That place is Khuoi Dam

Khuoi Dam, Na Khan hamlet, Nghia Ta commune (Cho Don district, Bac Kan province ) is where the newspaper Su That (Truth), the predecessor of Nhan Dan (People's) newspaper, was headquartered in 1947. On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Vietnamese Revolutionary Press Day, we returned to Khuoi Dam. The communes in the Cho Don safe zone, such as Luong Bang, Nghia Ta, and Binh Trung, are now filled with the vibrant green of vast forests. From National Highway 3C, turning off at the beginning of Khuoi Day bridge, a small dirt road winds through the endless expanse of lush green Mỡ (a type of forest).

Mr. Trieu Van La, the caretaker of the Khuoi Dam historical site, led us to the old Mỡ trees, their roots protruding from the ground, standing firm as witnesses to time: "This is a Mỡ forest that has been harvested once. New shoots grow from the old roots, so they grow faster and stronger." After more than a kilometer along a bumpy dirt road, the Khuoi Dam historical monument gradually appeared in the old forest, leaning against the trunk of an ancient Lim tree shedding its leaves, creating a lush green corner of the sky. A small stream gurgled behind the monument, blending with the rustling of leaves.

Since 2016, Mr. Trieu Van La has voluntarily looked after the historical site, diligently cleaning, sweeping leaves, and mowing grass every day, without expecting any compensation. "This place is a testament to history; we must preserve it so that future generations will understand the hardships our ancestors endured," Mr. La said proudly.

Khuổi Đăm, meaning "black stream" in the Tay language, lies at the foot of Khau Ty mountain in Nghia Ta commune. According to the elders of Na Khan village, in 1947, the area was a wild, dense forest, teeming with wild animals, and few dared venture near it. Mr. Trieu Van La pointed to the lush green mountain range: "Nghia Ta has three large mountains: Khau Bon, Khau Ty, and Khau Lieng. Khuổi Đăm is next to Khau Chu, which used to be overgrown with old crocodiles. From here, it's easy to get to Tuyen Quang , to the Central Party Office in Khuoi Linh or Na Pau, where President Ho Chi Minh once stayed and worked."

According to the elders here, this location is ideal for both offense and defense, perfect for communication. According to the History of the Nghia Ta Commune Party Committee, in 1947, the newspaper Su That (The Truth) evacuated to Khuoi Dam, bringing with it a large contingent of cadres and bulky equipment, including a printing press so heavy it required 18-20 people to carry.

Here, the newspaper set up three work areas: a workshop, a workers' quarters, and a staff quarters. In a small house deep in the forest, the newspaper Sự Thật (Truth) regularly published front-line reports and insightful theoretical articles. In particular, at Khuổi Đăm, the newspaper published many important articles by President Ho Chi Minh, such as "Revising Working Methods," and "The Protracted Resistance Will Certainly Be Victorious," signed under the pseudonyms XYZ, AGLT, and Lê Nhân…

Mr. Ma Van Vang, the last surviving witness of the "Truth Newspaper" days in Khuoi Dam, now 93 years old, solemnly hangs the national flag next to a picture of President Ho Chi Minh on a simple wooden wall. He slowly recounts: "Back then, I was only 15 years old, and occasionally the officials would let me play near the headquarters. Near the office there was a hill where the officials dug tunnels to burn charcoal to power the machinery."

Two large charcoal kilns, the locals call that place Lo Than - charcoal kiln in the Tay language. When the newspaper moved away, my mother, Mrs. Ma Thi Mao, also helped carry the machinery. The machinery was so big, it had to be transported downstream on a raft…”. According to Ha Thi Tuyet, Deputy Head of the Culture and Information Department of Cho Don District, the Khuoi Dam relic site was recognized as a provincial-level historical relic in 2011.

Through the years, the Cho Don Safe Zone has preserved its revolutionary traditions intact. Like the ever-growing, vibrant Mo Forest constantly regenerating from its silent, ancient roots, today's young generation is continuing the story of Khuoi Dam with new steps.

In Nghia Ta commune, economic development is flourishing. Veteran Chu Viet Hoa, from Ban Bang village, is a pioneer in cultivating and processing golden flower tea. After being discharged from the army in 1982, he struggled with poverty. In 2019, he established Hoa Thinh Cooperative, specializing in the production of golden flower tea. In 2020, his product became the first in Bac Kan to achieve OCOP 3-star certification. Not stopping there, Mr. Hoa also encouraged the Dao ethnic minority people to cultivate dong leaves under the forest canopy, creating a stable income for the community.

Together with Mr. Hoa, Ms. Duong Khanh Ly continued the tradition by establishing the Nghia Ta Agricultural and Forestry Cooperative, investing in a solar-powered drying factory for golden flower tea, creating jobs for 5-6 workers with an income of nearly 5 million VND per month. The cooperative owns more than 5 hectares of raw material area and is linked with 8 households. Thanks to the exemplary elderly and the enthusiastic younger generation, golden flower tea, considered the "green gold" of Nghia Ta, is expanding its market reach, achieving a value of millions of VND per kilogram of dried flowers.

The lush green forests, once sheltering resistance fighters, now nurture a new generation, enriching and beautifying their homeland. Nghia Ta today is one of the first communes in Bac Kan to achieve the new rural standard since 2020. Infrastructure has been upgraded, and the lives of the people are becoming increasingly prosperous.

In Cho Don district, a former safe zone, over 95% of households have access to the national power grid and clean water, over 95% of students have graduated from high school, and the number of poor and near-poor households has decreased significantly. Ma Thi Na, Deputy Secretary of the Cho Don District Party Committee, shared: “From 1946 to 1954, many central agencies, including the newspaper Su That (Truth), the predecessor of Nhan Dan (People's) newspaper, had their headquarters here. The presence of the newspaper was an important milestone, arousing revolutionary consciousness and promoting the building of a prosperous homeland.”

On November 20, 2023, the Prime Minister approved the conservation plan for the Cho Don Safe Zone, a special national historical site. In the near future, several communes in the area will merge, forming a historical and ecological tourism route. Khuoi Dam – the legendary "black stream" – will continue to tell stories of past footsteps, where new life is flourishing today.

TUAN SON

Source: https://nhandan.vn/noi-ay-khuoi-dam-post886764.html