Nestled in the majestic Quan Hoa mountain range, Co Phuong cave in Sai village, Phu Le commune, stands as a tragic yet heroic testament, reminding generations today and tomorrow of the indomitable spirit of our ancestors in protecting our homeland.
People come to offer incense at Co Phuong Cave.
Co Phuong Cave (also known as Co Phuong) is located inside the rocky mountains of the Po Ha range. The cave is formed by large rocks stacked on top of each other, covering an area of about 20 square meters, with the highest point of the vault reaching about 4 meters. The deeper you go inside, the narrower the cave becomes. In the past, there was a starfruit tree in front of the cave entrance, so the locals named it Co Phuong (in the Thai language, this name means "starfruit tree cave").
According to relevant documents, during the resistance war against French colonialism, Sai village in Phu Le commune was located on the route for transporting military supplies and weapons for the Upper Laos campaign and the Dien Bien Phu campaign. Co Phuong Cave was not only a military supply station but also a garrison for soldiers, youth volunteers, and civilian laborers. This was because it was situated close to both the land and river routes to the Northwest region and Upper Laos. During the Upper Laos campaign, Thanh Hoa province became a direct and important rear area, ensuring more than 70% of the food needs for the troops to eat well and fight successfully. In this campaign, the province mobilized 113,973 long-term civilian laborers and 148,499 short-term civilian laborers, 2,000 bicycles, 180 horses, 8 automobiles, 1,300 boats, etc.
Having discovered the strategic location for stockpiling supplies to support our troops on the battlefields, the French continuously bombarded the area with sewing machines. With the spirit of "All for the campaign," and "All for the soldiers to eat well and win," the volunteer youth and civilian laborers of Thanh Hoa province, armed with rudimentary shovels and picks, worked day and night on this route, maintaining uninterrupted traffic to the battlefield.
The victorious Upper Laos Campaign of the Lao-Vietnamese coalition opened a new phase for the Lao revolution and created strategic advantages for us to advance and achieve victory in the 1953-1954 Winter-Spring Campaign and the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. At the conclusion of the campaign, Thanh Hoa was awarded the "Best Frontline Service" flag by President Ho Chi Minh. Many collectives and individuals received commendations, such as: Company C3 (Hau Loc district), Company 4 and Company 7 (Thieu Hoa district), and two bicycle transport units of Thanh Hoa town,...
However, to contribute to that victory, the hills of Sai village suffered many sacrifices and losses. In Thieu Hoa district alone, 27 civilian laborers died from enemy bombs on this stretch of road. And Co Phuong cave stands as a testament to a time of painful yet heroic war for our ancestors.
According to historical documents, at around 3 PM on April 2, 1953, French enemy planes repeatedly dropped bombs on the Phu Le commune area, focusing on the Co Phuong cave area, aiming to destroy military supplies and weapons, and cut off our reinforcements to the battlefield. After that bombing, a large rock collapsed, burying 11 civilian workers sheltering inside the cave. Outside, there were countless bomb craters, and an atmosphere of tragedy enveloped the hills and villages of Sai.
The elderly people in Sai village recount that after the bombing, they still heard cries for help coming from inside the cave. The villagers, soldiers, youth volunteers, and civilian workers tried every possible way to rescue them. But the rock was too large; no machinery could pull it out, and even using explosives wouldn't save their lives. Their youth was lost amidst the majestic mountains and forests of Quan Hoa, where they still hear the babbling streams and the soothing rustling of the trees.
And their names are still inscribed on the stone tablet placed in front of Co Phuong Cave today. They were all from Thieu Nguyen commune (Thieu Hoa district), including: Nguyen Thi Dieu, Nguyen Chi Hoang, Nguyen Thi Hoi, Nguyen Thi Mut, Nguyen Dung Phuoc, Nguyen Thi Thiem, Nguyen Chi Toan, Nguyen Thi Toan, Nguyen Thi To, Nguyen Thi Van, and Nguyen Thi Vien. They are gone, but their names live on with this land and its people.
After peace was restored, relevant authorities, local government, and relatives of the fallen soldiers met to discuss plans to bring the remains of their heroes and heroines back to their hometowns. Some considered moving the large rock at the cave entrance to facilitate the collection of the remains. However, with the passage of time, finding the remains and identifying them would be difficult. The relatives of the fallen soldiers unanimously agreed to preserve the cave in its current state, so that their loved ones could rest in peace in this land forever.
To commemorate the heroic martyrs, in 1999, the Provincial People's Committee provided funding for the construction of a memorial monument at Co Phuong Cave. In 2012, on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the Day of War Invalids and Martyrs, the Provincial People's Committee established a plan to renovate the Co Phuong Cave Revolutionary Historical Relic Site. In 2012, the site was classified as a provincial-level relic. And in 2019, the Co Phuong Cave Historical Relic Site was classified as a national-level relic.
The Co Phuong Cave historical site now features a memorial stele and a ceremonial grounds nestled quietly amidst the majestic forest, a testament to the indomitable spirit and heroic fighting, the willingness to sacrifice for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland, and for the happiness of the people. In front of the cave, the locals have erected a symbolic communal grave, with a large incense burner outside, where people today and in the future can offer incense and pay tribute to those who fell, creating an immortal epic.
Text and photos: Van Anh
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