The story of Phan Boi Chau returning to his hometown on the occasion of Tet Binh Dan 1926

More than two months later, February 6, 1926 (December 24)Mr. Phan Boi Chauset out to visit his hometown after more than 20 years of fighting. According to contemporary press reports, during this trip home, he spent very little time with his family, but mainly engaged in social activities.

That day, from Hue, Mr. Phan started his journey by car. Accompanying him were Mr. Ngo Duc Ke, Bachelor Nguyen Dinh Ngan and a Hue student. When the car crossed the Gianh River by ferry, a merchant met him. This merchant showed great admiration for Mr. Phan and gave him 20 coins:"I offer this to you so that if you ever print a book that is beneficial to the country and the people, you should use this small amount of money to cover expenses. It is the kindness of a Vietnamese person who loves Vietnam."Mr. Phan happily accepted the money.

Portrait of Phan Boi Chau. Photo: Document

At 5:30 pm, the car arrived in Ha Tinh. Hearing that Mr. Phan had returned, intellectuals immediately came to invite him and Mr. Ngo to a party at the hotel. The next day, February 7, Mr. Phan visited Dr. Ha Huy San. Here, many old and new scholars came to see him. He talked to them about the patriotism of the Vietnamese people...

In Vinh, the host of the welcoming ceremony for Mr. Phan was the Quang Tri Association, an organization promoting modern learning, gathering leading intellectuals and civil servants, businessmen, doctors, writers... with progressive ideas, such as Cao Xuan Huy, Hoang Duc Thi, Le Thuoc, Nguyen Hiet Chi, Cao Xuan Tieu, Tran Dinh Quan...

At three o'clock in the afternoon, on behalf of the Quang Tri Vinh Association, Mr. Hoang Duc Thi - a member of the Association, drove a car to Ha Tinh to welcome Mr. Phan back to Vinh. Upon hearing the news, nearly two thousand people came to the Quang Tri Association, the press described it as "a sound of joy that shook the heavens and the earth"; "This reception was very solemn; in front of the Association, a triumphal arch was erected with flowers and leaves, firecrackers were exploding, electric lights were shining brightly, the French and Southern flags were flying, it looked very majestic".

Teacher Le Thuoc - Principal of French - Vietnamese Primary School, President of Quang Tri Association read the welcome speech:“Mr. Phan! Seeing a brother who has been away for a long time, who has died and then come back to life, who among us would not be happy? What’s more, that brother is truly related to the fate of our family and clan. Reading a heroic story, watching a heroic play, everyone respects the heroes of the past. What’s more, meeting a current hero passing before our eyes. Hearing that a weak country has just produced a great man, the neighboring countries all express their joy for the future of that country, what’s more, in our own homeland a great man was born, bringing glory to our race.”

Phan Boi Chau's house. Photo: Vuong Bang

Hearing those congratulations, Mr. Phan expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome and hospitality of the Quang Tri Association and the people of Vinh City. After the tea party, he returned to his lodgings. At 7:30 p.m., the Quang Tri Association held a banquet to treat him. This was a very special banquet, with a menu full of Nghe dishes. At the banquet, teacher Nguyen Hiet Chi had a few words to present to Mr. Phan:“You have swallowed your bitterness and gone abroad for decades, drinking all the bitterness and eating all the dew, praying for our Vietnamese people to enjoy much happiness? We know that: Chinese banquets, Japanese banquets, Siamese banquets, Russian banquets, German banquets, there is no shortage of delicacies and treasures, but to please the heart is not necessarily to think, surely you look at others and think of yourself, your tears are overflowing and cannot be swallowed.

This meal is a national meal, with all the food and drinks being made from Nghe An products. We are serving a national meal to a patriotic hero... We are also served this meal with you, smelling your integrity, purity, and uprightness. I think you would be full without eating, and drunk without drinking.

After the party, back to the boarding house, many students from Vinh came to greet him."He advised his brothers about chivalry and patience."

Early in the morning of February 8, the 26th of December, Mr. Phan came to greet the Ambassador and the Governor of Nghe An, and was warmly welcomed. Notably, at 8:30 a.m. that day, Mr. Phan's wife, Mrs. Thai Thi Huyen, and her daughter-in-law visited him. This was the meeting between the patriotic couple after more than twenty years of separation. Mrs. Huyen spoke these touching and bold words:“Sir, my wife and I have been separated for twenty years now. If you are still alive and have returned to your country, I will make a great wish. You have devoted your life to serving the country, so you must fulfill your duty to satisfy the people. You should not think about the poverty of your wife and children. As long as you keep your honor, that is more important. That has been my wish all along. I will take care of your family matters.”

Two books are a collection of articles reflecting on Mr. Phan's visit to his hometown.

Mr. Phan was also moved and said:"What you said is very reasonable, I appreciate it."Then he got in the car to visit his hometown Nam Dan."When the car arrived home, the dignitaries came and went to visit very bustlingly."

On February 11, 1926, Mr. Phan moved in with his two sons' families in the city. During the Tet holidays, his old comrades, students, and friends came to wish him a happy New Year and invited him to a very happy party. On the afternoon of the first day of Tet, he went out to sightsee.Ben Thuyand Lam River.

In particular, during this trip back to his hometown, he visited Vinh National School. Here, the school principal, teacher and researcher Le Breton (author of the famous research book “An Tinh Co Luc”) welcomed and guided him around the school.“Although the students were on holiday that day, he saw a large school, with extensive academic facilities, a training room, a laboratory, a design room, a cartography room (drawing provincial maps and geological maps of the ancient lands of the counties), a sports school, an experimental garden, plants and fertilizers, etc. He was very impressed.”He suggested that the school should expand the sports field and open a room to display handicrafts made by the students. Mr. Le Breton respectfully took note and promised to implement it.

Also at Vinh National School, Mr. Phan visited the meeting place of the “Hoan Chau Ancient Studies” Association, a newly established association to study the culture, geography, and history of the Hoan Chau region. He was excited by the enlarged photos of Cuong Temple, Van An Citadel, King Mai Hac De Temple, Luc Nien Citadel (Nam Dan), Lieu Thang Citadel (Hung Nguyen), the temple and mausoleum of Mr. Nguyen Thiep, a hermit of the Tay Son Dynasty, often called Luc Nien Phu Tu. After viewing, Mr. Phan was pleased and praised, and also promised to write an article about the history of his home province for the Association.

Statue of Phan Boi Chau in the Phan Boi Chau Memorial Area in Nam Dan town. Photo: Thanh Cuong

On February 14, 1926, the second day of Tet, Mr. Phan got on a car to Quan Nghe (Ha Tinh) to visit the hometown of Dr. Ngo Duc Ke and stayed there for a day and a night. The next morning (February 15), the third day of Tet, he set off for Dong Hoi. That afternoon, at Dr. Nguyen Kinh Chi's house, as well as at the Quang Tri Association in Dong Hoi, many intellectuals came to greet him. That afternoon, the Quang Tri Association held a party to welcome him. At eight o'clock in the evening, after the party, Mr. Phan went for a walk in the street. "He walked in the middle, with two people on each side holding two kerosene lamps, and behind him were the intellectuals and the people, especially children and students, following him in droves, as if it were a big holiday."

On the morning of February 16, 1926, the fourth day of Tet, he set off for Hue, ending a journey to visit his historic homeland./.

Pham Xuan Can