Preserving and promoting the values of the Nghe Tinh Soviet: From the blood shed, a glorious history was written.
Many times, stopping before the mass grave of Soviet martyrs from Nghe Tinh who died on September 12, 1930, in Thai Lao (Hung Nguyen commune), I fell silent in the tranquil space. The gentle breeze seemed to carry the breath of the past, echoing a tragic call.
In that moment, I understood even more deeply why the Nghe Tinh Soviet is called an immortal epic and why this legacy needs to be preserved as a treasure of the entire nation.
Where the past fuels the present.
In the course of Vietnamese revolutionary history, the Nghe Tinh Soviet (1930-1931) is a glorious milestone, affirming the invincible strength of the masses when they are enlightened and united under the banner of the Party.
Even though nearly a century has passed, that epic still leaves behind enduring spiritual and political values, an invaluable legacy of the Party, the nation, and the homeland of Nghe Tinh.
Preserving and promoting the Soviet heritage of Nghe Tinh today is not only a responsibility to show gratitude to our ancestors, but also a practical action to cultivate pride, resilience, and aspirations for present and future generations.
Ms. Truong Que Phuong, former Deputy Director in charge of professional affairs at the Nghe Tinh Soviet Museum (now the Nghe An - Nghe Tinh Soviet Museum), who has spent nearly 30 years dedicated to searching for and collecting documents and artifacts about the Soviet uprising, recounted:
“Each artifact brought to the exhibition represents a difficult journey. Some artifacts required traveling to many villages and communes, consulting with elderly people, and cross-referencing timelines and locations to avoid errors. We always consider this a reminder to respect historical truth down to the smallest detail.”
It was this meticulousness and thoroughness that created a vast and accurate archive of documents, becoming the foundation for many scientific works on the Soviet movement, on Soviet mothers, and on the struggles throughout Nghe An province.
The poems of communist soldier Dang Chanh Ky vividly portray that spirit:“Look, Ben Thuy is the first to rise up/There, Thanh Chuong follows suit/Nam Dan, Nghi Loc, Hung Nguyen/Anh Son, Ha Tinh all rise up at once...”.
Therefore, behind every book and every exhibition booth lies the sweat and dedication of many generations of officials, researchers, and witnesses of the revolution.
Within that heritage system, the Nghe Tinh Soviet Museum holds a particularly important position. Established in 1960 and officially inaugurated and opened to visitors for research and traditional education on September 12, 1963, the museum currently houses more than 17,000 documents and artifacts related to the Soviet movement and the revolutionary history of the homeland.
In particular, on February 3, 1964, President Ho Chi Minh signed the "Preface" to the Nghe Tinh Soviet Museum - a testament to the great historical significance of the movement and the important role of the museum in preserving and promoting its values.
During the days when the whole of Nghe An province was commemorating the 95th anniversary of the Nghe Tinh Soviet Uprising, at the Nghe An - Nghe Tinh Soviet Museum grounds, Ms. Le Thu Hien - Acting Director of the museum, received us with an enthusiastic voice and eyes full of passion.
She shared information about a series of ongoing and upcoming activities, and also revealed many aspirations and plans to link heritage conservation with innovative communication and education methods; combining the preservation of traditions with the development of tourism, culture, and socio-economic aspects.
What the museum leader particularly emphasized was focusing on the younger generation – those who will continue and revive historical memories. For her, the value of the Nghe Tinh Soviet movement cannot remain confined within the museum grounds, but must spread, permeate life, and become a lasting spiritual resource.
Compressionheart fragrance knowledgegratitude to our ancestors
In 2020, when I attended the national scientific conference commemorating the 90th anniversary of the Nghe Tinh Soviet movement, I was truly moved. The conference was jointly organized by the Ho Chi Minh National Political Academy, the Central Propaganda Department (now the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department), the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee, and the Ha Tinh Provincial Party Committee, with the theme: "The Nghe Tinh Soviet: The Power of the Masses Making History".
Listening to the speech of Professor Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thang, now a member of the Politburo, Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, and Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council, the younger generation born in peacetime like myself understands it even more deeply.
The Soviet movement marked the beginning of the glorious history of the Vietnamese revolution, marking the first time our Party, still very young, demonstrated its character, prestige, fighting spirit, and ability to lead the masses. This is a powerful testament to the ultimate victory of the revolution and to the just struggle of our people.
From that foundation, I see even more clearly the special attention of the Party and the State in preserving and promoting the Soviet Nghe Tinh Heritage. The great joy is that recently, the Prime Minister signed a decision classifying the "Typical cluster of relics in the Soviet Nghe Tinh movement (1930 - 1931) in Nghe An" as a Special National Monument.
This complex of historical sites comprises nine significant locations, from the Ben Thuy intersection – where the worker-peasant demonstration took place on May 1, 1930; to the Vo Liet communal house – the headquarters of the Soviet government; or the place where the French massacred the people of Hung Nguyen on September 12, 1930… Each location stands as an immortal witness, contributing to the commemoration of the heroic sacrifices of the revolutionary people of Nghe Tinh.
Comrade Tran Thi Kim Phuong, Head of the Nghe An Relics Management Board, emotionally shared: “The recognition of this complex of relics as a Special National Relic is not just a historical acknowledgment. For us, it is also a heartfelt tribute to the spirits of those who fell, a promise to continue preserving and spreading Soviet values to future generations.”
Looking back on the journey of preserving this heritage, I am increasingly convinced that, from carefully preserving each artifact in the museum, from the meticulous appraisal sessions with witnesses, to the national-level scientific conferences and the current ranking of this Special National Monument, all demonstrate the unwavering determination of the Party, the State, and the people of Vietnam in preserving and promoting the Nghe Tinh Soviet as a sacred heritage. This is not just the memory of Nghe An and Ha Tinh alone, but a shared spiritual asset of the entire Vietnamese nation.
The Nghe Tinh Soviet will forever remain an immortal epic, a flame that fuels faith in the power of the masses and the correct leadership of the Party.
Preserving and promoting that heritage means safeguarding the source of revolutionary strength, enabling us to stand firm on the path to socialism today and continue writing the glorious history of our nation.
On the evening of September 12th, Nghe An province celebrated the 995th anniversary of the name Nghe An (1030 - 2025), the 95th anniversary of the Nghe Tinh Soviet (September 12, 1930 - September 12, 2025), and received the Certificate of Ranking as a Special National Monument for the Cluster of Representative Monuments in the Nghe Tinh Soviet Movement, along with the launch of the "Soviet Fire" experiential show.
