The formation of patriotic and revolutionary ideology of Le Hong Phong

(Baonghean) Comrade Le Hong Phong was an outstanding revolutionary soldier of the Party and the Vietnamese revolution, and the second General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam. He was one of Uncle Ho's close and excellent students.

Le Hong Phong's real name is Le Van Duc (later changed to Le Huy Doan), born on September 6, 1902 in a poor farming family in Dong Cua hamlet, Dong Thon village, Thong Lang commune, Hung Nguyen district, now Hung Thong commune, Hung Nguyen district, Nghe An province. Le Hong Phong's childhood was attached to his hometown Hung Nguyen.

Nghe An is a land rich in historical and cultural traditions, the cradle of many revolutions in the process of building and defending the country. This land has nurtured many heroes, great men, and cultural celebrities of the whole country.

The ancients said: "Nghe An has high mountains, deep rivers, respectful customs, and bright scenery. It is considered a land with a reputation greater than that of Nam Chau. The people are domesticated and studious, and its products are rich in rare and precious things... with the good energy of the mountains and rivers, many famous and virtuous people were born... It is truly a dangerous place like a bronze citadel, a hot pond of water, and the key to dynasties" (1)

It can be said that Nghe An has long contained many precious traditions of the Vietnamese people: bravery, indomitability, resilience in fighting foreign invaders, thrift, endurance, hard work, sacrifice and the spirit of solidarity, kindness and mutual help in life.



Provincial leaders inspect the construction progress of the General Secretary Le Hong Phong Relic Site and Memorial House Project. Photo: Mai Hoa.

Hung Nguyen is a district rich in cultural, patriotic and revolutionary traditions, inheriting many precious traditions of the nation, the people are hard-working and full of chivalry. This place has produced famous Confucian intellectuals such as Bach Lieu, the first Trạng Nguyên of Nghe An in 1226; Thai Tat Tien, Le Giam, Le Quang To, Nguyen Van Thong, Nguyen Quang Thien, Dinh Bat Tuy, Nguyen Truong To. Hung Nguyen is also the ancestral home of the outstanding national hero Nguyen Hue - Quang Trung.

In the second half of the 19th century, when the French colonialists expanded their invasion to the North, together with the people of Thanh - Nghe region, the people of Hung Nguyen enthusiastically participated in the Can Vuong and Van Than movements.

Entering the early 20th century, when Le Huy Doan (Le Hong Phong) was born, the anti-French movements were gradually suppressed. In the North, only the peasant army of Hoang Hoa Tham was still operating at a low level. But not long after, an anti-French movement with a new form and content appeared. That was the Dong Du movement (going to Japan to study and receive military training) with Phan Boi Chau as its President. In the early 1920s of the 20th century, many young people enthusiastically sought ways to go abroad in response to his call. Among them, some were admitted to Tam Tam Xa and later joined the Vietnam Revolutionary Youth Association founded by leader Nguyen Ai Quoc. Le Huy Doan - Le Hong Phong was one of those outstanding young people.

Hung Nguyen Prefecture was famous for its prosperity, but Thong Lang village, Le Hong Phong's hometown, had arid land and harsh climate. The people's lives were still hard-working and miserable all year round. They also had to endure two layers of oppression and repression from colonialism and feudalism, and had to work hard to pay taxes and levies. Countless families had to separate, wander, and seek work everywhere to make a living. Most farmers were illiterate and did not enjoy any democratic freedom. Therefore, the people continuously rose up to fight against oppression and exploitation, against both French colonialism and feudalism.

As an educated young man, full of love for his homeland and country, facing the social situation at that time, Le Huy Doan deeply felt the humiliation of losing his country. He realized that the development of trade and transportation was a favorable condition to exchange with friends about current events, to find a way to liberate his homeland and country from poverty. But the process of recognizing and forming that way had to converge many factors, in which homeland, family, and friends were the first important factors.

The Le family in Hung Nguyen is a large family with many successful people, a tradition of hard work, studiousness, solidarity, honesty and simplicity. Le Huy Doan's father, Mr. Le Huy Quan, was educated but his path to the imperial examinations was not fortunate. After finishing his bachelor's degree, he failed the exam, lived in the countryside, worked in the fields and worked as a tutor in the village for a while. His mother, Mrs. Pham Thi Sau, was famous in the area for her intelligence, gentleness and adherence to discipline and education. The couple had 5 children, 2 boys and 3 girls. Le Huy Doan was the fourth child in the family, handsome and healthy. Since childhood, Le Huy Doan was loved by the whole family and had high hopes for him. Therefore, although his family was poor, Le Huy Doan's parents still created conditions for him to study like some of his peers from well-off families.

Le Huy Doan grew up in the care and education of his family. With his intelligence, eagerness to learn, determination to learn and compassion for others, his studies were quite smooth and progressive. When he first went to school, Le Huy Doan studied Chinese characters at the village school. Around 1919 - 1920, the French colonialists and the Southern Dynasty government abolished the regional and national exams and opened 4 schools to study the national language and French in the communes of Phu Long, Van Vien, Hai Do and Thong Lang. At the same time, Le Huy Doan switched to studying the national language and elementary school. Being intelligent and hard-working, he achieved excellent results in elementary school.

Living in a poor countryside, Le Huy Doan's family situation became increasingly difficult when his beloved father passed away. He had to drop out of school, leave his hometown, and go to Vinh City to work to help his mother and sister, while also hoping to learn more French.

This was a bold decision, daring to endure sacrifice, marking the maturity of the patriotic young man Le Huy Doan in the face of family circumstances and the times to start an independent life in a new environment with many difficulties and challenges.

Born and raised in a homeland rich in cultural and revolutionary traditions, Le Hong Phong soon formed the spirit of a person who did not accept oppression and injustice, and stood up to fight against the enemy. His homeland and family were the cradles that nurtured, protected, and trained his will and determination to help his dreams so that comrade Le Hong Phong could find a way to liberate his homeland and country, gaining independence, freedom, prosperity, and happiness for the people.

(1) Phan Huy Chu: Chronicle of dynasties, Social Sciences Publishing House, Hanoi, 1993, volume 1, page 63.

Thai Khac Thu