These hamlets and special roads are named after May 19th.

In the southernmost tip of Vietnam, there are names that have become ingrained in our being, a source of pride, and a connecting thread between a glorious past and a bright present. "May 19th"—the birthday of our beloved President Ho Chi Minh—is vividly embodied in the names of roads and hamlets in Ca Mau. These are the culmination of the people's devotion, the unwavering oath of the Party Committee and the people of this southernmost region to their beloved leader, written from the days of "burning oil lamps" to build earthen houses, to the construction of the "happy hamlets" of today.

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"Lighting oil lamps" to build a road to the Temple of Uncle Ho.

Going back about 40 years, in Chau Thoi commune – a rural area rich in revolutionary traditions – the story of the road leading to the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Temple became a moving tale of the people's strength. During the war, the people of Chau Thoi overcame bombs and bullets to build the temple; in peacetime, amidst the difficulties of the subsidy period, that spirit once again burned brightly through the road construction initiative of the commune's Party branch, with only 13 members.

Mrs. Le Thi Dam (Ut Dan), former Secretary of the Party Committee of Chau Thoi commune, now 91 years old, cannot help but feel nostalgic when recalling those days. She recounts that at that time, machinery was beyond the local resources; everything relied solely on manual labor and unwavering determination. With the goal of connecting the Y-shaped bridge (Chau Thoi commune market before the merger) to the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Temple, a massive construction site was established. Without modern machinery, commune militia soldiers like Mr. Ba Duong used only silk ropes and twine to measure and determine the route for the nearly 3-kilometer-long road.

The race against time was intense during the harsh dry season. Each villager was assigned a target of 3 meters of road, while cadres and guerrillas were assigned 1.5 meters. The image of Mrs. Ut Dan, the simple female Party secretary, personally rolling up her sleeves and getting covered in dirt and sand to carry buckets of well water for the villagers became a powerful source of motivation. Her philosophy was simple: "Actions speak louder than words; if you persevere and work alongside the people, they will trust and love you."

In the dead of night during the subsidy era, the construction site never ceased its work. Under the flickering oil lamps and the slanted moonlight, figures toiled tirelessly, digging the earth and carrying sacks of soil. Sweat soaked into the dark soil, transforming the winding drainage ditch running alongside the road into a testament to the intertwining of revolutionary ideals and the struggle for survival.

The 19/5 road (Chau Thoi commune) is currently undergoing expansion.

Today, the old dirt road has been paved and is currently being expanded, becoming the vital 19/5 road connecting National Highway 1 to the National Historical and Cultural Relic Site of the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Temple. It is not just a transportation project, but also a "red thread," a vivid historical lesson about the spirit of "the Party's will and the people's hearts," so that future generations will forever remember the immense gratitude owed to President Ho Chi Minh.

Transforming Hamlet 19/5 into a "Happy Hamlet"

While in Chau Thoi the story is about the people's devotion "carved" into the road, in Khanh Binh commune, the love for Uncle Ho is manifested in the name of the rural area that is transforming day by day: Hamlet 19/5 .

Comrade Nguyen Thanh Ban, former Secretary of the Party Committee of Khanh Binh commune, recalled the milestone in the 1980s when "May 19th" was chosen as the name for the model cooperative of Tran Van Thoi District, and later as the name of the new hamlet when the two hamlets of Chon Gam and Rach Bao merged. In the middle of May, the people unanimously chose President Ho Chi Minh's birthday to name the new hamlet as a reminder of their roots and aspirations for progress. From a land of many hardships, the May 19th Hamlet has become a shining example in the new rural development movement with the title " Happy Hamlet " (a self-governing, united, prosperous, and happy residential area).

The area of ​​Hamlet 19/5 is currently home to the schools of Khanh Binh commune. (In the photo: Students of Khanh Binh commune leaving school after class).

In Hamlet 19/5 – the central hamlet of Khanh Binh commune – the rural landscape has visibly improved. The muddy dirt roads of the past have been replaced by a system of extended concrete roads, following the principle of "the State and the People working together." With 247 hectares of agricultural land, the people here have achieved encouraging results, with rice yields reaching 14.25 tons/hectare/year thanks to the application of science and technology. Even more proudly, the hamlet currently has no poor households and no cases of re-poverty – the most authentic proof of the "prosperity" criterion.

Sharing the secret to building consensus, Comrade Nguyen Minh Hai, Secretary of the Party Branch of Hamlet 19/5, said: “To implement the Happy Hamlet model, we thoroughly adhere to the motto 'The people know, the people discuss, the people do, the people inspect, and the people benefit.' All contributions to infrastructure development are made public and transparent. In particular, Party members must lead the way and take the lead. When the people see exemplary officials and see tangible benefits right before their eyes, they will be willing to join hands.”

Happiness in Hamlet 19/5 is not only measured by income but also by peace and neighborly affection. With over 98% of families recognized as "cultural families" and 17 effectively functioning self-governing security teams, the lives of the residents are always protected. The awareness of the people has also significantly improved through the implementation of directives on protecting aquatic resources and the environment.

The Self-Managed Security Team of Hamlet 19/5 is implementing a plan to protect freshwater fish resources as the 2026 rainy season approaches.

The 19/5 Road (Chau Thoi commune) and the 19/5 Hamlet (Khanh Binh commune), though located in two different localities, share a common point: the people's devotion to Uncle Ho. From the shovels of earth dug by oil lamps in the past to the happy community today, all are fragrant flowers offered to Him.

Nguyen Quoc

Source: https://baocamau.vn/nhung-xom-ap-con-duong-dac-biet-mang-ten-19-5-a128992.html