Homeland is a place of great love and affection/Those fifty years, how much love...

Dear elders,

Dear delegates.

Today, here are representatives of the elderly, workers, farmers, soldiers, intellectuals, women, youth, demobilized soldiers, Southern compatriots, wounded and sick soldiers, ethnic minorities, religious representatives, families of martyrs and soldiers, heroes and emulation fighters, representatives of industrialists and merchants, children and overseas Chinese.

We can say that:

"We are united as one family"
That is the heavy meaning, that is the deep love"

On behalf of the Party Central Committee and the Government, I would like to send my warmest greetings to you and all delegates.

I am a native 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 hometown. It can be said that:

“

Homeland is a place of great love and affection.
Those fifty years, so much love.

Coming back to the homeland after a long time, people usually feel sad and happy. I do not feel sad, only happy. Why is it happy? From the time I left and now I have returned, I see that our country in general and our province in particular have changed a lot. The most important change is that when I left, our country was still under colonial rule, our people were all slaves, but now when I return, our people in the North of the country in general, Nghe An in particular, are free citizens, masters of their country. That is the biggest change.

I have some opinions to express to the elders and delegates:

1. First of all, the glorious achievements of the province:

During the resistance war, the province had more than 80,000 young people join the army, more than 15,000 guerrillas, more than 1 million militiamen serving the resistance war, of which 96 units and individuals had glorious achievements and were commended by the Government.

Among the military heroes, our province has had 8. They are comrades Cu Chinh Lan, Pham Minh Duc, Nguyen Quoc Tri, Dang Quang Cam, Tran Can, Pham Tu, Nguyen The Nhu, Dang Dinh Ho. They are the outstanding sons of our country and our province, the ones who have made our country and our province famous.

During the resistance war, workers from Truong Thi and Ben Thuy transported a lot of machinery to the resistance zone to serve the resistance. The people provided the resistance with more than 100,000 tons of food. Intellectuals trained thousands of students to supply the army and train them to become military officers. The industrial and commercial people also united to participate in the resistance war. Thanks to that solidarity and effort, our province made a worthy and glorious contribution to the victorious resistance war. The whole world heard and admired our people.

During the resistance war, our people tried like that; now, during peacetime, our people also try to build the country:

Regarding agriculture: Our people have restored the agricultural irrigation system in the North and South. That agricultural irrigation system can irrigate more than 40,000 hectares of rice fields. This was achieved thanks to the efforts of our people, and the intellectuals also contributed a lot. The agricultural irrigation system in our province is better than the one under the French. This shows that our people have done better than the French and the colonialists. Our people have built dikes on the Ca River, built saltwater dikes, dredged agricultural irrigation sluices, and used more than 1.5 million labors. Last year, more than 12,000 wells were dug to combat drought. Previously, when the colonialists were still in power, we often had bad harvests, and the North often had food shortages. Now, thanks to our efforts, our people have become masters of the country, so we have had four consecutive good harvests. We not only have enough food to supply the people and soldiers, but we also have a surplus of rice. This is a historic victory of our people.

In agriculture, I would like to mention an achievement of the women in our province. That is the livestock raising movement. I was informed that in 165 communes, 14,190 more pigs have been raised, an average of 86 pigs per commune. That is very good, very good. But we still have to try harder, because our people eat a lot of pork. Adding 86 pigs per commune is still small, but it is a good start. I hope this movement will spread to the whole province and to the surrounding provinces as well. Anh Son and Nghi Loc have a better and more outstanding movement. If we stand like that, let us try to ask the question: "Why can the women of Anh Son and Nghi Loc do it but the women of other districts cannot?". The women of Anh Son and Nghi Loc should try harder, and the women of other districts must compete to catch up with the women of Anh Son and Nghi Loc. Raising livestock as well as increasing production is beneficial to the country and to the family. Do the women here promise to do it?(The whole hall enthusiastically replied: "Yes, Uncle, we can do it").

I would also like to mention some individuals with achievements. Ms. Truong Thi Tam in Nghia Dan alone raises 300 chickens and 4 pigs. At the same time, she does farming, social work, and is the leader of the women's group. She is a heroic woman. A hero does not have to "conquer the east and west" or do something strange and outstanding to be a hero. Raising many pigs and chickens, increasing production, saving, and participating in social work well like that is a hero, like that is a soldier. If these women try, anyone can be a hero, a soldier, nothing is difficult.

Here, I suggest to my fellow countrymen that when I return, I will propose to the Government to reward Ms. Truong Thi Tam to encourage other women. In agriculture, we have agricultural hero Hoang Hanh, soldiers Vi Van Van, Nguyen Si Chap, Kha Thi Binh, Pham Dao. If in the resistance war, we had heroes, now in building peace, we also have heroic soldiers. They are the vanguard to rebuild the country's economy. They are also the outstanding children who make our province proud.

Regarding industry: With the efforts of our people and with the selfless help of friendly countries such as the Soviet Union, China and other democratic brother countries, we built water plants, oil depots, Ben Thuy port, power plants, sawmills, yarn factories, rice mills. At the same time, we also developed brick kilns and coal kilns. This was due to the common efforts of our people, especially our workers. Speaking of this, I would like to, on behalf of my people, thank our brother countries, and directly thank the expert comrades who have come far from their homeland to help us build our country.

Now, talking about youth, first of all, about intellectual youth and students. Our province has more than 70,000 students. That is quite good, but among them, there are only 32 girls in high school, and 865 girls in middle school is still small. So how hard must girls try, and parents should definitely not spare the effort to keep their daughters at home, not letting them go to school. In addition, we have 50,000 children learning to read. That is the initial cultural development...

I want to tell you what is the purpose of studying? The purpose now is not like before, studying to get a degree, to become a scholar or a scribe. Now there are no more scholars or scribes, there are office chiefs, directors, etc. We study now to study well to work well. Surely you have finished this class and want to go to another class, another class, another class. That is the ultimate goal, that baccalaureate degree or something like that, right? Yes, after passing the baccalaureate degree, what can you do? You know that now, the more our industry develops, the more educated the workers are. Therefore, the country needs workers with a high level of education.

Agriculture is also gradually progressing, farmers also need to have a cultural level. Only then can we turn our current backward economy into an advanced economy. You are not the ones who studied to become mandarins. In fact, we no longer have mandarins. If we do have mandarins, they are bureaucrats. All the officials in the Government, in the administration from the North to the officials of the regions, provinces, districts, and communes are all servants of the people. Do you understand?("Yes, understood" - the whole hall answered in unison).

Before, you have not heard that you study to become a servant of the people. Now, you must know that you study to become a good servant of the people, not to become an official. I will tell you: In the Soviet Union, a 10-year education means passing the baccalaureate. One year of training millions of young men and women, then young men and women go to factories and farms to serve the people, to work and produce. Do you understand?(Everyone replied: "Yes, sir, we understand.")

Regarding education, our province has also made quite a lot of progress. For example, Dien Lien commune has eliminated illiteracy and has been awarded a medal by the Government. The Government is preparing an award for our provincial capital and hopes that our provincial capital will somehow win that award. What do the delegates in the commune think?(“Please try” - came the reply).

Con Cuong district is an upper-lying district, and the education system is also good: in 107 hamlets, there are 105 classes. The labor exchange groups are also good: 62% of the farmers have joined the organization. Should the people propose that the Government reward Con Cuong district?(the whole hall applauded loudly).

The Youth Union has achievements but must also try, must be a model in solidarity, study, increase production and savings. Can you promise to do it?("Yes, I can do it" - a voice said below).

Talking about the province's health and social affairs, it has developed quite well, with efforts being made to prevent and treat diseases. However, we still need to make great efforts in disease prevention and hygiene. Because health care is very important to the health and lives of the people. This is about the achievements of our people during the resistance war and since the restoration of peace. But are you sure that our people only have advantages and no disadvantages?(“Yes, sir,” everyone replied.)

Since my people agree, I will speak. Bitter medicine cures disease, so I will speak the truth without fear of offending people.

2. About disadvantages:

I will only mention a few common points: Our people try to increase production, but do not pay attention to saving. Production and saving must go hand in hand. If production is not economical, it is like pouring water into a bottomless tube, pouring it into the mouth and it all flows away. Not saving means wasting. Here is an example: During the recent Tet holiday, there were districts that killed more than 400 buffaloes and cows - after eating, there were no buffaloes or cows to plow. Like last May 5th, China celebrated Qu Yuan, a very talented and patriotic poet. Yet in the past, our feudalists also took advantage of that occasion to eat and drink, also go to Tet, go to festivals. Our people say they are against feudalism, but in fact they are too feudalistic. One commune that day killed 3 buffaloes and cows. That is not good.

I heard reports that the brewing and drinking of alcohol in my province is also quite haphazard. These things affect good customs and traditions, are harmful to production, and are against the policies of the Party and Government, which are essentially for the benefit of the people. The Party and Government have no other interests other than the interests of the people. At the same time, places that have done so must now make changes.

Another point: last year, agricultural tax was 30% short. Industrial and commercial tax revenue was also lost. The government collects money from the people not to put into their pockets, but to build and to help people when necessary, such as helping farmers buy tools, buffaloes, and cows. Is the government doing the right thing?("Yes" - many answers).

But our people borrowed 3,000 million from the bank and now they refuse to pay. Is that right?(“Not true”- many answers).

In addition, the Government, wanting the people to harvest on time, lent them seeds. Now the people owe the Government 3,000 tons of rice seeds and refuse to pay. Is that right?(“No, sir.”)

Another shortcoming of our people is that they do not pay enough attention to building and maintaining dikes. These are general shortcomings, do you accept this? Is my criticism too harsh?(“That's right” - everyone replied).

3. Now I would like to present several tasks for our compatriots in the province and the people of the entire Northern region in general:

Some compatriots complain: Why has peace been restored for nearly three years but the economy has not changed much, life has not changed much, roads have not changed much, etc. That is because some of those compatriots do not understand the difficulties of all our people, the difficulties of the Party and the Government. You all know that our country was enslaved for 80 years, oppressed and exploited to the bone by French colonialists, and our country was devastated by 15 years of war. When the French colonialists left, they destroyed a little more. They left us with diseases, ignorance, unemployment and poverty. Peace has only been restored for less than three years. Now we compare it with the most advanced country in the world, the Soviet Union. You all know that the Soviet people, workers, and farmers now live very happily, the army and cadres are happy, etc. That means the whole people are happy. Do you see that?(many voices answered: "Yes, that's right").

But there is one thing that you people may not have realized: how to be happy like that. You only see the beauty, the goodness, the happiness, but you have not seen the path that the Soviet people have taken since the revolution succeeded until now. What is that path like? For 18 years, the Soviet people, workers, farmers, soldiers, cadres, intellectuals, etc., had to tighten their belts, fast, endure hunger, endure thirst, abstain from eating and drinking in order to increase production and build. So, after 18 years of suffering, hard work, and struggle, they were able to improve their living conditions. Gradually, from a backward agricultural country, they have now become the largest industrial country in the world. Because of hardship and hunger, their material and spiritual lives can now be said to be the happiest. Please remember that this is 18 years. You should also remember that the Soviet Union is a country of 200 million people, with a land area of ​​1/6 of the globe. What about our country? Our country was temporarily divided into two, the North of our country only had 13 million people. The Soviet Union had to fight for 18 years. We only built in three years. Do our people see the difference?(response: "Yes, it's different."

Then I ask: can our people be better than the Soviet people? The Soviet people needed 18 years, we only had 3 years to improve our living conditions, can we want everything to be good? No. Then we must try hard, must be self-reliant. We have a great advantage in the help of brotherly countries, but the people of the Soviet Union, China, and friendly countries help us but we are not self-reliant, like a bottomless barrel: the more they help us, the more we eat. Therefore, the Soviet Union needs 18 years. I can confidently promise my compatriots, if my compatriots promise me to compete to increase production, practice thrift, then I promise my compatriots: no matter how small our country is, no matter how temporarily divided into two regions, no matter how backward, in less than 18 years we will definitely improve our living conditions, our life, we will definitely be happier. That number of years is up to us to decide. If we have the strength, the time will be shortened. The people have understood the situation of our country and the difficulties of the Party and Government. The Party and Government are concerned day and night with how to improve the people's living conditions. To improve living conditions, we must increase production and practice thrift.

Now I would like to present some specific tasks, I hope you will pay attention and practice them:

1. People support correcting mistakes well and quickly.

I want to ask my fellow countrymen: Before the land reform, what did the working peasants, especially the poor peasants and the poor peasants, want? They wanted land, but do they have land now? They do. So was the land reform a failure or a success?("Victory" - the whole hall answered in unison).

Therefore, we say that the land reform was fundamentally a victory, but there were mistakes in it. We must speak up to correct it. We are not afraid of criticism, nor are we afraid of the enemy taking advantage of propaganda. We clearly recognize our mistakes and are determined to correct them, so we will definitely correct them well. Therefore, we hope that our compatriots will correct their mistakes well. Although these mistakes are serious, they are mistakes in the large family of middle-class, poor, and peasants. In correcting them, we must use the spirit of solidarity and love for the class, and we will definitely correct them. Here, we did well, but we did it too slowly. If we prolong it, it will affect production and other work. We did well, but if we prolong it, it will also affect us. If we did it quickly but not well, it will also affect us. We must do it quickly, neatly, and well.

2. Do people agree with the construction of factories and irrigation works?(Everyone happily replied: "agree").

What do we need to build? We need money. Where do we get the money? Agricultural tax, industrial and commercial tax. Paying agricultural tax, industrial and commercial tax means that our people contribute to building our country. So, I hope our people will pay fairly, neatly, quickly and well.

Another thing, those compatriots who owe money to the bank must pay it back. The help from friendly countries is not enough, because they also have to help other countries. Therefore, we need to buy some machinery and goods from other countries. To do that, what should we exchange? Agricultural products. At the same time, to improve people's living standards, it is necessary to stabilize prices. If wages keep increasing but prices keep skyrocketing, it is not good.

Therefore, we need agricultural products to regulate the market and build. I hope my people will produce and sell agricultural products to the Government.

3. At the same time, we must increase production and save. First of all, we must do well in the coming season. If we do not take care of the crops and let hunger happen, it will have a negative impact on everything. Farmers should not be subjective and say: now we have food, no need to worry about crop shortages, and pay little attention to crops. That is not right. There is a proverb that says, "Save food to prevent disaster, save clothes to prevent cold." Increasing production must go hand in hand with saving. Be ready to fight floods and storms. This year there may be big floods and storms. Fighting floods and storms is the same as fighting drought. It is better to prepare well to fight storms and floods, not drought. So what is the loss? If we are subjective and do not prepare, when storms, floods, and droughts come, what will be the loss?

4. Our province has a tradition and is known for its good customs. We must develop and preserve those good customs. Do not drink, gamble, or sing haphazardly. We must strengthen our sense of discipline and respect for the country's rules.

“

To do the above, we must be honest and united. In the resistance war, in the revolution, thanks to unity we won. In peace, we must unite to gain new and greater victories. Unity between Catholics and non-Catholics, unity between the North and the South, unity between ethnic minorities and Kinh people, unity between the army and the people.

I will talk about the wounded comrades again. The wounded comrades are those who sacrificed a part of their blood and bones to protect the Fatherland. That is very precious. At the same time, the wounded comrades are those who have a tradition of heroism, have been educated in politics, and have a spirit of discipline in our army. Therefore, I hope that the wounded comrades will maintain that glorious tradition. Be honest and unite with the people. Depending on your abilities, be an example in discipline and in economical production. You should remember that. Currently, among the wounded comrades, sick soldiers, and demobilized soldiers, many have become emulation fighters. Very good!

Speaking of solidarity, I also mention the Chinese people. In the past, the colonial imperialists divided this nation from that nation, this country from that country, divided the Chinese people from the Vietnamese people. Vietnam and China are brothers. We share the same ideology. Our people know that the border between our country and China has a border gate. Before Chiang Kai-shek, they called it Tran Nam Quan, Tran means to rule, to suppress. In 1949, China was unified. Right at that time, Chairman Mao ordered to change the word Tran Nam Quan to Muc Nam Quan. Muc means harmony, brotherhood. Therefore, in the solidarity of the army and people, the solidarity of the North and the South, the majority, the minority, the religious compatriots, our people must also unite with the Chinese people.

Our province has a very glorious revolutionary tradition. I would like to ask you, will you compete with other provinces to build our province into a model province? Will you make an effort?(all enthusiastically replied: "Sir, please be determined").

Once again, I thank all the elders, all the compatriots, all the children. Please convey the greetings of the Central Committee and myself to all the compatriots who are not here today.

(Files kept at the Party History Research Department, Nghe An Provincial Party Committee. Typewritten copy in 1977)