In Cam Phong

The scenic Cửa Hà area captivates the hearts of visitors. Photo: Khánh Lộc

According to local records and folklore, before the 16th century, the Cam Phong area was still pristine amidst the tranquil rivers and mountains. Around the 17th century, some Muong people from Ba Thuoc (formerly) sought refuge from the oppression of the local chieftains and established a settlement here. Around the same time, some Kinh people from Vinh Loc – folklore says they were descendants of soldiers who had contributed to the construction of the Ho Dynasty citadel in the past – also migrated up the Ma River to this area to settle. Initially, they resided in Thung Bang, later moving to Phong Y.

Originally a wild and overgrown land, generations of hardworking people toiled tirelessly, battling wild animals to build peaceful villages. However, it wasn't until the late 19th and early 20th centuries that this area truly became a destination for people from all over. At that time, to serve their colonial exploitation and rule, the French built a road from Thanh Hoa town, through Cam Phong, up to the former districts of Ba Thuoc and Quan Hoa. And right in Cam Phong, the French built military outposts, hospitals, and schools...

From here, people from the lowland districts of Thanh Hoa province, some Indian and Chinese immigrants came to Cam Phong to trade, concentrating most heavily in Cua Ha... Cua Ha became a bustling trading town, with boats and ships everywhere. Cua Ha was not only the socio -economic center of Cam Thuy district but also the economic center of the entire mountainous region of Thanh Hoa; it was a gateway for trade to the highlands, to neighboring Laos, and to the Thanh Hoa plains.

During the resistance against French colonialism, the Cam Phong area along the Ma River became a refuge for people from the northern provinces. And when the resistance was victorious, many chose to remain in the villages of Cam Phong.

Originally a land where people from all over the country settled, Cam Phong's villages boasted a diverse character. This diversity was evident not only in their cultural lives but also in their mindsets and economic practices. While the first generations of settlers contributed to the development and establishment of villages, later generations brought with them production experience, traditional crafts, and business acumen. Together, they transformed Cam Phong into a vibrant and thriving region for a long time. Even today, the names Cua Ha and Phong Y in Cam Phong remain evocative place names.

When mentioning Cam Phong, with its Cua Ha wharf and Phong Y village, one cannot fail to mention its contributions to the resistance against the French, especially during the Dien Bien Phu campaign. With its convenient transportation links, the Cua Ha wharf in Cam Phong provided easy access to the mountainous regions and to neighboring Laos. Therefore, during the Dien Bien Phu campaign, the Cua Ha wharf became a gathering point for soldiers, civilian laborers, and supplies to support the campaign.

According to the elders in the village, in those days, to avoid detection by the enemy, every night, soldiers and civilian workers would set off, crossing the Cua Ha ferry, their footsteps echoing throughout the night. The boats of the people of Cam Phong transported soldiers and civilian workers across the Ma River to the front lines night after night, one unit following another throughout the campaign season.

During the Dien Bien Phu campaign, the people of Cam Phong united their efforts and contributed manpower and resources to support the front lines. Besides the soldiers, hundreds of Cam Phong residents participated in the civilian labor force, transporting food and ammunition. In addition to small boats, bicycles were one of the means of transport that the people of Cam Phong mobilized to the fullest extent to support the resistance.

Through two wars of resistance against France and the United States, and through the ups and downs of time, the former Cam Phong area – now part of Cam Thuy commune – with its once bustling docks and trading activities, has undergone many changes. Standing on the large bridge over the Ma River, looking towards Cua Ha wharf and Cua Ha cave, Mr. Do Van Dung, Party Secretary and head of Cua Ha village in Cam Thuy commune, shared: “Time changes many things, and this place is no exception. 70 or 80 years ago, Cua Ha wharf was very different from today. Even so, the imprints and contributions of our ancestors, as well as the names and place names of this land, have become an indelible part of our memories and a source of pride for succeeding generations.”

Khanh Loc

This article uses content from the book "History of the Party Committee of Cam Phong Commune," published by Culture and Information Publishing House, 2013.

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