The Nghệ Tĩnh Soviet Uprising
Visiting the 'historic sites' that mark the Soviet movement.
In Nghe An province, there are dozens of historical sites associated with the Nghe Tinh Soviet movement (1930-1931). Each site is a "red address" that guides future generations to the vibrant revolutionary struggle of the people of their homeland right from the founding of the Party.
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| Ben Thuy Crossroads is the site of the historic May 1st, 1930 protest, where over 1,200 workers and peasants marched to Truong Thi Factory to demand higher wages, shorter working hours, land redistribution, and reduced taxes. For the first time, the red flag with the hammer and sickle flew atop the lamppost at Ben Thuy Crossroads. The enemy brutally suppressed the protest, killing 7 people, injuring 18, and arresting hundreds more. Ben Thuy Crossroads became a special historical landmark marking the beginning of the revolutionary movement.Nghe Tinh SovietPhoto: Cong Kien |
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| Trung Temple, located in Hung Dung ward (Vinh city), was also a site of revolutionary struggle activities by our people during the Nghe Tinh Soviet movement. On April 27, 1930, the Party branch mobilized more than 1,200 people from Yen village to gather here to participate in the demonstration on May 1, 1930, against high taxes and levies. Photo: Duc Anh |
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| In September 1930, the moss-covered communal house witnessed the people of the region rising up in struggle, forcing the village chief and local officials to hand over their seals and records. Those organizing the rally declared the abolition of the old government and the establishment of a Workers' and Peasants' Soviet government, with the Soviet headquarters located at Trung communal house. Photo: Duc Anh |
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| Located in Chau Son village, Chau Nhan commune (Hung Nguyen district), the House relicMr. Hoang VienThis was the workplace of the Central Vietnam Regional Party Committee during the period 1930-1931. In July 1930, the Phuc My Party Branch was established here. As the revolutionary movement spread, the Central Vietnam Regional Party Committee chose this place as its base of operations, and selected Mr. Hoang Vien's house as a meeting place, workplace, and shelter for cadres. Photo: Duc Anh |
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| Currently, the Hoang Vien House historical site still preserves many valuable artifacts, including newspaper articles from the Central Vietnam Party Committee encouraging the revolutionary struggle of the people during the Nghe Tinh Soviet movement. Photo: Duc Anh |
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| When talking about historical sites associated with the Nghe Tinh Soviet movement, we must mention:Soviet Square of Nghe TinhIn Hung Nguyen town (Hung Nguyen district), this site commemorates the heroic struggle of the people of Hung Nguyen and surrounding areas during the Nghe Tinh Soviet movement. It also witnessed the crimes of colonialism and feudalism. On the morning of September 12, 1930, approximately 8,000 farmers, under the leadership of the Party and armed with rudimentary weapons, marched towards the Hung Nguyen district capital, raising red flags with the hammer and sickle. As the protesters reached Thai Lao, the French colonialists bombed the crowd, killing 217 people, injuring 125, and arresting many others. (Photo: Cong Kien) |
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| The graves of the martyrs who died on September 12th were scattered among the mounds of earth. In 1956, they were exhumed and a common grave was built. On annual holidays and festivals, officials and people of Hung Nguyen often organize ceremonies to lay flowers and offer incense, expressing their heartfelt respect for the martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the Nghe Tinh Soviet movement. Photo: Cong Kien |
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| Further north in Nam Dan, there is the Tan Son Temple in Xuan Hoa commune. Built on the summit of Tan Mountain, it is a place of worship for the ancestor of the Le family, originally from the Mac dynasty – Vice-King Mac Dang Luong. Tan Son Temple was closely associated with Le Hong Son's childhood and patriotic activities in his hometown. Due to its secluded and sacred location, the temple was chosen as a meeting place and printing site for Party documents. It was also the place where the Executive Committee of the Xuan Lieu district branch was established, a gathering point for the masses during demonstrations, and a workplace of the Soviet government during the years 1930-1931. Today, Tan Son Temple and the tomb of Comrade Le Hong Son have become a memorial site for the Party and the people on major holidays. Photo: Thanh Cuong |
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| In the villageDien TrangIn Thanh Phong commune (Thanh Chuong district), there is the Nguyen Duy family ancestral temple, which was chosen by the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee as a base of operations during the Nghe Tinh Soviet period. Next to the Nguyen Duy ancestral temple, the Nguyen Ich family ancestral temple was also borrowed by the Provincial Party Standing Committee for printing documents. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| Near the Nguyen Duy and Nguyen Ich family church, there was a large, ancient banyan tree standing on the hilltop. At that time, the area around the banyan tree was quite overgrown, and its trunk had many hollows, so revolutionary cadres often chose it as a hiding place for documents. Whenever there was any activity, whether they were working, meeting, or resting, the comrades would immediately take the important documents to the back, find the base of the banyan tree, and hide them. Photo: Huy Thu |
