Villages that 'worship' independence and freedom.

In many rural villages in Quang Nam province, the slogan "Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom" is prominently displayed in front of gates or on porches. It's not simply a slogan; it's a shared aspiration for peace and freedom.

Slogans about independence and freedom are placed in front of the gates of households in A Liêng.

We visited the home of a 33-year-old Katu man named Zơrâm Đa in A Liêng village, Tà Bhing commune ( Nam Giang district ).

Mr. Da's house is grand, newly built with concrete and tiled roof in the style of the Kinh people, replacing the old, dilapidated wooden house, but the gate still retains the two wooden pillars with the inscription "Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom ".

"I understand and cherish President Ho Chi Minh's words about the value of independence and freedom, so for decades I've kept that motto in mind when building my house," said Mr. Chau Chin (Ngoc Thach village).

Newly built, spacious houses in Dai Loc still display slogans in front of their gates - Photo: BD

A message of peace

When asked about the words on the gate, Mr. Da scratched his head and said that he didn't know who it came from, but since he was a child, he had seen this immortal saying of President Ho Chi Minh displayed in front of the gate of every house in A Lieng.

A Liêng is a Co Tu village located along the Ho Chi Minh Trail , passing through Ben Giang – a historically significant site of the former Zone 5 front. The village of A Liêng is not only clean and tidy, with streets even leading to small alleys named after it, but almost every house here is meticulously cared for.

Chairman of the People's Committee of Nam Giang District, A Viet Son, said that the people here are very conscious of preserving their village traditions, and many households even welcome tourists . Remarkably, Mr. Son said that without being told, every house in A Lieng and neighboring villages has had signs placed in front of their gates with messages such as "Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom ," and "Forever grateful to the heroic martyrs"...

Elder Zơrâm Năng, 75 years old, affirmed that building gates or pasting slogans on the wooden rafters in front of the main door has been a long-standing tradition of the Cơ Tu people. "It's not just A Liêng; if you go to any highland village of the Cơ Tu, Xơ Đăng, or Ca Dong people in Quảng Nam, it's the same."

"When people build houses, they are very careful to make the entrance gate, decorating it with lanterns. Every house displays the Party flag and the national flag in front of the gate, and next to it is the inscription 'Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom'," Mr. Nang said.

In front of Mr. Zơrâm Năng's house, there was also a similar slogan. He said that in the past, when people were poor and their houses were thatched with leaves and bamboo fences, the gate was just two bamboo poles wrapped around the outside. But no matter how much effort it took, the villagers would find a piece of wood, sand it smooth, and use charcoal or soot to write the slogan solemnly on it, placing it in front of the gate.

"We Co Tu people educate each other in a way where the elders teach the younger generation and their children. Living today, we must remember and be grateful for what our ancestors sacrificed for. In the past, we were hungry, we suffered, we were bombed by the French and Americans, and war ravaged us. Now that we have peace, our children and grandchildren must remember, preserve, and cherish it."

"Having gone through the war like our generation, we understand what hardship and loss of freedom truly mean. We're still poor now, but compared to the past, things are much better. That's why we believe that President Ho Chi Minh's saying, 'Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom,' is a truth," Mr. Nang said.

Slogans about independence and freedom are displayed in front of the gates of households in A Liêng - Photo: BD

Villages from the "subsidy era"

Not only in the highland villages, but also in the gates of houses in the lowland districts of Quang Nam province, such as Dien Ban, Dai Loc, Thang Binh, and Que Son, are archways displaying slogans like "Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom," "Forever grateful to the heroic martyrs," or sayings from the past like "Innovate to continue moving forward."

Many visitors to Quang Nam are impressed by these unique gates. The gates are adorned with prominent slogans and proudly displayed national flags, regardless of whether a sturdy building or a simple wooden structure stands behind them. These images evoke memories of the subsidy era and the cooperative model.

Mr. Chau Chin, 63 years old, residing in Ngoc Thach village (Dai Hong commune, Dai Loc district, Quang Nam province ), eagerly showed us the gate that he had personally carved and maintained since 1996.

Mr. Chin said that his house used to be in a flood-prone area along the Vu Gia River, but the government encouraged him to move to his current residence. When building the house, he painstakingly found a sturdy piece of ironwood and then hired craftsmen to carve and shape it so he could personally paint the words "Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom" on it.

Mr. Chin said that as he went in and out of the house every day, witnessing his children growing up, the slogan served as a reminder of his gratitude to his family's history. His house is a typical story of the pain of war in the "leopard skin" region, a land of nationalism during the day and communism at night.

His mother gave birth to five children. His eldest son joined the army and died in the Tra My region, while his two older brothers were forced into the South Vietnamese army. When peace returned, his mother felt heartbroken, mourning her eldest son who was a war hero, yet having two sons who were veterans of the South Vietnamese army. Mr. Chin shed tears as he recalled his mother's life; she always wept because of the injustice within her own family.

Along the Ho Chi Minh Trail heading up to the Central Highlands, houses are built close together, and village halls, cultural centers, and community centers also have grand gates, each bearing the inscription "Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom."

Next to the community cultural center in Hoa Huu Dong village (Dai Hong, Dai Loc), we discovered a dense cluster of moss-covered, old lime-stained gates in front of people's houses. All of them shared the same slogan about freedom and independence; though old, the lettering was still clear and straight.

Mr. Phan Dinh Quang recounted that most of the villagers' gates were built with lime, dating back to the time the village moved to its new location in 2002. "The words 'independence and freedom' on my gate were sculpted by myself when my youngest child was born in 2002; he's over 20 years old now."

"Our region experienced fierce warfare. On this side, it was a liberated zone, but across the hill was the enemy's Thuong Duc outpost, so many soldiers were killed. We made our own slogans in front of our houses to remind each other to live well, build a better life, and preserve peace and freedom. Every time we put them up next to the flag during holidays, it naturally looks more beautiful and solemn," Mr. Quang said.

A wooden plaque inscribed with words about independence and freedom has been placed in front of the gate of Mr. Chau Chin's house for decades - Photo: BD

The ancestral altar of the Co Tu people.

In the mountainous districts of Quang Nam province, such as Nam Giang and Tay Giang, it's easy to find altars set up by the Co Tu people, displaying a picture of President Ho Chi Minh with the national flag behind it.

Elder A Lăng Nhít (Ga Ry commune, Tây Giang district) said that in every household, and especially in the community house in Ga Ry, there is a picture of President Ho Chi Minh and the national flag on the altar. On National Day and New Year's Eve, the people all organize incense burning ceremonies to remember President Ho Chi Minh and celebrate solemnly.

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