I arrived at Vinh Duc Pagoda, Bac Lieu Ward, Ca Mau Province on a lightly rainy afternoon. That place is now peaceful and ancient, but hidden behind the quietness is a period of boiling struggle. Monk Thich Quang Thiet, the abbot of the pagoda, received us in the rustic main hall, which used to be a secret base of the revolutionary forces exactly 80 years ago. “At that time, monk Thien Thanh led a group of Buddhists to support the Viet Minh. The pagoda was a place to hide people, store documents, and provide supplies for secret cadres...”, he said, his eyes still shining with the passion of the past. Then he turned each page of his memories, telling about Buddhists who later became resistance cadres, such as Mr. Nguyen Tu Vinh, who held the position of Chairman of the Southern Resistance Administrative Committee of Bac Lieu Province, or Mr. Phan Kim Can, Head of the Finance Department. In mid-August 1945, when the opportunity came, the revolutionary spirit spread like fire. Under the command of comrade Tao Van Ty, a group of people including monks, nuns, and Buddhists entered the Governor Truong Cong Thien's residence, forcing the puppet government to surrender. Bac Lieu became one of the earliest localities to gain power in the Mekong Delta.

Nguyen Le Thanh Ha met and listened to veteran revolutionary Pham Duy Khuong - who directly participated in seizing power in 1945 - talk about the heroic atmosphere of the historic autumn in Can Tho .

Leaving Vinh Duc Pagoda, Bac Lieu Ward, Ca Mau Province, I went to Can Tho - the political and economic center of the Southwest region at that time. In a small house in the heart of the city, veteran revolutionary Pham Duy Khuong (97 years old, affectionately known as Chin Khuong), former Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Department, received me with an old memoir and a voice as heroic as the autumn spirit of that year. "At that time, the commune and hamlet militia were still rampant. We had to defeat them and build up revolutionary ranks. The Vanguard Youth was the core force, drums and gongs sounded, the youth came like water bursting the banks...", he said, then softly recited a few verses he wrote himself:

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According to Mr. Chin Khuong, who directly participated in the struggle for power, on the morning of August 26, 1945, tens of thousands of Can Tho people gathered at the town stadium, raising high the red flag with yellow star, shouting slogans. The armed demonstration forced the puppet provincial governor to bow his head and declare unconditional surrender. There was no sound of gunfire, but it was a real battle - of the people's hearts, of intelligence, of the desire to control one's own destiny.

In the revolutionary atmosphere boiling throughout the country in the last days of August 1945, in Sa Dec - the provincial capital of Dong Thap at that time, the movement to seize power also entered a decisive moment. Not a large army, nor guns or massive demonstrations, the historic confrontation here was initiated by a woman - a simple teacher, but with extraordinary courage and intelligence. That was Ms. Tran Thi Nhuong, also affectionately known as Ms. Sau Ngai, the first Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee of Dong Thap - one of the rare female provincial leaders in the country at that time. In the role of a representative of the revolutionary force, she entered the Sa Dec Provincial Governor's Palace alone, carrying an iron spirit and the decisive voice of the people. Facing the line of fully equipped guards, guns and bayonets pointed straight, she was not afraid. With a calm but determined voice, she declared: “The whole country’s government has fallen into the hands of the Viet Minh. You must hand over the government to the people. If not, you will be fully responsible for the consequences.” Without gunfire or bloodshed, with the courage and spirit of a Southern woman, the colonial government in Sa Dec was forced to lay down its arms. At exactly 2:00 p.m. on August 25, 1945, the local government officially handed over to the revolutionary forces, a brilliant milestone in the history of the struggle of the people of Dong Thap province.

People visit Dong Thap Provincial Museum and hear stories about the first female Secretary of Dong Thap Provincial Party Committee, Tran Thi Nhuong (Miss Sau Ngai), who entered the Sa Dec Provincial Governor's Palace alone.

Mr. Nguyen Nhat Thong, former Head of the Propaganda Department of Sa Dec City, emotionally shared: “Eighty years have passed, but the image of Ms. Sau Ngai entering the provincial governor's palace that year is still like an epic poem passed down from generation to generation. It is the pride of an entire land”. The story of Ms. Sau Ngai is not only a revolutionary legend, but also a brilliant symbol of the role and spirit of Vietnamese women in the long march for national independence.

80 years have passed since the autumn of August 1945, but the revolutionary spirit still lives forever in the hearts of the people of the Mekong Delta. It is not only the places and historical figures, but also the underground stream of patriotism, the never-ending aspiration in each generation today. From behind the ancient pagoda in Bac Lieu, from Can Tho stadium, or from the old Governor's Palace in Sa Dec... I realize that: History does not remain on paper. History lives in memory, in pride and in every steady step of the country today.

Article and photos: THUY AN

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/80-nam-cach-mang-thang-tam-va-quoc-khanh-2-9/hao-khi-mua-thu-lich-su-noi-vung-dat-chin-rong-841927