The Rú Ấm Cave Festival reminds us of our origins.

(Baonghean)Hang Rú Ấm, the birthplace of the first Party cell in the western region of Nghe An province, is where the bonds of unity among the Kinh, Thai, and Tho ethnic groups of Phu Quy originated, leading them to rise up and fight against the French. More than 70 years later, Hang Rú Ấm has been recognized as a provincial-level historical and cultural relic…

During the years 1930-1931, Nghe An and Ha Tinh were the epicenter of the nationwide struggle against French colonialism, and consequently became the region where the colonial authorities sought to brutally suppress the movement. When the movement in the lowland districts was suppressed, the Central Party Committee, the Central Vietnam Regional Party Committee, and the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee implemented several measures to maintain forces, bring party bases back among the people, and expand operational areas to the western districts of Nghe An, ensuring safety and secrecy.

The Provincial Party Committee sent two core party members, Vo Nguyen Hien and Vo Thuoc, to Nghia Dan district to build the movement. There, the two comrades chose Nghia Khanh commune – at that time comprising three villages: Vinh Lai (Met hamlet), Tho Loc village, and Cu Lam village (Tru hamlet) – as the location for building and developing the party organization. The first party cell in the Phu Quy region was established with five members, and the Ru Am cave was chosen as the secret meeting place for the cell due to its rugged terrain and secluded location. From the cave, all directives and resolutions of the Central Committee of the Central Vietnam Party were secretly implemented by the Nghia Dan Party cell, while simultaneously selecting and training young people who were early enlightened by the revolution to join the ranks of the Party. The French colonialists did not expect that the revolution had taken root so deeply and strongly among the people and the working class in this remote northwestern region.



Hang Rú Ấm – the place where the first Party branch of Nghĩa Đàn district was established.



Children often come to play at the spring behind the Rú Ấm cave.

At the Rú Ấm cave, after nine years of clandestine activity, on May 1, 1939, International Labor Day, the Nghĩa Đàn District Party Committee organized a large-scale rally to build momentum and call on the people to rise up and follow the revolution, with nearly 200 participants. When the revolutionary opportunity arose, on August 22, 1945, under the leadership of the Nghĩa Đàn District Uprising Committee, thousands of Kinh, Thái, and Thổ ethnic people from the Cự Lâm, Hạ Sưu, Thạch Khê, Nghĩa Hưng communes... and workers from rubber and coffee plantations in the Phủ Quỳ area, carrying flintlock guns, sticks, hoes, spears... gathered under the banyan tree in Trù village, planted the red flag with a yellow star, organized a demonstration, and marched to the Nghĩa Đàn district center. The uprising was successful, and the Nghĩa Đàn District Provisional Committee officially announced its introduction to the people. Hang Rú Ấm (now Nghĩa Đức commune) along with the banyan tree in Trù village (Nghĩa Khánh commune) have become important historical landmarks for the people of Nghĩa Đàn district.

Mr. Truong Nhat Cach, now 80 years old (Hamlet 8, Nghia Duc Commune), recalled: “My father participated in the revolution from 1930-1931. When the August Revolution broke out, I was already 14 or 15 years old. On the day of the uprising rally at the banyan tree in Tru village, my father also took me there. Thousands of people from several surrounding villages walked, carrying flags, slogans, machetes, etc., marching enthusiastically towards the district. After the victory, on the way home, my father took me to Ru Am cave, saying that this was the secret meeting place of the Party for decades, and that's when I learned about it. Back then, the area around the cave was a desolate forest, overgrown with reeds. There was also a temple dedicated to the local deity, which the people in the area came to light incense at every month, never imagining it was such an important and special place.”

Since 2008, the people of Nghia Khanh and Nghia Duc communes have celebrated August 22nd annually as their traditional day. Nghia Khanh commune also organizes the "Tru Village Banyan Tree and Ru Am Cave" festival to express gratitude for the contributions of their ancestors and to educate the younger generation about the principle of remembering one's roots. The festival attracts a large and enthusiastic participation from the people of Nghia Khanh commune and neighboring communes. However, Ru Am Cave, located in a remote and secluded area deep within the village, is in danger of becoming a ruin. Over the years, as some of the pre-revolution cadres have passed away, the historical story of Ru Am Cave is gradually becoming less frequently mentioned in the hustle and bustle of modern life. Only children still come to the water source behind the cave to bathe, or on hot summer days, locals seek cool places to chat…

In 2012, the Provincial People's Committee issued a decision recognizing the banyan tree in Tru village and Ru Am cave as revolutionary historical relics, bringing great joy to the people of Nghia Khanh and Nghia Duc communes, and creating a foundation for the protection and preservation of Ru Am cave relics.

This year, for the first time, Nghia Duc commune is organizing the Ru Am Cave Festival in conjunction with the Sports Festival, aiming to recall traditions and educate the younger generation about love for their homeland and country. At the same time, it creates a beneficial and healthy playground with appropriate cultural and artistic activities, attracting a large number of young people and teenagers along with the general public to participate, preserving national identity.

All preparations have been completed, and the Ru Am Cave Festival will open on August 19th, commemorating the successful August Revolution and coinciding with the recall of the historical role of this site. Mr. Bach Hung Nam, Chairman of the Nghia Duc Commune People's Committee, said: “Organizing the Ru Am Cave Festival has always been the aspiration and desire of all the people of Nghia Duc. However, socio-economic conditions have not allowed it until now. This year, we are holding it for the first time. The Ru Am Cave Festival will become a regular local activity, combined with the Tru Village Banyan Tree Festival of Nghia Khanh Commune. Because this is a cluster of historical sites, and the two communes are close together, each year one commune will take turns organizing the festival.”

In August, passing by the banyan tree in Tru village and revisiting the Ru Am cave, the historical site remains intact, but the lives of the people have changed considerably. The dense forest has become rice paddies, the overgrown reeds have been replaced by rice paddies, and the people are eagerly awaiting the festival, not only for fun but also to celebrate a special, sacred occasion that reminds them of the glorious history of their ancestors!

Ho Lai