area of ​​the province. Currently, the commune has 4 agricultural cooperatives and 24 cooperative groups operating stably, with 3 OCOP 3-star products, opening up opportunities to elevate the status of local agricultural products.

The base area has been given a makeover.

Leaving Hon Dat, we arrived at the communes of the U Minh Thuong region – a revolutionary base, a symbol of resilience and the yearning for freedom. After the war, houses were rebuilt, and vegetable plots and rice fields were cultivated. The once barren, acidic lowlands were revived, becoming prosperous rural areas. In the central areas of the communes, roads are paved, and almost 100% of inter-hamlet roads are concreted. Thatched houses have been replaced by spacious brick houses. Electric lights, Wi-Fi, and televisions are available in almost every household. In the fields, the rice is ripening, and the shrimp-rice farming model is thriving, producing tens of thousands of tons of shrimp annually. Modern irrigation technology helps people cope with drought and unseasonal rains. Many households have escaped poverty, and some have even bought cars.

Heroic Vietnamese Mother Vo Thi Xung, residing in Vinh Hoa commune, welcomed us into her cool, coconut-shaded home. She recalled: “My house was burned down by bombs three times. In the early post-war period, Vinh Hoa lacked everything, but thanks to the Party's leadership and the people's unity, the commune overcame the difficulties.”

According to Nguyen Hong Phong, Secretary of the Party Committee of Vinh Hoa commune, shrimp-rice farming, crop cultivation, and aquaculture models have yielded high efficiency. Average per capita income has reached 70 million VND/year, the poverty rate is only 3.06%, and 99.7% of households use safe electricity.

Not only in Vinh Hoa, but the new rural landscape is taking shape throughout the region. The communes of Vinh Binh, An Minh, Dong Hoa, Vinh Phong, and Vinh Thuan also have relatively high average per capita incomes, ranging from 65 to 79 million VND per year. Many effective economic models bring in profits of 300-500 million VND per year for farmers. This transformation is the result of learning, adapting, and innovating production thinking. Currently, Vinh Thuan commune has 6 cooperatives and 25 cooperative groups. An Bien has 21 cooperatives and 25 cooperative groups. Vinh Hoa has 9 cooperatives and 35 cooperative groups. These figures demonstrate profound innovation in agricultural production. Mr. Le Van Ut, residing in Vinh Hoa commune, recounted: “Previously, I only knew how to farm using traditional methods, which was hard work and yielded low productivity. In recent years, thanks to enhanced technical training, I have learned to combine shrimp and rice farming, and fish and vegetable farming, resulting in high economic efficiency and profits of hundreds of millions of dong each year.”

From a land once heavily devastated by bombs and bullets, the people rebuilt their homeland with their own hands. This transformation is not just about new bridges or economic growth figures, but about how they preserve their memories, continue the revolutionary spirit, live fully with the land and their beliefs, and are writing the next chapter of their aspirations.

TU MINH - THUY TIEN

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/doi-thay-o-nhung-vung-dat-anh-hung-a427807.html