The sacred Lung Po flagpole

The image of the red flag with a bright yellow star on the roof of the flagpole, flying in the vast blue sky of Lung Po (Bat Xat district, Lao Cai province), reflecting on the Mother River is so beautiful, sacred and proud.

Lung Po Flagpole, 70 km northwest of Lao Cai city center, the road has many winding and tortuous sections, this is the first point where the Red River flows into Vietnam and is a project that affirms Vietnam's national border sovereignty . Coming here, everyone is filled with pride when seeing with their own eyes the national flag fluttering on the border, being told stories by border guards about the history of the struggle of border guards to protect the sacred border of the Fatherland in each period of history, at the same time to better understand the resilient fighting spirit along with the losses and sacrifices of the army and people along the northern border to protect every inch of land.

It is known that Lung Po - the ancient Vietnamese name is Long Bo, is a stream that is a small branch of the Thao River, originating from the Vietnam - China border mountain range in the northern part of Nam Xe commune, Phong Tho district, Lai Chau province. The source stream flows southeast to the end of Nam Xe commune. When it reaches the land of Y Ty commune, Bat Xat district, Lao Cai province, it changes direction to the northeast and flows to Lung Po village, A Mu Sung commune, in the local language it is called the big dragon hill, also meaning dragon head, the stream winds around the hilltop like a dragon head, pouring into Lung Po village junction. At that time, it meets the flow of the Nguyen Giang River (according to the name of the Chinese side) flowing into Vietnam under the name of the Red River, dividing the watershed between Vietnam and China at milestone 92. That is also the first point where the Red River flows into Vietnam. From here, the Red River flows tirelessly across Vietnamese land, through the midlands of palm forests and tea hills, then carries alluvium to create a fertile delta with a brilliant Red River civilization associated with many ups and downs of the nation's history.

To pay tribute to the heroes who died for the independence and sovereignty of the Fatherland's borders, Lao Cai province built the Lung Po flagpole right at the position of landmark number 92 at the foot of Dragon Mountain of Lung Po village, construction started on March 26, 2016. Lung Po flagpole is 41 m high, of which the body of the flagpole is 31.43 m, attached to the symbol of "Roof of Indochina" of the legendary Fansipan peak with a campus of 2,100 m2 invested by Lao Cai Provincial Youth Union and completed on December 16, 2017. Climbing 125 spiral steps will reach the top of the flagpole where the 25 m2 yellow star red flag symbolizing 25 ethnic brothers living in Lao Cai province proudly flutters in the border wind.

In the grounds of the flagpole, formerly the Lung Po Border Guard Station, is now the Memorial House of President Ho Chi Minh, a place to worship the souls of heroic martyrs and people of all ethnic groups in Bat Xat district who died in wars to protect national border sovereignty and the Fatherland throughout the history of building and defending the country of our people. This is not only a project to affirm national border sovereignty, to pay tribute to heroic martyrs who died for the independence and sovereignty of the Fatherland's border, but also a place where every Vietnamese person comes to learn about history, appreciate the past and love the S-shaped land more.

Lung Po is like a “lighthouse on the river” that lights up the entire border area. This project is both to affirm the sovereignty of the Fatherland and to educate the younger generation about the tradition of remembering the source of water when drinking water, and this is also a project of Lao Cai youth to welcome the success of the 11th National Congress of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union.

The national flagpole at Lung Po point once again reminds us of the heroic feats and sacrifices of the soldiers and people here who have kept the border land peaceful and is a symbol of national pride. From the top of the flagpole, we can look far away, following the red color of the Red River flowing below, where the immense green below are the corn, banana and cassava fields cultivated by the local people.

As the years pass, the image of the flag fluttering proudly in the sun and wind affirms that no matter what difficulties there are, the national border is always strong.

Source: http://baolamdong.vn/du-lich/202410/thieng-lieng-cot-co-lung-po-c88316a/