On this spring day, we remember Uncle Ho's teachings.

(Baonghean.vn) -Every spring, as the Lunar New Year approaches, the officials and people of Yen Thanh district fondly remember President Ho Chi Minh, recalling his warm and gentle voice during his visit to Vinh Thanh commune more than half a century ago. Celebrating the new year with reverence and gratitude, the Party Committee and people of Yen Thanh district are determined to successfully implement the resolutions of the Party congresses at all levels, building their homeland to reach new heights.

President Ho Chi Minh during his visit to Vinh Thanh commune, December 10, 1961. (Archival photo)

Every spring, Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Thoan, a teacher in Vinh Tuy village, Vinh Thanh commune, is filled with emotion as she remembers the beloved President Ho Chi Minh. When President Ho Chi Minh visited her hometown for the second time (in 1961), she was a teacher at Vinh Thanh Primary School – where he stopped to speak with the Party Committee and people of Yen Thanh district. Having met President Ho Chi Minh, listened to his instructions, and been honored to receive a memento from him and the Ho Chi Minh Badge for "Brave and Capable Female Teacher - Loving Her Profession and Children," she deeply cherishes his teachings. Even now, at over 70 years old and with nearly 50 years of Party membership, she continues to dedicate her mind, strength, and passion to the noble cause of educating future generations.

She confided: "Even now, recalling Uncle Ho's teachings, I still deeply understand each word. That's why I always advise and educate my children and grandchildren to study hard and make many contributions to our homeland. My children have all followed in my footsteps, entering the teaching profession and dedicating their hearts to teaching. They have produced many excellent students and always show love and support to poor students."

As for veteran Nguyen Van Minh, from Nam Chinh hamlet, Phuc Thanh commune, now over 80 years old, he spent 22 of his 30 years in the military protecting President Ho Chi Minh and the Presidential Palace. These days, in his simple, modest house, he reminisces with his friends, comrades, and grandchildren, cherishing the sacred mementos that President Ho Chi Minh bestowed upon him, and is deeply moved as he remembers the beloved father of the nation. He reminisces: "Throughout the years of protecting President Ho Chi Minh, being close to him, we learned many valuable things from him, especially his ethics and lifestyle, always prioritizing the people and the country. In particular, President Ho Chi Minh had a very down-to-earth demeanor; he loved everyone, always caring about the health, family, and work of the officers and soldiers, and never distinguishing between those who were his bodyguards and those who were his leaders…"

Having had extensive contact with President Ho Chi Minh, listening to his words, observing his actions, and following his example has been a great honor for him throughout his life. Returning to civilian life, he always fulfills his duties as a veteran. With his education and good health, he actively participates in social activities. He especially cherishes President Ho Chi Minh's teachings, guiding and educating his children and grandchildren to become exemplary figures in the patriotic emulation movement. Veteran Nguyen Van Minh shared: "President Ho Chi Minh is a role model of morality that everyone should learn from. For me personally, being close to him, receiving his guidance, advice, and encouragement in every detail, has made me simple in life, humble, and eager to learn from my comrades. In my daily work, I do everything thoroughly. In my daily life, I always educate my children and grandchildren, from a young age, to learn from and follow President Ho Chi Minh's example, becoming useful members of society and the nation."

Visiting Vinh Thanh commune during the spring days – a land once honored by President Ho Chi Minh's visit – for over 50 years, the Party Committee and people have consistently stood together, overcoming countless hardships and challenges to fulfill the sacred wish of Uncle Ho. Upholding the traditions of the unit, a Heroic Unit of the People's Armed Forces, the cadres, Party members, Youth Union members, and members of the Vinh Thanh High-Level Cooperative have continuously strived to excel, competing in labor and production, following Uncle Ho's teachings, and making their homeland increasingly prosperous and civilized.

Recognizing economic development as a central and well-directed task, Vinh Thanh commune has, in recent years, utilized all resources and shifted its crop structure in a positive direction, initially forming concentrated commodity production areas. In 2013, the total grain production reached over 5,180 tons. To enhance the value of agricultural production, in addition to promoting crop restructuring, the local Party committee and government have also formulated strategies and gradually formed concentrated production and livestock farming areas. The entire commune has established 6 large farms and family farms with incomes exceeding 100 million VND/year, bringing the growth rate to 13.08%, raising the average per capita income to 23 million VND/person/year; the poverty rate has decreased to only 11.6%.

Vinh Thanh Primary School - the place where, 53 years ago, President Ho Chi Minh spoke to the Party Committee and people of Vinh Thanh commune.

Economic development has created the potential for Vinh Thanh to accelerate the progress of building new rural areas. By leveraging internal resources, all 16 communes have completed land conversion according to Directive 08 of the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee, and 200 rural roads have been expanded to standard. Through the strength of the people, over the past three years, following the principle of "the state and the people working together," Vinh Thanh has basically completed clearing rural roads; invested in building 1 km of new asphalt roads, concrete roads over 5 km of village roads, repaired and hardened nearly 400 m of irrigation canals, and graveled 1.3 km of commune roads.

Specifically, schools, health stations, and the commune People's Committee headquarters have received over 5 billion VND in investment, with over 3 billion VND coming from community contributions. Currently, 9 criteria have met the standards, and efforts are being made to achieve 15 out of 19 criteria for building new rural areas by 2014. Mr. Thai Huy Hoang, Chairman of the People's Committee of Vinh Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district, said: Following the teachings of President Ho Chi Minh, the Party Committee and people of Vinh Thanh commune are focusing on breakthroughs and advancements in all aspects. Especially in the field of economic development, in 2014, in addition to building concentrated intensive farming areas, developing more farm and household farm models, and promoting straw mushroom cultivation, etc., the commune will plan a separate area to open a small industrial zone; Creating favorable conditions and encouraging local youth to connect with domestic and foreign businesses to invest in the area with the aim of expanding service industries, creating local jobs for rural workers, and striving to achieve an average per capita income of 25 to 28 million VND/year by the end of 2014.

Remembering Uncle Ho's advice: "...Building cooperatives means concentrating forces to attack poverty and backwardness, ensuring close unity, good production, high income, good hygiene, diligent learning, and continuously improving living standards." In recent years, Yen Thanh district has achieved many outstanding achievements in all fields. As a predominantly agricultural district, it is currently gradually establishing a number of processing facilities to serve consumption, intensive farming, and export. Although still facing some difficulties, the socio-economic development has been comprehensive and sustainable; focusing on maximizing all potential and advantages, mobilizing all human resources, attracting investment, prioritizing the development of rural infrastructure; promoting administrative reform associated with effectively resolving social issues, and reducing the poverty rate to below 10%.

Highlights of the past year include the positive shift in economic structure, a growth rate of 13.1%, and an average per capita income of 19.2 million VND per year. Particularly in the new rural development movement, Yen Thanh district has focused on leveraging the internal resources of the people, combined with state investment capital, to invest in and construct a series of rural infrastructure projects from the central areas to the remote and mountainous communes. Currently, 37 out of 38 communes in the district have completed land consolidation and exchange; 17 communes have completed 12 to 18 criteria, with Son Thanh commune achieving the new rural development goals ahead of schedule. Socio-cultural aspects have seen positive changes, national defense and security have been maintained, and Party building work has been strengthened.

Furthermore, the campaign to study and follow the moral example of Ho Chi Minh has spread widely, creating a patriotic emulation movement among all the people, and increasingly producing many exemplary advanced collectives and individuals. Comrade Tran Van Dai – Standing Deputy Secretary of the Yen Thanh District Party Committee – stated: The Yen Thanh District Party Committee continues to effectively direct the implementation of Directive 03 of the Politburo on further promoting the "Study and follow the moral example of Ho Chi Minh" through specific action programs in a democratic, mass-oriented style, setting examples, and upholding the exemplary responsibility of cadres and Party members. With the motto that everyone must have effective actions to follow each year, with evaluation and ranking at the end of the year to ensure widespread dissemination among the people, especially fulfilling the instructions of President Ho Chi Minh when he visited Vinh Thanh commune on December 10, 1961.

Although President Ho Chi Minh has passed away, the people of Vinh village in particular, and Yen Thanh district in general, feel as if he is still with them. And every spring, they still clearly hear his words of advice: "Celebrate the spring widely, from family to the whole country," and "Planning throughout the year begins in spring." Bearing in mind his teachings, the land that welcomed him over 53 years ago is now flourishing day by day. And what Yen Thanh has done and is doing in accordance with his teachings is a solid foundation on the path of industrialization and modernization of agriculture and rural areas, contributing to Nghe An becoming a model province as President Ho Chi Minh wished during his lifetime.

Sun