MEMORIES OF PEOPLE WHO SERVED UNCLE HO AT DA CHONG
Colonel LE HONG DUONG
Former Deputy Head of Political Department
President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum High Command
At Da Chong, I attended a gathering of historical witnesses who had served Uncle Ho and the Central Committee. Despite the hot sun in May, the weather was nice, facilitating emotional expression to be told. Nearly half a century has passed, some are still here, some are gone, but profound memories and unbounded affection for Uncle Ho return in the consciousness of each historical witness. Please allow me to capture some memories from the seniors, those who served honorably at Da Chong.
Following warm handshakes were heartfelt stories and inquiry about each other's health and families. People moved carefully towards the house where Uncle Ho had lived and worked to give incense in his remembrance. Countless recollections flooded everyone's minds. Artifacts once closely linked with Uncle Ho, as well as the locations where he and his Central Committee colleagues worked, relaxed, welcomed guests, and conducted key meetings deciding the nation's major issues throughout the war time. Some elderly leafed through golden journals filled with guests' recollections, and many left meaningful remarks. Among them was a sentiment shared by General Vo Nguyen Giap, former Commander-in-Chief, Minister of National Defense, an outstanding disciple of President Ho Chi Minh, who spent years living and working alongside Uncle Ho: "On January 01, 1998, while visiting the K9 historical site, also known as the Da Chong Monument area, and looking at a statue with an image of Uncle Ho, and sitting at the table where Uncle worked with comrades in the Political Bureau, I missed him very much, feeling as if I had just worked with him here." Everyone fell silent for a moment after reading General Giap's tribute, sharing the same emotion: though Uncle Ho has passed away, his home, the table, the working chair, and the bed seem to retain his warmth. How time flew? It had been two centuries since the old days, working and learning with Uncle Ho.
Nguyen Van Ru, 86 years old, former Deputy Chief of the Provincial Administrative Office in Son Tay from 1957 to 1959, reminisced slowly: "In February 1958, I, along with Mr. Phuong - Chairman of the Provincial Administrative Committee, had the honor of welcoming Uncle Ho to visit the old coffee plantation area (later known as construction site 5)." Uncle Ho and the working delegation had lunch here back in the day. In the afternoon, Uncle Ho had a meeting with almost 500 provincial authorities in Son Tay town. Later, Uncle Ho and the Central Committee decided to make this location the base, and I was honored to be a member of the Construction Steering Committee and Party Committee." Mr. Ru continued, "Honestly, I was happy and worried at the same time. Happy because the superior trusted me with a significant task, a task related to our homeland with Uncle Ho and Central Committee comrades living and working here. But also worried because the task was much pressured, needing urgency while assuring quality and development as specified. As a result, I had to closely monitor the construction. When I joined Uncle Ho for inspection on multiple occasions, I typically used a mobile motorbike, sometimes in Son Tay, sometimes on the building site 5.
The story of Mr. Ru reminded me Mr. Vu Ky, Uncle Ho's personal secretary, who recounted: "A day in May 1957, Uncle Ho had a rice ball meal with the comrades next to the 'three mountain' Da Chong, where the land was flat and there was a giant phoenix tree, when Uncle Ho visited the soldiers and officers of the Division 308 conducting exercises in the upper reaches of the Da River." Uncle Ho then took a little nap just under the tree. According to Mr. Ky, it was not Uncle Ho’s first time to Da Chong, on a sunny day in May 1957, Uncle Ho stood at the 'three mountain' spot, looking at the Da River in front, appreciating the scenic surroundings, the winding river, the beautiful landscape, close to the people, and away from the national highway. With the strategic vision, Uncle Ho considered establishing a base, Uncle Ho proposed constructing a base from which the Party's Central Committee could continue to direct revolutionary efforts and, if necessary, allow the Staff management in combat with the ferocious enemy.
According to Uncle Ho's plan, the Da Chong Monument area was developed, including the Central Committee's workplace, resting area, and a zone for service forces. Right after that, the General Logistics Directorate was assigned the task of building several level-four houses. By May 1959, anticipating the threat of a destructive air war by the American imperialist forces in the North, the Central Committee urgently directed the army and local forces to expedite the construction of the base. Once completed, the base was codenamed K9.
Mr. Cu Van Chuoc, former Head of Clerical Department of the President Office and former Director of the Ho Chi Minh Museum, who had the honor of serving Uncle Ho for many years, slowly revealed: "During the construction of this house, Uncle Ho inspected it three times." Uncle Ho personally indicated the direction of the main home using bamboo stakes to simulate stilt buildings. Trees in the vicinity were not allowed to be felled randomly in order to maintain confidentiality. Many long-standing trees remain close to the stilt house (two-story house) today: rice trees, cotton trees, longan trees, coffee trees, and so on. Many trees, such as orchid trees and cinnamon trees, were later planted here for shade, fragrance and bettering the environment. The milk tree from the South was planted in Uncle's garden and propagated to be planted at construction site 5 as well as other resting areas such as the West Lake Inn and the Presidential Palace nursery."
Mr. Le Van Nam, a soldier of Team 1, Company 1, Engineer Brigade 600, who served in the Da Chong Monument area since 1960, vividly recalled: "In my military life, it was my great privilege to meet Uncle Ho many times. Meeting him at the first sight gave me vivid memories. It was on the morning of January 28, 1960 (Lunar New Year's Eve of the Year of the Rat), Uncle Ho visited Da Chong (construction site 5) to deliver new year wishes to the officials, soldiers, and workers. Well-informed that some Southern workers were homesick, Uncle Ho reminded them: “I know you all miss your Southern home, it necessitated the demand of working hard on the two goals of building the North toward socialism, liberating the South, and reuniting our nation. During that time, Uncle Ho visited to the two families of Mr. To and Mr. Cam, who lived at the foot of the hill. He was dressed in brown, wearing a wool hat, and walked around in black rubber sandals. Everyone in the room was surprised, delighted, and perplexed as Uncle Ho approached. Mr. To clutched his hands and cried, "Dear Uncle, dear Uncle." Uncle Ho grinned, waved his hand, and gently murmured, "Don't do that." On this New Year's Eve, I wish you everybody good health, a wonderful Tet, and development.' Uncle Ho subsequently wished everyone a Happy Tet and handed gifts. Everyone applauded and thanked Uncle Ho. Uncle Ho bid goodbyes and headed up to the stilt house.”
There are many more heartwarming stories, especially around holidays and birthday celebrations for Uncle Ho. Uncle Ho did not desire big parties on these occasions and actively planned distant work travels. Da Chong was his most visited location.
Each person offered their own narrative, their own recollection of Uncle Ho, which seemed to go on endlessly. The elders stood solemnly, staring at the house, all of its contents still intact. With a row of long tables, seats, and ceiling fans, this was the location for welcoming guests and holding Political Bureau meetings. The door system was designed to be flexible on rails, allowing for greater openness. When there were a big number of people attending meetings or during breaks, the door platform was used as seating. Officers, soldiers, and workers stationed here would light incense in commemoration of Uncle Ho on Lunar New Year, Uncle Ho's death anniversary. The unit was destroyed on April 17, 1995 (March 18, 1995, Year of the Pig), the unit established Uncle Ho's altar. Initially, the altar had a portrait, and by May 08, 1997 (April 02, 1997, Year of the Buffalo), a bronze statue took the place of the portrait. Minh Dinh, an artist at the Museum of Military History (now the Vietnam Military History Museum), painted this masterpiece representing Uncle Ho seated on a bamboo chair, reading the Nhan Dan newspaper. Uncle Ho appeared to be greeting visitors with a sweet and compassionate expression. Everyone took a moment to admire Uncle Ho's statue before ascending the stairs to the second floor of the house. Mr. Cu Van Chuoc and Mr. Nguyen Van Mui, Uncle Ho's drivers, recalled vividly that in 1961, Uncle Ho welcomed Mrs. Dang Dinh Sieu (the late Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai's wife), and in 1962, Uncle Ho welcomed Soviet astronaut Gherman Titov.
The events of President Ho Chi Minh welcoming two international guests at K9 hold significant importance. It was a kindness to the people of the Soviet Union and Chinese siblings. Today, the jade orchids and golden orchids planted by President Ho and his distinguished visitors are evergreen and blooming with fragrant blossoms, representing the Vietnamese people's camaraderie and faithful comradeship.
Adjacent to the living rooms is a small meeting room. This room witnessed important discussions of President Ho with Party and State leaders concerning crucial matters related to the ways of liberating the South and reunification of the nation
The President's resting room is simply furnished with only the essentials. In the words of Mr. Cu Van Chuoc, "This is the grass mattress gifted by the people of Son La to President Ho, the bedside lamp, and the wool carpet given as a gift when President Ho visited China." "Good things and decent belongings should be reserved for esteemed guests," President Ho would often say. Vietnam has a long history of kindness and goodwill." A vase of lilies, President Ho's favorite flower, decorated the desk whenever he worked or rested in this area.
A round pond with a natural rockery in the center sits in front of the house. An underground bunker capable of seating 3-4 people could be found to the right at the start of the stairway. The front of the house has a paved brick path with scattered stones that leads down 81 steps to the Da River. It is known as "President Ho's Health Training Path," and now, everyone can view the blossoming lotus flowers planted during the base's construction to conjure memories of the home garden in Kim Lien, Nam Dan.
Leaving the traditional stilt house, everyone returned to the greenhouse, a haven of safety for President Ho's body during the six-year war. Standing in front of the sign "This place preserved President Ho Chi Minh's body from 1969 to 1975," which was erected on May 16, 2001 by General Secretary Nong Duc Manh, everyone was informed touching stories about the resilience, endurance, and technological innovations of Vietnamese engineers, doctors, officials, workers, and technicians who, alongside Soviet experts, safeguarded and protected President Ho's body during the harsh years of war.
The visitors approach the living area at the end of the tour. Despite having previously expressed emotional sentiments, the historical witnesses are now filled with wonderful memories. Each individual, who was later assigned different roles, always followed in the footsteps of the Convoy 69 and the current the President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum High Command. Despite difficulties, shortage, and the critical moment following the Soviet Union's demise, the unit progressively climbed to become the master of its task to preserve and protect President Ho's body. As time flew, yet the Da Chong monument remains intact and well-preserved, and the surrounding lands are painstakingly maintained.
My deepest appreciation and unending respect for these veterans, who once had the honor of serving in this special task force and are now in their old age, eloquently pass down their sacred memories of beloved President Ho Chi Minh to the younger generations.
