"If you want to achieve high academic success, come to Co Village."

The southern region, formerly Son Nam town, now comprises the three provinces of Ha Nam, Nam Dinh, and Ninh Binh . The village of Hanh Thien, now part of Xuan Hong commune, Xuan Truong district, Nam Dinh province, has long been renowned for its tradition of studiousness and is considered a land of "spiritual significance and outstanding people." Hanh Thien is the birthplace of General Secretary Truong Chinh and many other outstanding revolutionary activists of the Party and State.

The Eastern region was formerly the Hai Dong town, located east of Thang Long, and now comprises the provinces of Hung Yen , Hai Duong, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, and Thai Binh.

Co Am (often called Co village) is the birthplace of the scholar Nguyen Binh Khiem and many other highly accomplished scholars throughout history; notably, Tran Luong Bat, who passed the doctoral examination in 1664 during the Later Le Dynasty, rose to the position of Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, and was posthumously granted the title of Left Vice Minister; and Tran Cong Han, who passed the doctoral examination in 1733 during the Later Le Dynasty, held the position of Grand Scholar of the Han Lam Academy, died in battle while suppressing rebels, and was posthumously granted the title of Grand Scholar of the Dong Cac Academy...

A Party branch meeting of Branch 5 was held at Ha communal house (Co Am). Photo: DUONG THI BICH

In the 20th and early 21st centuries, many people from Co Am continued to achieve success in all aspects of life. In literature, Co Am boasts two brothers, Tran Tieu and Tran Khanh Du (also known as Khai Hung in the Tu Luc literary group, author of the two famous novels "The Soul of the Butterfly Dreaming of Immortality" and "Halfway Through Spring"). In the arts, there is Professor Tran Bang, a renowned researcher of traditional Vietnamese opera (cheo), and artist Tran Luc... In mathematics, there is Professor, Doctor Dao Trong Thi, former Chairman of the Committee on Culture, Education, Youth, and Children of the National Assembly. In history, there is Lieutenant General, Professor, Doctor Hoang Phuong, former Director of the Vietnam Military History Institute. In medicine, there is Dr. Tran Trong Hai, elected as a member of the New York Academy of Sciences...

Many are surprised that Co Am, a commune located in the most remote area of ​​Hai Phong (excluding island communes), has produced a significant number of students who have won awards in national and international student competitions. Just counting those from Co Am who have been recognized as academicians, professors, associate professors, and doctors, the number reaches nearly 200.

Regarding the saying "If you want to achieve high academic success, come to Co Am village," many believe it's due to feng shui. However, according to Comrade Dao Nguyen Cu, Secretary of the Party Committee of the commune, the success of the village's descendants stems from a tradition of valuing education. In the past, Co Am village was densely populated and suffered from drought and poor harvests, so families encouraged their children to study and take exams to become officials, teachers, or settle far from home. In 1946, Co Am was honored to receive a letter of commendation and a photograph of President Ho Chi Minh for its achievements in "eradicating hunger and illiteracy." Currently, Co Am maintains a beautiful custom: valuing educated people more than those who are wealthy or hold high positions. Families don't usually boast about their children's positions or wealth, but rather their academic titles and degrees. The commune's Education Promotion Association predates the Vietnam Education Promotion Association. Most clans in the commune have their own education promotion funds. Children and grandchildren who excel in their studies are rewarded from the family lineage down to the neighborhood, village, and commune levels...

The birthplace of the first Communist Party branch in Vinh Bao.

On August 8, 1938, at the private residence of Party member Trinh Khac Dan in Hamlet 1, Co Am Commune, with the participation of members of the Party Committee of Hai Duong Province (at that time Vinh Bao belonged to Hai Duong Province), the Co Am branch of the Communist Party of Vietnam was established with three initial members: Trinh Khac Dan, Dao Trong Khoan, and Nguyen Van Uoc. Two of these members, Trinh Khac Dan and Dao Trong Khoan, were from Co Am. This was the first Communist Party branch of Vinh Bao District and also the predecessor of the Vinh Bao District Party Committee today.

Under the leadership of the Party branch, the revolutionary movement in Co Am and Vinh Bao spread widely. During the resistance against French colonialism, the Co Am guerrillas participated in many battles using homemade weapons and weapons captured from the enemy. Among them was the famous battle where they disguised themselves as women going to the Nam Am market and then unexpectedly used carrying poles to attack European and African soldiers, seizing their weapons. Many people in the area still remember the poem warning the French at that time: “The Co Am guerrillas are very skillful! / Disguising themselves as women in broad daylight / Using carrying poles to attack the French right in the market / If the enemy wants to live, they must leave immediately.”

During the years of resistance against the US and for national liberation, Co Am was always a leading example of the "Not a single grain of rice is lacking, not a single soldier is lacking" movement in Vinh Bao district. Almost every family in the commune had a member serving in the army, with 15 families having 3 to 5 sons serving; 13 families had two sons who were martyrs. The commune has 21 Heroic Vietnamese Mothers. Notably, three sisters, Dao Thi Nhu, Dao Thi Nhu, and Dao Thi Tiu, are all Heroic Vietnamese Mothers. All three had two sons who were martyrs. Co Am was also the first commune in Vinh Bao district to receive the prestigious title of Heroic Unit of the People's Armed Forces.

DO PHU THO

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