Worthy of being called the homeland of the People.
These days, the streets of Kim Lien commune (Nam Dan district) are filled with flags and banners celebrating the 134th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birth and the 2024 Lang Sen Festival. People from all over the country have come here in a shared joy, a joy of reunion in the homeland of the infinitely beloved President Ho Chi Minh, the Father of the Nation.
Joining the bustling crowds, we returned to Kim Lien commune, where people were joyfully celebrating the harvest season. Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phong (nearly 80 years old) from Lang Sen 2 hamlet happily shared: “Thanks to favorable weather and diligent care, this rice crop has yielded high productivity. Every field is full of grains and heavy ears, providing enough food for every family. Agricultural production has made great strides compared to the past. In Kim Lien commune, most farming is now done with machinery, freeing up a large portion of the farmers' labor.”
According to Mr. Phong, like many other rural areas, not long ago, farmers in Kim Lien commune still struggled with their crops, because from farming and planting to harvesting, everything relied on human labor and the plowing and pulling power of buffaloes and oxen.
Nowadays, all those processes are done by machines, and farmers just spread the rice out to dry in their yards. Sometimes, traders even come to buy the rice directly from the fields, and after harvesting, the farmers just need to take the money home…
Kim Lien commune currently has over 3,000 households (approximately 13,400 people), with agriculture being the main source of income (about 75% of households). Besides rice cultivation, farmers have also developed many effective economic models.
Examples include vegetable production in greenhouses in Sen 1 hamlet; flower cultivation combined with sightseeing and photography in Lien Mau 3 hamlet; and black snail farming in Hong Son and Lien Mau 1 hamlets. Notably, the commune has directed the cultivation of lotus in ponds in Lang Sen, Lien Hong, Mau Tai, Hoang Tru hamlets, and some areas of double-cropping rice land along National Highway 46, Provincial Road 540, and Mang Tang Lake in Hong Son hamlet.
Thanks to this, the entire commune now has more than 20 hectares of lotus, which not only brings economic benefits but also creates a beautiful landscape, contributing to attracting tourists. This season, visiting Kim Lien allows you to admire the lotus ponds and lakes blooming in vibrant pink, emitting a delicate fragrance, making everyone feel refreshed and relaxed.
Traveling through all 12 hamlets of Kim Lien commune, we felt the dynamism and transformation of the countryside through each smooth asphalt road and the rows of modern, well-built houses. At the same time, we gathered some important information and statistics: Kim Lien commune achieved the model new rural standard in 2022, so its infrastructure has reached a high level of completion.
Not only roads but also schools, health centers, and the national power grid have been built to a high standard. Currently, 5 schools in the commune have been recognized as meeting national standards, with 4 out of 5 schools achieving national standard level 2. Every year, approximately 100 students from the commune pass entrance exams to universities and colleges nationwide; the commune ranks first in the entire district in both academic excellence and general education quality…
Thanks to the attention of all levels in investing in infrastructure development, implementing socio-economic development policies, and the efforts of the Party committee, government, and people of the entire commune, Kim Lien commune has made remarkable progress in recent years. Economic growth reached 9.1%; average income reached 61 million VND/person/year; and the poverty rate has dropped to only 0.57%. This serves as a driving force for officials and people to continue striving, to forever be worthy of being the homeland of the beloved President Ho Chi Minh.
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Mr. Vuong Ba Tung - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Kim Lien Commune.
Joy of origin
As May arrives, the Vietnamese people remember Uncle Ho even more fondly. Many have made pilgrimages to Kim Lien to offer him fresh flowers. Upon arriving at his birthplace, everyone is deeply moved by the simple scenery associated with his family and childhood. Each person has their own emotions, but they all share a common pride in returning to their "common homeland" and a profound sense of gratitude and boundless love for President Ho Chi Minh.
Coming from Hanoi, Ms. Nguyen Thi Loan shared: “This time, I and my friends from the retirement group visited President Ho Chi Minh's hometown right on his birthday. Upon arriving in Kim Lien, the fatigue from the long journey seemed to vanish, leaving only joy. Because this place has changed so much compared to seven years ago, when I first visited. Looking at the straight, tree-lined roads, the golden ripe rice fields, and feeling the warm and fulfilling life of the countryside here…”
Meanwhile, Nguyen Chi Thanh traveled thousands of kilometers from Binh Duong to Nghe An to join the crowds visiting President Ho Chi Minh's birthplace. He recalled that as a child he had visited the area with his parents, and had the opportunity to see both his paternal and maternal hometowns.
In the memory of the young man from the South, the Kim Lien Historical Site used to be quite simple, and the lives of the people in Kim Lien were still difficult, with small houses and bumpy roads. Returning this time, Mr. Thanh was extremely surprised by the changes in the Kim Lien countryside, especially the lives of the people in President Ho Chi Minh's hometown.
Through the media, I learned that Nghe An province in general, and Kim Lien commune in particular, have undergone many changes, but I was truly surprised by the rapid pace of development. Sitting in the car, admiring the sturdy and modern buildings, my heart was filled with emotion."
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Mr. Nguyen Chi Thanh - A tourist from Binh Duong province
At the Kim Lien National Special Historical Site, we met a special guest, Aiden Jade Smith, a young man from the distant country of South Africa. According to Aiden Jade Smith, he has known about President Ho Chi Minh since childhood, having heard many stories from his teachers and parents about the great leader of Vietnam and the courageous spirit of his country.
Everyone says Ho Chi Minh's hometown is Nam Dan (Nghe An), a poor rural area in central Vietnam. Nam Dan, in the minds of him and his peers, appears as a land of poverty, where people live in makeshift houses and struggle to make a living.
When Aiden Jade Smith had the opportunity to visit Vietnam, he immediately arranged his schedule to go to Nghe An, specifically to Nam Dan, to visit the Kim Lien Historical Site. Along the way, he was extremely surprised by the wide, spacious roads, the long lines of cars; the rice fields heavy with ripe grains; the rows of modern houses on both sides of the road; and the lush, prosperous countryside.
Aiden Jade Smith shared: “There is a huge difference between what I heard and what I saw. It's not that my teachers, parents, or anyone else were wrong, but rather that the people here have done something miraculous in transforming life in the homeland of President Ho Chi Minh.”
People continue to make pilgrimages to President Ho Chi Minh's birthplace. They come here to participate in the activities of the Lotus Village Festival, to offer him songs, melodies, and their undying love and faith...
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