Doc Thiet, the hero of the village.

(Baonghean) - Doc Thiet was a leader in the Can Vuong movement against the French by the Thai people in Nghe An province during the years 1886-1897. For the villagers in Chau Hoi and Chau Nga communes (Quy Chau district), Doc Thiet is a hero who will forever live on in their hearts…

According to some historical sources, Doc Thiet's real name was Lang Van Thiet, the son of military officer Lang Van Thu, who served under Emperor Tu Duc. He was born in 1850 in Chieng village, Gia Hoi commune, Dong Lac district, now Chau Hoi commune, Quy Chau district. From a young age, he was fond of archery and swordsmanship. Growing up strong and well-connected, he gained great prestige in the community. He is believed to have made significant contributions in suppressing the Xa people's rebellion that was disrupting the villages in western Nghe An. During a trip to China, Ton That Thuyet and Emperor Ham Nghi stopped at Doc Thiet's headquarters. There, Ton That Thuyet assigned him the task of coordinating with Cam Ba Thuoc's resistance forces in western Thanh Hoa to establish a base against the French. The resistance, which lasted more than 10 years in western Nghe An and Thanh Hoa under Doc Thiet's command, ended with his heroic sacrifice in Thanh Nga village (Chau Nga commune, Quy Chau district). He was only 47 years old at the time.

Besides the stories passed down through generations by veterans, there is also a legend about Doc Thiet circulating among the people. Mr. Luong Xuan Lien, former Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Chau Hoi commune, recounted: People say that Doc Thiet had a protective amulet that the Thai people in Quy Chau call a "crippled stick." Thanks to this amulet, when he was captured, the enemy could not kill him because when wearing it, the person became miraculously immune. Bullets and knife stabs did not harm him. They put him in a mortar and pestle and stabbed him with a pestle, and poured boiling water on him, but he still survived. Later, someone devised a plan to use a sharpened stick to stab him from the anus to the stomach. In this way, the traitors killed Doc Thiet and displayed his head, while burying his body in Thanh Nga village, now Nga Son hamlet, Chau Nga commune (Quy Chau).

According to the account of Mr. Lang Van Thang (great-grandson of Doc Thiet), the story of his sacrifice differs somewhat from historical records: During the final stages of the uprising, Doc Thiet's forces faced difficulties, so he sought refuge with his brother-in-law, Cam Ba Thuoc, who was also fighting against the French in the mountainous region of Thanh Hoa. At that time, Cam Ba Thuoc was also captured and executed by the enemy. With the loss of this alliance, he had to retreat to the Trinh Van base in what is now Chau Nga commune. At that time, the local government offered a reward: whoever killed Doc Thiet would inherit all the land buried underground in the village; the government would only take what was visible, such as fields and gardens. Despite his careful precautions, he was unaware that the enemy had used a shortcut to ambush him under the house. That night, sensing movement, he went to the window to observe the situation and saw four guns pointed upwards, firing. He was wounded by a bullet. After stopping the bleeding with opium, he fled. Upon reaching the mouth of the stream where the Chau Nga ravine flows into the Hieu River, he was pursued and killed by the enemy.

Doc Thiet's tomb area.

With the death of Doc Thiet, the anti-French resistance movement in the mountainous regions of Nghe An and Thanh Hoa gradually subsided. The village lost an outstanding son. But he will forever remain a source of pride for future generations. For more than a decade, Doc Thiet's remains have been moved from Chau Nga to Chau Hoi, his birthplace. The village still retains its ancient charm from the time when Doc Thiet led the resistance against the French, with thatched houses nestled under lush green palm trees. Adjacent to the village is the Lang Van Thiet tomb complex, recognized as a historical and cultural relic by the Ministry of Culture and Information in 1998. The tomb is located on a plot of land approximately 800 square meters in size. Next to the tomb, which was relocated from Chau Nga commune, stands an apple tree believed to be where the French displayed Doc Thiet's severed head. Later, this apple tree was cut down several times, but new shoots sprouted from its stump and grew into a new tree. The villagers consider it a sacred tree, a symbol of the community's indomitable spirit. The memorial site was built, and every month people come to light incense to commemorate the talented leader of the village. Every year, on the Day of War Invalids and Martyrs (July 27th), outstanding students from the locality come here to listen to veterans recount the nation's tradition of fighting against foreign invaders and the story of the hero Doc Thiet.

Huu Vi - Ngoc Lan