Remembering the first time Uncle Ho visited his hometown

(Baonghean.vn) - On June 16, 1957, after 51 years of leaving his homeland to find a way to save the country, Uncle Ho had the opportunity to visit his hometown Nghe An again. During the years of wandering to find a way to save the country, the image of his homeland was still imprinted in his heart.

In 1895, when he was only 5 years old, Nguyen Sinh Cung followed his father from Nghe An to Hue for the first time. In 1901, when his mother died, Nguyen Sinh Cung and his father returned to Nghe An and changed his name to Nguyen Tat Thanh.

In 1906, at the age of 16, Nguyen Tat Thanh followed his father from Nghe An to Hue for the second time. From here, the young man Nguyen Tat Thanh continuously moved to the South, attending primary school, improving his Chinese and French skills; then teaching and starting to participate in patriotic movements.

The decision to go to France to find a way to save the country was the first decision of historical significance, most clearly demonstrating Ho Chi Minh's independent and creative thinking.

In 1911, at Nha Rong Port (Saigon - Gia Dinh), Nguyen Tat Thanh took the name Nguyen Van Ba ​​and boarded the merchant ship Latouche-Tréville as a cook and went to France, starting his journey to find a way to save the country and liberate the nation from feudalism and colonialism.

In 1941, after 30 years of wandering abroad, Nguyen Tat Thanh, now known as Nguyen Ai Quoc, returned to Vietnam to lead the revolutionary movement; and together with his comrades, successfully carried out the August Revolution in 1945, overthrew the feudal and colonial government, liberated the nation, won independence and freedom for the Vietnamese people; and established the Democratic Republic of Vietnam on September 2, 1945.

In the following years, as President, President Ho Chi Minh devoted all his heart and mind to the revolutionary cause, together with the entire Party, the entire army and the entire people, to both building and constructing the country and fighting against foreign invaders. He still had not had the opportunity to return to visit his hometown Nghe An.

Uncle Ho visited his old house in Kim Lien village on his first visit to his hometown after 51 years away (June 16, 1957). Photo courtesy

It was not until 1957 that Uncle Ho had the opportunity to return to his hometown Nghe An after 51 years of separation. That was on June 16, 1957. There was a very special thing that at that time, Uncle Ho returned to his hometown not as President, but only as a son who had been away from home for a long time, now visiting his father's homeland, his mother's land, his birthplace, his friends and neighbors with very simple and affectionate feelings, nostalgic and emotional.

According to many witnesses, on the morning of June 16, 1957, when Uncle Ho arrived in Nghe An, a provincial leader invited him to go to the newly built guest house, but Uncle stopped him: "I have been away from home and my hometown for a long time, so I have to go home first. The guest house is for receiving guests and for guests to stay. I am a family member, not a guest!"

In the old house in Kim Lien village, Uncle Ho was moved to recall his childhood memories. Photo archive

Then Uncle Ho returned to Kim Lien village (Nam Dan district), to visit the old house that the people of Kim Lien village built for his father, Mr. Pho Bang Nguyen Sinh Sac. Uncle Ho stood there, looking at the two houses and pointed out to those who followed him where the guava trees were planted, where the thanh yen trees were... that had grown in the old garden of his house.

Uncle Ho went into the house, and wherever he went, he showed everyone where to put things. Everything was still intact in his memory. Uncle Ho went out to the yard and stood to look at the house that had been part of a very important period in his life. This house witnessed his work, study, and growth; it was the place that marked his first feelings of patriotism, social awareness, and his first activities to save the country.

Uncle Ho visited his hometown Nam Dan, Nghe An (1957) amid the joy of his neighbors. Photo from the internet

Behind the house, an old neighbor came out to greet Uncle Ho and asked: “Do you still remember me?”. Uncle Ho patted his forehead for a moment and said: “Is this Dien?”. Mr. Hoang Dien ran to hug his childhood friend who herded buffaloes and flew kites, and cried because he was so moved.

After that, Uncle Ho went out to talk to his people, opening with a verse: "The homeland is a place of great affection. Those fifty years have been filled with so much love" in the deep voice of a native of Nghe An. Uncle Ho sadly recalled that when he left his homeland, it was still a slave country, but now that he had returned, he was extremely happy because the country was free and the people were well-off.

Uncle Ho advised: "Kim Lien strives to become a model commune, I will return to visit." Many people were moved and could not hold back their tears at the deep love for their homeland in the leader's heart, even though he had been away from home for more than 50 years.

Before getting in the car, Uncle Ho gave 5 packs of Ba Dinh tea to the elders and some packs of Hanoi candy to the children in the village.

That afternoon, President Ho Chi Minh spoke to more than 3,000 delegates, officials and people of Nghe An province. Excited by the gathering of people from all walks of life, Uncle Ho read the following verse: “We are united as one family/ That is a great duty, that is a deep love”.

Then, Uncle Ho said: "I am a son of the province who has been away from my homeland for more than 50 years. Today is the first time I have returned to visit my homeland. It can be said: My homeland is a place of great love and affection/ Those 50 years have been filled with so much love!"

Co Dien blacksmith shop was established by Mr. Hoang Xuan Luyen (often called Co Dien) to forge tools to serve the people in the area since the end of the 19th century. When he was in Sen village, Nguyen Sinh Cung (Uncle Ho's childhood name) often came to help Co Dien hit the anvil, press the bellows, and collect scrap iron to make toys.

He praised the achievements that Nghe An province had gained in the 9 years of resistance war against French colonialism and in the 3 years of healing the wounds of war and restoring the economy; pointed out a number of shortcomings that Nghe An officials and people needed to overcome such as not paying attention to the issue of practicing thrift; not fulfilling tax obligations and paying debts to the State.

Regarding the tasks of the cadres and people of Nghe An, Uncle Ho pointed out: improving people's lives is the goal of the Party and State, but it must be clearly understood that to improve living conditions, production must be increased and savings must be practiced, and time must be spent striving.

He emphasized a number of specific tasks that Nghe An people and cadres must pay attention to: doing a good job of correcting mistakes; fulfilling tax obligations and paying debts to the State; preventing natural disasters; practicing solidarity; developing a traditional and good lifestyle, and strictly implementing the State's laws. At the end of the meeting, everyone sang the song "Solidarity" in a friendly and joyful atmosphere.

General Chu Huy Man and officers and soldiers of Military Region 4 welcomed Uncle Ho to visit the unit. Photo: Archive

In the evening, Uncle Ho visited the 4th Military Region Command, with a performance by the military region's art troupe. The Organizing Committee arranged two rows of sofas and two cushioned chairs in front of the stage. When entering the hall, with a simple and friendly manner like when he was still in his homeland, Uncle Ho took off his slippers and sat on them. As a result, two rows of empty chairs had to be carried out. During the performance, a female actress recited the poem "Tonight Uncle Ho does not sleep" which deeply moved Uncle Ho...

On December 18, 1961, Uncle Ho visited his hometown Nghe An once again. But the people of Nghe An, especially the people of Nam Dan, still remember clearly the simple, rustic, sincere and touching memories and feelings of President Ho Chi Minh on June 16, 1957, when he first visited his hometown./.

Peace

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