An area in Bac Kan was named by Uncle Ho in 1945 as Hy Sinh, Phan Dau. Which commune is it now?

Prior to the August Revolution, Phuong Vien and Bang Vien (later merged into Phuong Vien) were communes with a rapidly developing and strong Viet Minh movement. During his historical journey from Pac Bo to Tan Trao, leader Nguyen Ai Quoc stopped here and gave direct guidance, notably naming these two communes.

President Ho Chi Minh and Deputy Prime Minister Pham Van Dong with farmers in Bac Kan in 1951.

According to historical documents, on the afternoon of May 15, 1945, President Ho Chi Minh arrived in Phuong Vien commune. That day, the commune's Viet Minh committee arranged for him to stay at the house of Mr. Hoang Van Cao in Ban Cai, Na Lang hamlet, Phuong Vien commune.

After the meal, Uncle Ho suggested arranging a meeting with representatives of the Viet Minh, the Provisional People's Committee of the commune, and local elders to discuss the world political situation, the revolutionary situation in the country, the task of fighting the French and expelling the Japanese, and the upcoming revolutionary climax to seize power nationwide.

The following morning (May 16, 1945), Uncle Ho and his group went to Pac Cai, where two streams meet, about 1 km from the district capital of Cho Don. They heard gunfire coming from the direction of Cho Don district capital, and everyone immediately dispersed according to the pre-arranged plan.

Mr. Nong Van Lac, who accompanied President Ho Chi Minh on that trip, recounted in his memoir "The Light Is Here": “The advance team went a short distance and returned, reporting that the Japanese were near Cho Don. We turned back towards Bang Phuc. We heard gunfire above the old outpost. The men returned and reported that the Japanese had advanced along Bang Lung road.”

The historical site of the house foundation of Mr. Lang Van Quan is located in Khuoi Dai, Phuong Vien commune, Cho Don district, Bac Kan province.

Source: Photo book "Land and People of the Cho Don ATK Region"

Given the situation, the Viet Minh Committee, the Provisional Committee, and the Self-Defense Command of the commune led the working group and Uncle Ho up to Bản Pịt, into Khuổi Luông, across the Khuổi Khuy pass, to Bản Tổng Lường and then through Khuổi Đải (a village located at the foot of Tam Tao mountain in Bằng Viễn commune).

The Viet Minh Committee and the Provisional People's Committee arranged for Uncle Ho to stay at the house of Mr. Lang Van Quan. There, he requested the Viet Minh Committee and the commune's organizations to unite closely, maintain secrecy, not to work as forced laborers for the Japanese, not to hand over rice to the Japanese... and to consolidate the revolutionary movement. Uncle Ho named the two communes: "Bang Vien is called Hy Sinh commune, Phuong Vien is called Phan Dau commune." A few days later, the name Hy Sinh commune was engraved on the seal of the commune's People's Committee, and was used until its merger with Phuong Vien commune in 1947.

A copy of the voter card issued by the People's Committee of Hy Sinh commune on December 23, 1945, to citizens participating in the first general election of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (January 6, 1946).

Regarding some details related to this event, Mr. Ha Van Ton, now 88 years old, from Bang Vien village, recounted the story of his father, Mr. Ha Van Tuong, being assigned the task of delivering a secret document to President Ho Chi Minh on May 16, 1945, as follows:

Portrait of Mr. Ha Van Tuong.

After the conversation at Mr. Lang Van Quan's house, Uncle Ho suggested that the commune select two self-defense team members to whom he would entrust the task of delivering a secret document to the next reception station in Ban Duong, Ngoc Phai commune. The two selected team members were Mr. La Dinh Soi and Mr. Ha Van Tuong. Mr. Nong Van Lac drafted the document on a small piece of paper, showed it to Uncle Ho for review and signature, then rolled it up into a small, cigarette-like shape and gave it to team member Soi. Team member Soi then passed it to team member Tuong, and they immediately set off to deliver it urgently to the Ban Duong reception station.

Mr. Lac instructed: "When leaving the village, wrap the secret document in leaves and always keep it in your hand. If you encounter the enemy on the way, throw it away immediately. If you don't have time, chew it and swallow it. If you are captured and interrogated, resolutely refuse to reveal anything! Along the way, every 10 meters or so, break off a small branch and extend it forward (do not break or cut it) to mark the path for the group to follow." The two team members delivered the secret document to the Ban Duong reception station, which was the house of Mr. Hoang Van Quy, the former village head of Ngoc Phai commune.

After completing their mission, the two team members returned along the same path, upstream along the stream. Not far from Nam Cang, they met Uncle Ho's group resting in a rice paddy. The two team members immediately reported to Uncle Ho that their assigned mission had been completed without incident. Uncle Ho praised them, shook their hands in thanks, and instructed them to stay and continue to perform their assigned tasks well, working with the entire community to complete the urgent Viet Minh program.

About three months later, Hy Sinh commune received a letter of commendation from leader Ho Chi Minh for the reception, protection, and service provided to the delegation of officials during their passage through Hy Sinh commune on May 16, 1945.

Mr. Ha Van Ton pointed to Tong Luong village, where President Ho Chi Minh passed through on May 16, 1945.

Mr. Ha Van Ton added that after delivering the letter and remembering Uncle Ho's advice, his father, Mr. Ha Van Tuong, became even more actively involved in the local revolutionary movement. He was admitted to the Party in 1948 and held positions such as Secretary of the Phuong Vien Commune Party Branch, Secretary of the Farmers' Executive Committee of Cho Don District, and Vice Chairman of the Fatherland Front of the commune until his retirement in 1979. During his lifetime, he often recounted this event with honor and pride. He always taught and advised his children and grandchildren to be proud of their family traditions and to strive to study, work, and follow the example of the beloved President Ho Chi Minh.

Proud to have welcomed and protected President Ho Chi Minh during his historic journey from Pac Bo to Tan Trao, and honored to have him personally name the commune, for the past 79 years, the Party Committee, government, and people of Phuong Vien commune have kept President Ho Chi Minh's teachings in mind, working together to build a prosperous, beautiful, and civilized homeland, notably achieving the goal of building a New Rural Area in 2022.

Towards the 134th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birth (May 19, 1890 - May 19, 2024), the Party Committee, government, and people of Phuong Vien are expressing their deep respect and love for Uncle Ho; striving to study, work, and contribute to building a more prosperous, beautiful, and civilized homeland; and determined to make the study and emulation of Ho Chi Minh's thought, morality, and style a regular practice for each Party committee, government, department, and mass organization, and to further spread it throughout social life.

Source: https://danviet.vn/mot-vung-dat-o-bac-kan-tung-duoc-bac-ho-dat-ten-nam-1945-la-hy-sinh-phan-dau-nay-la-xa-nao-20240329152131792.htm