The first "pink bricks"

(Baothanhhoa.vn) - 95 years have passed since the Conference to establish the Thanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee (July 29, 1930 - July 29, 2025) was held in the ancient village of Yen Truong (Tho Lap commune) on the banks of the Chu River. The flickering light in the dark night at Mr. Le Van Sy's house was not enough to illuminate the 11 faces of the delegates attending the conference. But the miraculous light of revolutionary ideals was like the summer sun, like the sun illuminating the path of struggle for independence and freedom of the army and people of Thanh Hoa. Places such as Ham Ha and Yen Truong mark important, turning-point events on the journey to establish the Thanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee, which was glorious but also full of hardships and challenges.

Yen Truong Revolutionary Historical Relic Site, Tho Lap Commune - where the conference to establish the Thanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee took place. (Photo: Archive)

The first communist cell of Thanh Hoa province

Ham Ha village (Dong Son ward) - the name has marked a historical milestone associated with the establishment of the first communist cell of Thanh Hoa province.

During the years 1925-1930, uprisings and struggles of our people took place continuously and strongly, such as: Can Vuong Movement, Dong Du, Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc... However, due to the lack of correct and radical revolutionary guidelines, those movements failed one after another.

In Thanh Hoa at that time, the birth and early activities of the predecessor organizations strongly encouraged the revolutionary movement and were a solid stepping stone for the establishment of the Thanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee later. The bases of the Vietnam Revolutionary Youth Association and the Tan Viet Revolutionary Party were established everywhere, with hundreds of members, mainly in Thanh Hoa town, Thieu Hoa, Tho Xuan, Dong Son... Entering 1929, the revolutionary movement in the whole country grew stronger and stronger, requiring a vanguard political party with enough scope and courage to lead, to complete the historical mission of fighting for national liberation, ending the period of crisis in the direction of the Vietnamese revolution. On February 3, 1930, under the chairmanship of comrade Nguyen Ai Quoc, the Conference of delegates of communist organizations was held in Hong Kong, agreeing to establish a single political party, named the Communist Party of Vietnam . This important historical event marked a brilliant milestone, opening a new era for the Vietnamese revolution - the era of fighting for national independence and advancing towards socialism.

Under conditions of secret operations, under blockade and strict control of the enemy, the building and development of grassroots party organizations in Thanh Hoa were given attention and promoted.

In April 1930, the Northern Regional Party Committee assigned comrade Le Cong Thanh, Regional Party Committee member and Secretary of the Ha Nam Provincial Party Committee, to direct the establishment of the Thanh Hoa Party Committee. Comrade Le Cong Thanh (from Thanh Hoa) sent comrade Nguyen Doan Chap, who was teaching in Ha Nam at that time, to go directly to Thanh Hoa to establish contacts with active members of the Vietnam Revolutionary Youth Association and establish communist cells one by one.

On June 18, 1930, comrade Nguyen Doan Chap returned to Ham Ha and contacted comrade Le Ba Tung, a member of the Vietnam Revolutionary Youth Association of Thanh Hoa province. During his stay here, comrade Nguyen Doan Chap actively propagated and recruited three typical and active elements into the Communist Party of Vietnam, namely Le Ba Tung, Le Oanh Kieu and Le The Long. On June 25, 1930, at comrade Le Oanh Kieu's house, the Conference to establish the Communist Party Cell was held under the chairmanship of comrade Nguyen Doan Chap. Attending the conference were 7 comrades: Le Oanh Kieu, Le The Long, Le Ba Tung, Pham Van Huong, Le Ba Ham (from Ham Ha village), Nguyen Xuan Nghinh (Trieu Tien village, Dong Tien commune), Doan Huu Vinh (Ngoc Lau village, Dong Thinh commune). The delegates resolved to approve the establishment of Ham Ha Party Cell - the first Party cell of Thanh Hoa province, with comrade Le The Long as Secretary.

The establishment of Ham Ha Party cell responded to the revolutionary movement of Thanh Hoa province at that time. Immediately after its establishment, Ham Ha Party cell raised the revolutionary flag, leading the masses to fight fiercely for the common goal and common aspiration called: National Independence.

Yen Truong is ablaze with revolutionary fire.

After the establishment of Ham Ha Party Cell, the revolutionary movement of Thanh Hoa province continued to make strong progress. On July 10, 1930, in Phuc Loc village, Thieu Tien commune (Thieu Hoa), the first party cell of Thieu Hoa district was established. Then, on July 22, 1930, in Yen Truong village, Tho Lap commune, the first party cell of Tho Xuan district was established.

On that basis, on July 29, 1930, under the chairmanship of comrade Nguyen Doan Chap, the Conference of Party cell delegates was held at the house of comrade Le Van Sy, Yen Truong village, Tho Lap commune with the participation of 11 delegates from 3 Party cells: Ham Ha, Thieu Hoa, Tho Xuan, deciding to establish Thanh Hoa Party Committee, electing the Provincial Party Executive Committee consisting of 3 comrades: Le The Long, Vuong Xuan Cat, Le Van Sy. With high trust and confidence, comrade Le The Long was appointed as Secretary.

Many important contents were discussed and decided immediately after the Provincial Party Committee was established such as: Strengthening the development of Party members; building mass organizations (Red Trade Unions, Red Peasants' Associations) to attract the masses to organize revolutionary movements in harmony with the Soviet - Nghe Tinh high tide; organizing the printing of revolutionary leaflets and documents to serve the propaganda and enlightenment of the masses and organizing the printing and distribution of the newspaper "Forward" - the mouthpiece of the Provincial Party Committee...

The establishment of the Thanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee is an extremely important event, marking a great turning point, a bright mark on the path of revolutionary struggle, construction and development of this land of "spiritual land and talented people", rich in patriotic, heroic and resilient traditions. Immediately after its establishment, the Provincial Party Committee quickly stabilized its organization, gathered forces, organized movements to fight against oppression and exploitation..., led all classes of people in the province and the whole country to make the August Revolution in 1945, establishing the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. In each historical period, the Provincial Party Committee has affirmed its leadership role, deciding the development of the province, leading the revolutionary movement of the province from one victory to another. The achievements over the past 95 years are the foundation and valuable premise for Thanh Hoa today to continue to steadily advance into a new era with the nation, building Thanh Hoa into a rich, beautiful, civilized, modern, exemplary province, worthy of the position of a new growth pole of the Fatherland.

Rosemary

*The article uses materials in the books: "History of Thanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee 1930-1945" (Thanh Hoa Publishing House, 2010); "90 years of Thanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee (1930-2020) - Outstanding achievements and imprints" (Thanh Hoa Historical Science Association, Thanh Hoa Publishing House, 2020).

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/nhung-vien-gach-hong-dau-tien-255356.htm