Uncle Ho's letter to the people and cadres of Nghe An mountainous district and the pride of more than half a century

In mid-May, we had the opportunity to visit and talk with Mr. Lo Khanh Xuyen (born 1930) - former Head of the Department of Education and Training of Que Phong district. In a small house in Don village, Muong Noc commune, the veteran cadre is now over 90 years old, but he still maintains a clear and sharp mind. His memory goes back more than half a century, he said, in 1963, Que Phong district was established on the basis of separating 6 communes: Chau Kim, Chau Thon, Cam Muon, Chau Hung, Chau Phuong, Thong Thu of Quy Chau district.

“In the early days of the district’s establishment, the socio-economic conditions were extremely difficult. Que Phong is a border district with rugged terrain and difficult transportation. From the village to the commune, to the district, one had to walk for many days to get there. Road 48 from the district to the province was also very difficult, there were no cars. The transportation of goods from the central warehouse in Quy Chau to serve the people’s lives all depended on the shoulders of people,” said Mr. Lo Khanh Xuyen.

At that time, more than 90% of the district's population was illiterate and 80% of the population did not know Kinh, so some cadres and people from the lowlands who came to Que Phong to work encountered many difficulties in communication. More worryingly, because of language barriers, commune and village cadres could not read official documents and instructions sent from the district, leading to many limitations and inadequacies in actual work.

Photo: Diep Phuong. Technique: Huu Quan

Mr. Lo Khanh Xuyen still remembers the case of the Quang Phong commune cadre who had to return the document to the district because he could not read it. Many cooperatives were established and then disbanded because the cadres in charge were weak and did not know how to calculate points clearly and distinctly for the members; the calculation mainly used the method of breaking sticks or taking corn kernels to count the work; the good ones only knew how to sign their names!

Faced with that situation, the Que Phong district government launched a learning competition movement, with the policy of developing supplementary cultural education in parallel with general education. Everywhere there was a slogan to eradicate illiteracy and affirmed: The urgent issue at hand was to mobilize the people of the whole district to launch a learning competition movement.

The district has proposed three solutions to focus on promoting educational development. One is to remind people of the past of poverty, illiteracy, and poverty; thereby enlightening them about their rights and obligations to go to school. Two is to care for teachers' lives both spiritually and materially; focus on training good teachers to join the Party. Three is to open a school for the Youth Union to both study and work to attract more and more young people to go to school.

Thinking about the years of fighting side by side with the villagers to eradicate illiteracy, Mr. Xuyen recalled: "The memory I remember most is the affection of colleagues from the lowlands for the people from the highlands. It was very hard for teachers to work here. When the Nghe An Department of Education and Training called for volunteer teachers to sponsor the highland districts, in early 1963, 50 teachers from the lowlands came to Que Phong to both eradicate illiteracy and teach cultural supplementary education; and help the border communes with national security and defense work. Each teacher worked for 3-4 years before returning home.

Although the villagers contributed food and clothing to support the teachers, when they returned to their families, they all returned empty-handed. The economic life of the teachers' families in their hometown was very difficult. However, the teachers remained steadfast in spirit, considering Que Phong as their second hometown. During the time when the locality had a malaria epidemic, there was no hospital, no medicine, and even no mosquito nets to sleep in. Many teachers suffered serious health effects, but they never gave up teaching the people.

Thanks to the examples of dedicated and enthusiastic teachers, along with good propaganda work, many people enthusiastically participated in the campaign to eliminate illiteracy. Just like that, those who knew a lot taught those who knew little, and those who knew little taught those who did not know. In a literacy class at that time, all generations, from the elderly to children, worked together to study.

After nearly 3 years, with the correct policy of the Party, most of the people have become literate, the cultural level of key officials of the commune and cooperative has been raised. Que Phong has had 89 people graduating from secondary school with cultural supplementary education and 65 people graduating from secondary school with general education.

At that time, according to statistics for the whole province, people studying all three fields of study accounted for 37.4% of the population; meanwhile, Que Phong district alone accounted for 40.4% of the population.

By 1965, Que Phong was recognized for completing the first 5-year cultural supplementary plan one year ahead of schedule. With this achievement, Uncle Ho sent a letter of praise to the cadres and people of the district.

The letter reads:“I am very pleased to commend the people and cadres of all ethnic groups in the district for their efforts and successful completion of the 5-year plan for cultural education 1 year ahead of schedule. I hope that the people and cadres of the district will strive to compete and achieve many achievements in increasing production, be ready to fight and continue to study and make further progress, contributing worthily to the cause of fighting against the US and saving the country of all our people. I cordially send my regards to the elderly, the youth and children... Warm greetings and victory!”

Photo of Uncle Ho's letter to the people and cadres of all ethnic groups in Que Phong district on April 12, 1966. Documentary photo

The short but warm letter, expressing Uncle Ho's sincere concern and devotion for the ethnic minorities in the remote border district, has left a deep impression on the minds of many generations of Que Phong people, leaving an indescribable sense of honor and pride.

Mr. Luong Sy Cuong - Head of the Department of Culture and Information of Que Phong district shared: During the past time, the letter was carefully preserved at the district's Archives, however, over time it has somewhat faded, the handwriting is no longer intact. Therefore, the Department of Culture and Information sent an official dispatch to the Department of Culture and Information asking for permission to restore the letter.

Together with the Provincial Library and Kim Lien Relic Site, Que Phong District has researched ways to restore it. The handwritten copy (draft) of the letter was kept at the Vietnam History Museum, then the Kim Lien Relic Site contacted and brought it back to be restored along with the letter kept in Que Phong to the Ho Chi Minh City Museum.

Uncle Ho's shrine in the Nine-room Temple grounds was built in the traditional stilt house architecture of the Thai ethnic group, expressing their boundless respect and longing for President Ho Chi Minh. Photo courtesy

The letter of President Ho Chi Minh sent to the people of Que Phong in 1966 is currently displayed at 4 important locations of the district. One is carved on a stone stele and erected in the yard of the People's Committee of Que Phong district; the remaining 3 places where the letter is framed and hung are: Uncle Ho's altar on the 3rd floor of the People's Committee of the district, the district's Traditional House and Uncle Ho's temple on the top of Pu Chu Nhang in Khoang village, Chau Kim commune, Que Phong district, located in the same area as the Nine-chamber Temple - the place considered the most sacred in this borderland. It is known that Uncle Ho's temple was jointly built by the Party Committee and people of Que Phong since 2004, and inaugurated at the end of 2005.

The stone stele engraved with Uncle Ho's letter is placed in the premises of Que Phong District People's Committee. Photo: Diep Phuong

Over the past 5 decades, the government and people of all ethnic groups in Que Phong district have always considered Uncle Ho's letter as a slogan to strive to study, practice, work and produce. Overcoming space, time, and even the fading that seems inevitable in the process of socio-economic development, that letter remains forever the pride and the compass of the people of Que district in every step forward./.