Hiep Hoa - Unfulfilled Desires

Rice mixed with corn and massive irrigation projects.

After the reunification of the country, amidst the nationwide fervent atmosphere of overcoming the consequences of war, Nghe Tinh province became famous and enthusiastic with the slogan "Changing heaven and earth, rearranging the country."

Party congresses at all levels determined that "agriculture is the top priority," and irrigation was placed number one. Tens of thousands of young men and women of our generation concentrated on the province's large-scale irrigation projects.

After the great victory of Spring 1975, the entire nation held unwavering faith in the Party. Despite countless difficulties, the Party was wholeheartedly dedicated to the people, and the people wholeheartedly trusted the Party. All thoughts were pure and innocent. Party congresses at all levels determined: "Agriculture is the primary front," and irrigation was placed number one. Tens of thousands of young men and women of our generation concentrated on the province's large-scale irrigation projects. Each district established a 202nd General Team, led by the District Youth Union Secretary or Deputy Secretary. Each commune had hundreds of young volunteers participating. Local resources were very limited. Besides moral support, the localities only provided the workers with a small amount of rice, corn, potatoes, vegetables, bananas, peanuts, sesame seeds, etc. After a long day of hard labor, the workers' meals mainly consisted of rice mixed with corn, water spinach soup, or even boiled "bell-shaped" bread, which was not enough to fill them up… Projects like the Vuc Mau reservoir,Ke Go Lake, Vach Bac Canal, Nghen River,Le Dynasty CanalLake Goong, the Dao River, the Hiep Hoa sluice gate, etc., were built or restored under those circumstances.

At the Hiep Hoa irrigation project construction site. (Photo source: vtv.vn)

Looking back in the era of Industry 4.0, we are even more impressed and appreciative of the boldness and resilience of the leaders and people of that time.

The manual labor of the peasant farmers built or revived irrigation projects, bringing immense benefits over the past 40 years, for today and for the future. Looking back in the "4.0 era," we admire and appreciate the boldness and resilience of the leaders and people of that time. They created truly "highly irrigation" projects that are very beneficial and sustainable for the environment! This is a tremendous achievement that needs to be evaluated and recognized objectively, positively, comprehensively, historically, and fairly, providing valuable lessons from many perspectives.

Hiep Hoa on a day of mourning

Whenever we recall those years, we cannot forget the heartbreaking event at Hiep Hoa sluice gate, Hoa Son commune, Do Luong district. Because the sluice gate was built in the early 20th century, partly due to war damage and partly due to siltation over time, the water flow through the sluice gate was insufficient. Therefore, people had to excavate and move soil from the canal bed to the banks to rebuild the sluice gate. The work was hectic, with thousands of people eagerly racing against time. The Construction Command selected the best units to work in this critical location. It was drizzling and windy. Just as the final stages of excavation were nearing completion, preparing to rebuild the sluice gate, at 5 minutes to 12 noon on January 3, 1978, a horrific landslide occurred. Thousands of cubic meters of earth and rocks from the steep banks collapsed into the canal. Hundreds of people were buried in an instant. 98 people from the homeland perished, and 156 were injured. Among them, in Cat Van commune (Thanh Chuong district) alone, there are 37 siblings whose death anniversaries are celebrated right before the Kitchen God's ascension to heaven during the Tet holiday of the Year of the Horse! Some of them were only 17 years old. Some had already sent out wedding invitations and were preparing for their weddings. Some had received acceptance letters from universities and colleges. Some still had pieces of boiled bread in their mouths, not yet swallowed! The entire Nghe An province is engulfed in grief and mourning!...

Graves bearing the inscription "In Honor of the Martyrs" in Thanh Lien commune, Thanh Chuong district. (Photo: Nguyen Duy)

The history of the Provincial Party Committee has recorded these things...tragic eventUnfortunately, the People's Committee of Nghe Tinh province at that time awarded Certificates of Merit to each individual who "sacrificed in the cause of building the Soviet homeland of Nghe Tinh" (the exact wording used on the Certificate of Merit) of the People's Committee of the province.

Unfulfilled desires

In 1978, a trial was held in Do Luong. Thousands of people, from the presiding judge to the spectators, wept uncontrollably, feeling pain and sorrow for both the defendant and the victim! The country had just emerged from war and was facing shortages in every aspect. In times of hardship, the people suppressed their grief and endured. Since 1979, the Provincial People's Committee has provided each family with a fallen soldier with 6 kg of rice per month. After several adjustments, this has now increased to 540,000 VND per month per family member.

Nevertheless, many interactions with voters have yielded opinions that are both heartfelt and harsh.

The people want the State to recognize those who sacrificed their lives as martyrs. They deserve to be martyrs because they were volunteer workers, building their homeland in response to the Party's call. They sacrificed their lives while on duty, during working hours, under the supervision of Party and government leaders. They toiled for months on end on various construction sites in their homeland without any compensation.

The certificate of merit from Nghe Tinh province calls the young men who died while building the Hiep Hoa canal "sacrificed their lives in the cause of building the Soviet homeland of Nghe Tinh." (Photo: TPO)

The people long for the construction of a solemn memorial at the place where their brothers and sisters sacrificed their lives, so that future generations will know and appreciate those who dedicated themselves to their homeland and country. Despite the province's plan, to this day, it remains only a small, rudimentary shrine built spontaneously by a few fellow comrades.

Many of those who participated in those construction projects are now elderly. Currently, some are living alone or are ill due to accidents, while others have lost loved ones and are facing great difficulties. Now they are old, frail, and belong to poor or near-poor households. The government should allocate funds to help them stabilize their lives and prevent them from being left behind.

For over 40 years, since the Hiep Hoa incident, the Lam River has flowed peacefully through the Dao River, passing through Do Luong, Yen Thanh, Dien Chau, Quynh Luu, and other areas, contributing to bountiful harvests. Even while enjoying a bowl of fragrant rice, people still remember those who have passed away. Many locals and newspapers still mention Hiep Hoa with a sense of longing and nostalgia…

Hiep Hoa sluice gate. Photo courtesy of TPO.

Beloved Uncle Ho once affirmed: "For our country, if the farmers are prosperous, our country is prosperous; if agriculture thrives, our country thrives; if the countryside is peaceful, the country is peaceful." This is also the development strategy, the guarantee for the sustainability and stability of our homeland and country. Over 35 years of reform, the country's strength and position have grown stronger. In this achievement, agriculture remains the "pillar of the economy," the countryside remains a strategic area, and farmers are still the ones who "toil under the sun and rain," "caring for the common good on barren land." How can such a legitimate aspiration continue to be forgotten over time? I was once a representative of the District People's Council, and I have directly met many witnesses and appealed for charitable donations to help some victims in Hiep Hoa. We have also repeatedly "seriously considered the opinions of voters and reported them to the competent authorities," but the results have not been as desired.

The 42nd anniversary of my siblings' passing is approaching. Writing these lines, I would be truly fulfilled if those in authority would take notice.