Father's Memory
I still remember clearly the afternoons when my father, who used to work at the Emulation Committee of Ha Nam Ninh province, often sat quietly with a cup of tea, telling me stories about his time living and working in Nam Dinh. He called it “a time of idealistic youth”. When the province was divided, my father returned to Ninh Binh, many of his friends remained attached to the land of Nam Dinh. More than 30 years have passed, each person has gone their separate ways, but their affection is still as full as the days when they shared rice, clothes, gave each other “a shrimp carries ten grains of salt”… but steadfastly with the goal of serving their homeland Ha Nam Ninh back then.
In his memory are warm, close stories, sometimes the summation sessions of the emulation movement in Nam Dinh city, where he and his colleagues from faraway districts attended, shook hands, sang patriotic songs; or the springs together walking along the villages, awarding flags to outstanding collectives. And after the separation of the province, each person had a new job, a new unit, but whenever there was a chance, they would find each other, not because of position or authority, but because of the affection of a time of "Ha Nam Ninh".
Now, my father is no longer lucid, but every time I see the emotional eyes when old friends of "Ha Nam Ninh" call to ask about him, I realize more deeply: separation is for development, but human love is never separated. And today, when the three provinces are united, their memories suddenly light up in me like a new sky, like a fire fueled, burning brightly in the heart of the era.
The future of a land
Ninh Binh - Ha Nam - Nam Dinh, three names, three lands, but have long shared a common cultural origin. This land in the South of the Red River Delta is not only rich thanks to the alluvium of three rivers: Red River, Day River, Vac River, but is also the place that preserves the cultural sediments of ancient Vietnamese people, such as: legendary Trang An-Bai Dinh, sacred Tam Chuc, Phu Day that responds to people's hearts and the ancient streets of Nam Dinh, Phu Ly that have been stained by the sun of time...; the place where Dai Co Viet was born, laying the foundation for the dynasties that opened the nation's independence, famous people, families of scholars, pagodas, communal houses, churches with a sacred breath of thousands of years. The behavioral culture of the people of this land is also always imbued with simplicity, studiousness, respect for justice, rich in patriotic traditions, diligence and depth.
And from that foundation, 50 years ago, a province named Ha Nam Ninh was established, a symbol of convergence, solidarity, a step in line with historical requirements. Even though they were later separated, the people's hearts have never been apart. That blood, that memory, is an invisible bond, smoldering, waiting for the day to be reconnected.
The world is changing faster than ever. Vietnam is on the journey of creating dynamic regions, improving regional planning, and repositioning the national development strategy. In that flow, the merger of three provinces into a new administrative unit named Ninh Binh Province is not a return to the past but a step forward in modern thinking.
This is an inevitable requirement to exploit the full potential and strengths of each region: Ninh Binh with its advantages in heritage and tourism; Ha Nam with its industry and logistics services; Nam Dinh with its tradition of education and handicrafts... Today's unification is a testament to the spirit of innovation, the desire for integration and strategic vision. It is a transformation from a resilient independence to a period of dynamic, sustainable development and deep integration.
Continue writing the story of the homeland
This morning, the first morning of the unification day, the countryside from Ý Yên to Gia Viễn, from Lý Nhân to Giao Thủy, from Kim Bằng to Hoa Lư was quieter. People quietly followed the news, called each other, and were moved to tears when they heard the name “Ninh Bình province” officially announced. For the elderly, like my father, or his comrades, it was a dream come true. They had lived during the Hà Nam Ninh period, had been attached and separated. Now, they witnessed a reunion not only of the land, but also of the people’s hearts.
For us, the children born in the Ha Nam Ninh period and raised in the stories of our ancestors, this moment is sacred. We know that we are living in a historical cross-section, where the past and the future touch each other, where each citizen becomes an important link in the process of building our homeland.
History is not only recorded in books, but also lives forever in the memories of the people. In the future, we, the people who have gone through two changes in our homeland, will tell our children and grandchildren that our ancestors once lived in a time of Ha Nam Ninh full of love. And we, the children of that land, have witnessed and contributed to building a unified, strong, harmonious homeland, full of humanity and faith in the future.
The unification of the three provinces today is an unforgettable milestone, not only on the administrative map, but also in the hearts of every citizen. It is a journey back together to go further. It is the transition between the era of independence and the era of development. It is where my father's memory is lit up in every step I take today.
We are proud to be the generation living in history. But more than that, we know that we have the responsibility to continue writing that history, with our efforts, beliefs, and aspirations, to build a new Ninh Binh province that is rich - beautiful - civilized - eternal.
Source: https://baoninhbinh.org.vn/ngay-que-huong-tro-ve-ben-nhau-428299.htm
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