Company 54, Hai Ninh province troops during the resistance war against the French. (Photo: Quang Ninh Museum archives)
Hai Ninh Province and Hong Quang region are located on the same strip of land in the Northeast of Vietnam. Before 1906, they shared a single administrative unit called Quang Yen Province. After the French colonial invasion and rule of Vietnam, on December 10, 1906, the Governor-General of Indochina issued a decree establishing Hai Ninh Province by separating natural land from Ba Che and Tien Yen districts and a part of Cai Bau Island (present-day Van Yen commune), extending eastward from Quang Yen Province.
Before merging with the Hong Quang region to form Quang Ninh province in October 1963, Hai Ninh province had 7 districts: Mong Cai, Ha Coi, Dam Ha, Tien Yen, Binh Lieu, Dinh Lap (now belonging to Lang Son province), and Hai Chi (now Ba Che).
The remains of Voòng A Sáng's mansion at Vạn Hoa Cape on Cái Bầu Island (Vân Đồn), who was appointed by the French as the leader of the so-called "Nùng Autonomous Region" in Hải Ninh province during the years 1947-1954. Photo: TM
During the resistance war against French colonialism, with close coordination between armed struggle, political struggle, and military mobilization, the army and people of Hai Ninh province and other localities dismantled a large part of the enemy's armed forces on the Northeast battlefield, making a significant contribution to the great victory of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, completely liberating the North and restoring peace in Indochina.
On July 20, 1954, the Geneva Accords were signed. The Geneva Accords stipulated that the participating countries would respect the fundamental national rights of the people of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. A ceasefire was to be implemented simultaneously in Vietnam and throughout the Indochina battlefield. France withdrew its troops from the north of the 17th parallel, the temporary military line dividing Vietnam into two regions, and proceeded with free general elections throughout the country after two years to unify the nation. According to the ceasefire agreement, from July 27, 1954, to August 8, 1954, the French colonial forces withdrew from Hai Ninh province and the districts of Cam Pha and Hoanh Bo.
French outpost in Tien Yen in 1952. Archival photo.
The Geneva Accords stipulated that the French colonialists "should not destroy or damage public property or infringe upon the lives and property of civilians." However, with their stubborn and reactionary nature, and under pressure from the American imperialists, the French colonialists conspired to sabotage the agreement and undermine our forces in every way. While our forces strictly adhered to the Agreement, the French army relentlessly raided and plundered property, conscripted young men into the army, forced our people to migrate to the South, dismantled machinery, encouraged reactionary parties to rise up against the revolution, and intensified the planting of spies in factories, enterprises, and localities with the aim of long-term sabotage against us.
In Hai Ninh province at that time, before retreating, the enemy dismantled machinery, destroyed houses and vehicles they couldn't take with them. Particularly serious was Tien Yen, where the enemy's henchmen burned down more than 100 houses. To terrorize the population, the French army and its collaborators engaged in looting, extortion, and murder, creating an atmosphere of panic and fear in the areas from which they were preparing to withdraw. The belligerent French colonialists and American imperialists also actively planted reactionary elements, deployed forces locally, and plotted to incite riots in areas where our base was still weak. In Ha Coi, reactionary elements planned to organize armed resistance against the liberation forces. In Ba Che district and the western part of Tien Yen district, the enemy used armed reactionary organizations to control progressive masses and terrorize cadres and party members.
Mr. Ha Trung Tuan, from Hoa Binh area, Tien Yen town, a veteran of the 238th Regiment (332nd Division, Northeast Military Region), recounts to the younger generation of Tien Yen the day of the takeover of Tien Yen on August 8, 1954.
Recognizing the enemy's plot, our Party determined the complex nature of the takeover effort, essentially a fierce and arduous class struggle. All grassroots Party committees thoroughly understood the objectives of the struggle to take over the liberated areas: to recover enemy outposts; to stabilize the ideology of all strata of the people and establish revolutionary order; and to restore normal life for the people. To establish revolutionary order, the Party committees advocated relying on armed forces and mobilizing the masses to rise up and fight against the French colonialists who were violating the Agreement.
To prepare for the takeover of the newly liberated area, the Hai Ninh Provincial Party Committee held an expanded meeting in Phong Du commune, Tien Yen district. The meeting discussed and approved the entire plan and program of activities in all fields during the initial period of takeover. In particular, the Provincial Party Committee thoroughly disseminated the policies of the Party and State regarding the newly liberated area. At this meeting, the Hai Ninh Provincial Party Committee arranged the staff of the Party and government agencies in the province. The Hai Ninh Provincial Military and Political Committee consisted of 7 members, with Comrade Do Chinh (Secretary and Political Commissar of the Provincial Military Command) as Chairman and Comrade Do Man (Chairman of the Provincial Resistance and Administrative Committee) as Vice Chairman.
The city of Mong Cai today.
The forces taking over Hai Ninh province were divided into two parts: One part, led by the Chairman of the Military-Political Committee, took over Tien Yen, Dam Ha, and Ba Che. This was the main part responsible for taking over the province's key administrative offices. The second part, led by a member of the Military-Political Committee, took over the Mong Cai and Ha Coi areas.
The people of various ethnic groups in Hai Ninh province enthusiastically held rallies to welcome the soldiers and resistance cadres who came to liberate the province. The fighting spirit of the people on liberation day crushed all the plots of rebellion by the reactionary forces. The people of various ethnic groups, who had lived under the yoke of reactionary rule for decades, were overjoyed to finally be free.
Terrified by the fighting spirit of our people, the French colonialists were forced to withdraw their troops before the deadline stipulated in the Geneva Agreement (15 days after the ceasefire, which was August 11, 1954).
On July 27, 1954, French troops withdrew from the Ha Vuc - Cai Rong area.
On July 28, 1954, French troops withdrew from Dam Ha and Ba Che districts. Although unexpected, thanks to good preparation, our forces were able to advance and take over Dam Ha on the same day.
On July 30, 1954, the French troops withdrew from Ha Coi district, and our forces promptly advanced to take over on the same day.
On July 31, 1954, the French troops withdrew from Ha Gian.
On August 2, 1954, French troops withdrew from the town of Mong Cai.
On August 8, 1954, French troops withdrew from Tien Yen district, and our forces advanced to take over. Hai Ninh province was completely liberated.
Youth union members and students from Dam Ha district learn about history at the Nui Hua archaeological, historical, and scenic site (Dai Binh commune).
Recalling the memories of the takeover day, Mr. Ha Trung Tuan, from Hoa Binh area, Tien Yen town, reminisced: "In 1954, I was a soldier in Regiment 238, Division 332 of the Northeast Military Region, advancing to take over Tien Yen. The moment our troops marched through Tien Yen town that morning will forever be an unforgettable memory. The regiment, with over 1,000 men, was divided into three groups, marching from Dinh Lap (Lang Son) to Tien Yen, shouting revolutionary propaganda slogans along the way. At that time, everyone in us was brimming with enthusiasm, ready to begin rebuilding the district. Crossing the French barbed wire fence at the beginning of Yen Than, the troops bravely advanced into the central area. Seeing the soldiers marching in, old and young alike rushed into the streets to join in the bustling atmosphere of the takeover day. Wherever our troops went, the people cheered." Throughout the town and surrounding areas such as Tien Lang, Khe Tu, Lo Voi, etc., a forest of flags and banners fluttered in the autumn sun, adding to the revolutionary fervor of the march by the militia, soldiers, and local people.
After taking over the province, Hai Ninh consolidated its government and established new administrations in 17 communes. Our government promptly addressed urgent and important issues such as famine relief, production development, suppression of leading reactionary elements, and the struggle against the enemy's forced migration of people to the South. As a result, the enemy's infiltrators were essentially isolated; some surrendered, others remained silent or fled, and the stable situation in the border region supported the 300-day struggle to take over the area. The victory in the struggle to take over the newly liberated region opened a new phase in the struggle for the complete liberation of Quang Yen province and the Hon Gai Special Zone. This served as an important foundation for the army and people of Quang Ninh province to later achieve great victories of profound historical and epochal significance in the 20th century and the early 21st century, steadily advancing on the path of development and integration.
Nguyen Thanh
Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/tinh-hai-ninh-sach-bong-quan-thu-3352105.html
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