Memoirs of Uncle Ho's niece

The memoir recounts in detail, truthfully and touchingly the feelings of President Ho Chi Minh for his niece whom he guided step by step on the revolutionary path.

Memoirs of Days Living Near Uncle Ho by Mrs. Nong Thi Trung

PHOTO: KIM DONG PUBLISHING HOUSE

From the beginning of Tan Ty spring (1941), during the days living and working in Pac Bo, Truong Ha commune, Ha Quang district, Cao Bang province, leader Nguyen Ai Quoc (later President Ho Chi Minh) directly taught and trained a number of revolutionary cadres, including Ms. Nong Thi Trung.

Nong Thi Trung was one of the women in Cao Bang who participated in revolutionary activities early in 1936. After her husband - Mr. Hoang Van Thach, alias Hong Tien (Secretary of Lang Son Provincial Party Committee in 1946) was arrested and exiled to Son La prison, she herself was also exposed, she withdrew into secret activities.

In Pac Bo, she was adopted as a niece by Uncle Thu Son (the alias of President Ho Chi Minh when he was active in Pac Bo, Ha Quang, Cao Bang). Nong Thi Trung was lovingly cared for, taught and nurtured by Uncle Thu in all aspects: culture, politics, and communist ethics. Thanks to Uncle Thu's guidance, from a woman from a mountainous ethnic minority, Nong Thi Trung became an enthusiastic female cadre, a true party member.

In 1944, before leaving Pac Bo base, Uncle Thu gave Nong Thi Trung a notebook of Sun Tzu's military strategy that had been translated into Vietnamese by him, with the dedication:

"This play I give to my beloved grandson

Show a little love to your nephew

I hope you work hard and study.

In the future, I will help my country"

President Ho Chi Minh and delegates attending the Third Party Congress (1960). Mrs. Nong Thi Trung holding her youngest daughter.

PHOTO: KMS DOCUMENTS

After the August Revolution succeeded, after the Independence Day at Ba Dinh Square (September 2, 1945), Mrs. Nong Thi Trung and many other activists learned that Uncle Thu was President Ho Chi Minh.

She did not have the opportunity to live close to Uncle Thu as before, but his teachings, care and encouragement helped her to strive and overcome all difficulties in life. Mrs. Nong Thi Trung became a courageous, enthusiastic, dynamic female cadre, who fought all her life for the revolutionary cause of the Party.

"During the time I lived near Uncle Thu, each day I realized more clearly his simple style and lifestyle. He always wore a Nung outfit made of indigo fabric with wide sleeves, looking neat and simple, in harmony with the local people of Pac Bo."

(Nong Thi Trung - Days living near Uncle Ho )

Let me cite a story told by Mrs. Nong Thi Trung in her memoirs to see Uncle Ho's concern for his niece from Pac Bo during the early days of the revolution. That was the time after peace was restored in the North, when inviting the National Assembly delegation of Cao Bang province to dinner, President Ho Chi Minh asked the Head of the Organizing Committee of Cao Bang Provincial Party Committee: "What is Trung doing these days?". In fact, at that time, Mrs. Nong Thi Trung had quit her job, as she admitted, "I have stumbled", "my spirit is increasingly melancholy and depressed".

The head of the Cao Bang Provincial Party Committee's organizing committee hesitated and did not dare to answer. Uncle Ho pressed him: "Why? What work has Trung been doing these days?". Not daring to hide anything, he had to tell the truth, Trung had retired and returned to her locality. Hearing that, President Ho sternly said: "That cannot be! When it was still a secret, Trung could do anything, so why is she returning home now?"

Hearing the story told by the Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Organizing Committee, Ms. Nong Thi Trung burst into tears. She reflected on her mistakes and wrote a request to continue working.

Mrs. Nong Thi Trung (1920 - 2003) real name is Nong Thi Bay, Tay ethnic group, hometown Phu Ngoc commune, Ha Quang district, Cao Bang province. She joined the revolution at the age of 16 in the Democratic Youth movement (1936 - 1939). After the August Revolution in 1945, she worked for the Women's Association (Secretary of the Women's National Salvation Committee of Ha Quang district then Secretary of the Women's National Salvation Committee of Cao Bang province), Deputy Secretary then Secretary of the Ha Quang District Party Committee (Cao Bang), Member of the Vi Xuyen District Party Committee (Ha Giang)..., Chief Justice of the People's Court of Cao Bang province (1964 - 1980). She retired and died in Cao Bang.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/hoi-ky-cua-nguoi-chau-gai-bac-ho-185250518111321885.htm