National Monument Becomes Drug Injection Spot

(Baonghean.vn) - Both are National Historical Relics in Vo Liet Commune (Thanh Chuong), but while Bach Ma Temple is solemn and clean, Vo Liet Communal House is shabby, deserted, and more dangerous, this famous communal house is gradually becoming a drug addiction hotspot.

Vo Liet Communal House was built in 1859 with a unique “mouth” shaped architecture - a matchbox. It is a relic marking many important historical events of the locality and the whole country. It was recognized as a National Historical Relic in 1988. However, recently, the relic has been degraded, deserted and shabby. Photo: Huy Thu.

Even sadder when entering the relic site, the grass and thorns are so tangled that they cover the entire path, even surrounding the walls of the houses, making visitors "not know which way is which". Photo: Huy Thu

What is more frightening is the sight of syringes lying haphazardly under the pillars of the communal house. Nguyen Sy Dai (22 years old), a fourth-year student at the Security Academy, visited the relic and said: "I feel sad about the degradation and desolation of Vo Liet communal house, and feel scared because there are so many syringes here." Photo: Huy Thu

Some corners of the walls in the communal house are used by drug addicts to smoke, inhale, and inject drugs. Traces left behind are burned walls and syringes still stained with blood. Photo: Huy Thu

On the steps leading up to the crescent lake and on the lake surface, there are all kinds of garbage, packaging, and syringes. Photo: Huy Thu

Especially under the trees around the crescent lake, there are many syringes with blood on them, along with tin foil, packaging, and glass medicine tubes. Photo: Huy Thu

Right at the entrance, syringes were found under the tree roots. Residents of Khai Tien hamlet, Vo Liet commune said: "In the past, this relic has been a gathering place for drug addicts in the area, they often gather here in the evenings. During the day, people herd buffalo and cows around the relic, but few people go to the hidden places inside for fear of stepping on syringes or pieces of glass." Photo: Huy Thu

Mr. Bui Xuan Linh, Chief of Vo Liet Commune Police, said: “Because the communal house is located in the center of the field, far from the village, with few people passing by, drug addicts often choose Vo Liet communal house as a gathering place to snort and inject drugs. Recently, although the commune police patrol force has been constantly pushing and chasing them away, these people still deliberately gather.”

Huy Thu