(QBĐT) - In 1858, the footprints of the French colonialists landed on the Son Tra peninsula ( Da Nang ), marking the beginning of the first invasion of Vietnam. Our people suffered the loss of their country and the misery of slavery. In his poem "Thirty Years of Our Lives with the Party" (1960), the poet To Huu wrote: "In the time of slavery, our country was lost / A scene of poverty, the sky and earth were dark / A lifetime of pain for a hundred years…" That hundred-year pain was the agonizing fate of a bird hanging over a fire, a fish lying under a knife, and even now, recalling it still makes our nation gasp and feel sorrowful.
Historical traces are not easily erased, and certainly cannot be lost, because the journey of building and defending the nation always requires lessons. This nation has never bowed down to invading enemies, no matter how wealthy or powerful they may be.
This led to the Can Vuong movement and numerous uprisings against the French invaders, all under the leadership of patriotic feudal kings and scholars. This tragic period of history concluded with the Yen The uprising, a three-decade-long struggle marked by the national hero Hoang Hoa Tham. The nation's fate, seemingly destined for perpetual darkness, was illuminated by a new historical phase when the communists raised the banner of resistance against French colonial aggression. What milestone marks the beginning of this new historical period? The answer is clear: 1930, the year the Communist Party of Vietnam was founded.
But perhaps we should consider a more distant point in time, dating back to when the young man Nguyen Tat Thanh left Vietnam to seek a way to save the country. Did Nha Rong Wharf in 1911 become a landmark in space and time for this new historical period, as we discussed above? And in that same year in Quang Binh, another historical figure of the nation was born: Vo Nguyen Giap, the legendary general of the people.
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1911. One man departed from a land of suffering and hardship. Another was born into a humble, compassionate mother's womb. Two great men shared a memorable year. Despite a significant age difference, the circumstances and a sacred, mystical connection bound Ho Chi Minh and Vo Nguyen Giap together during the nation's turbulent journey. Vo Nguyen Giap, a history teacher at Buoi School (Hanoi), encountered the revolution, which was also the encounter with Nguyen Ai Quoc-Ho Chi Minh. This meeting was a great stroke of luck, but to cherish, trust, and entrust a mission to his student-comrade was truly extraordinary. Perhaps Ho Chi Minh recognized Vo Nguyen Giap's virtues and talents early on. A model of discerning and employing people.
It is a great blessing for our nation that Mother Vietnam has given birth to such illustrious yet remarkably humble sons. Ho Chi Minh and Vo Nguyen Giap deserve to be called world-renowned figures, but first and foremost, they are leaders and generals of the people. With extraordinary talent and noble character, Ho Chi Minh and Vo Nguyen Giap share remarkable similarities. It is no coincidence that our people, from young to old, call them Uncle Ho and Uncle Giap.
That is the love and pride of the majority of Vietnamese people. I think the link between these two men is the nation. The understanding between President Ho Chi Minh and General Vo Nguyen Giap was always placed within the process of the national liberation revolution aimed at bringing independence, freedom, peace, and unity to the country, so that everyone has food to eat, clothes to wear, and access to education... That is also a cultural similarity, not only in the present but also in the future. The core of Ho Chi Minh's thought is patriotism and love for the people. It cannot be said otherwise. From that, he knew how to place his comrades in the most appropriate positions. Ho Chi Minh chose Vo Nguyen Giap, a history teacher, to be in charge of the Party's military affairs. Perhaps he saw in Vo Nguyen Giap the accumulated and inherited military talent of his ancestors, from Ly Thuong Kiet, Tran Hung Dao, Nguyen Trai…
Those who are both educated and virtuous, courageous and patient at the right time and place, knowing how to use few against many, replacing tyranny with benevolence, and knowing how to conserve the blood of soldiers… Those who always put the nation first, deeply committed to the aspiration that the essence of benevolence lies in ensuring the people's peace (Nguyen Trai). Vo Nguyen Giap once recounted: "It was Uncle Ho who chose the military path for me. He trusted me to establish the army." On December 22, 1944, the Vietnam Propaganda and Liberation Army was established as a historical necessity for national liberation. Our officers and soldiers called the General "Big Brother." The Big Brother of the revolutionary army , loyal to the country, devoted to the people, completing every task, overcoming every difficulty, and defeating every enemy .
We are deeply moved to learn that in 1945, when seriously ill and seemingly on the verge of death in the Na Lua hut (Tuyen Quang), President Ho Chi Minh summoned Vo Nguyen Giap and instructed him: "...even if we have to burn down the entire Truong Son mountain range, we must resolutely fight to achieve independence." Ho Chi Minh's aspiration for national independence and freedom deeply inspired his comrades and compatriots, including Vo Nguyen Giap. This aspiration, this spirit, and this character elevated Vo Nguyen Giap's intellect, transforming him into a legendary general despite not having attended any formal military school.
Ho Chi Minh was not mistaken in placing such great responsibilities on Vo Nguyen Giap's shoulders, and the General never betrayed the trust of his great leader and mentor. The most vivid example is the shift from a "quick victory" plan to a "sure victory" plan at Dien Bien Phu. The Muong Phang forest witnessed the most tense moments of his military career. Changing the plan meant deviating from what had been planned, discussed, and agreed upon; it meant moving the artillery to the rear after everything was ready, waiting for the designated moment to fire. Many problems could arise, even misunderstandings from his comrades. But remembering Uncle Ho's advice, "only fight when victory is certain," and considering the lives of thousands of soldiers and the concerns of the home front, the General decided to change the strategy.
The Dien Bien Phu victory was complete, a red wreath of victory, a golden chapter in history, but what is even more noteworthy is the significant reduction in casualties. The French enemy's ambition to turn the Muong Thanh basin into a meat grinder, a burial ground for the main Viet Minh divisions, was thwarted by our new tactics. That is the story of yesterday, but it is also a lesson for today and tomorrow. The story of the brightest stars of the nation, the glittering legend of Ho Chi Minh and Vo Nguyen Giap, will never be lost, never be lost.
This encounter was a rare historical coincidence, linked to the great turning points of the nation. It forged a special relationship between these brilliant and exceptional individuals, connecting them as teacher and student, comrades, and certainly much more. Not only will the Vietnamese people forever be proud, but the world will continue to mention their names with lasting respect. Yes, I believe so, millions of Vietnamese people believe so, when their hearts resonate with the name Ho Chi Minh-Vo Nguyen Giap. In the memory and consciousness of the Vietnamese people, the image of Ho Chi Minh-Vo Nguyen Giap will forever be etched.
Nguyen Huu Quy
Source: https://www.baoquangbinh.vn/chinh-polit/202409/mai-mai-ho-chi-minh-vo-nguyen-giap-2220668/
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