Returning to the sacred land of Con Dao to further cultivate love for homeland and country

Coming to Con Dao in the days of July is to find a sacred “red address” of the Fatherland. The island with the beauty of blue sea and white sand was once a “hell on earth,” a place of imprisonment, exile and witness to the sacrifice of tens of thousands of revolutionary soldiers and patriotic compatriots.

Every inch of land here is soaked with the blood and bones of previous generations. The journey to Con Dao on the occasion of the War Invalids and Martyrs Day 27/7 has a profound spiritual and educational meaning.

Con Dao - historical evidence

Hang Duong Cemetery, the resting place of more than twenty thousand heroes, the sons who fell for the independence and freedom of the nation. Under the shade of the casuarina trees, thousands of graves lie side by side, simple and quiet.

The atmosphere at Hang Duong is always solemn and quiet. People from all over the country come here, carrying incense sticks and white chrysanthemums, quietly visiting each grave.

Candles were lit on all the graves, dispelling the silence of the night and warming the souls of the heroic martyrs.

Tourists pay tribute to Heroine Martyr Vo Thi Sau at Hang Duong Cemetery, Con Dao Special Zone, Ho Chi Minh City. (Photo: Huynh Son/VNA)

In that sacred space, people come to the tombs of Vo Thi Sau, patriot Nguyen An Ninh, General Secretary Le Hong Phong... and thousands of other outstanding children, not only to pray but also to talk about life today - the results of the country's innovation that the outstanding children sacrificed to gain.

Dr. Vu Ngoc Long, former Director of the Southern Institute of Ecology (Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology) shared that when he visited Hang Duong Cemetery in July, he was filled with emotions.

Here, every inch of land is soaked with the blood and bones of the elite sons who fell for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland. On July 27, we remember the boundless sacrifice of the heroic martyrs, the unknown soldiers.

Hang Duong Cemetery is even more special as it is located in the middle of an ocean, in the heart of Con Dao National Park with its natural wonders and biodiversity; located in the middle of a complex of historical relics and museums that future generations will always remember.

Leaving Hang Duong Cemetery, visitors cannot miss the Con Dao Prison system, a living testament to the crimes of colonialism and imperialism and also a symbol of the indomitable spirit of communists.

Place names such as “tiger cages,” “cow cages,” Phu Hai camp, Phu Son camp… are still there, recalling a painful but extremely glorious historical period. We admire even more the iron will, revolutionary optimism and noble sacrifice of political prisoners.

Mr. Nguyen Van Nam, a tourist from Tay Ninh, expressed his feelings after visiting the French tiger cages: "After visiting and listening to the tour guides' explanations, I realized the cruelty of war. Soldiers had to fight and sacrifice to protect peace, independence and freedom for the nation. Through the historical story, I see that I need to try to study and practice to follow in the footsteps of my ancestors to build an increasingly powerful country, not letting down the ancestors who worked hard to build it."

Returning to Con Dao, when the whole country turned to the War Invalids and Martyrs Day, memories of a time of war and war flooded back into the minds of former political prisoners. With slow steps, they returned to the land soaked in the blood and bones of their comrades, where the nation's best sons had devoted their youth to independence and freedom.

Visiting Con Dao prison these days in July, Mr. Huynh Thien Hoa (born in 1945, former political prisoner, former Chairman of the People's Committee of Con Dao district from 1991-2000, currently living in Vung Tau ward, Ho Chi Minh City), could not help but feel moved.

What he remembered most when revisiting this place was the spirit of solidarity and mutual support among the prisoners. It was this noble humanity that helped him and his comrades overcome the harshest challenges.

Now at the age of 80, the former political prisoner is still wondering how to further develop Con Dao. Mr. Huynh Thien Hoa is happy with the news that Con Dao is being connected to the national grid and investing in a waste treatment plant; at the same time, he hopes that the Party and State will have a special mechanism for the pearl island to develop to its full potential, promote the value of cultural heritage, protect natural resources and develop green, sustainable tourism.

Steady steps forward in the new phase

Con Dao is increasingly asserting its position as an attractive tourist destination, harmoniously combining nature conservation, historical preservation and improving the quality of life for islanders.

A system of wax statues recreates scenes of prisoners being held in Phu Hai Prison in Con Dao. (Photo: Huynh Son/VNA)

July is the time when people and tourists organize many "return to the source" trips to Con Dao. Ms. Pham Thi Tam, Deputy Director of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Museum-Library (Department of Culture and Sports of Ho Chi Minh City) said that the unit has proactively prepared to ensure the best conditions for gratitude delegations, return to the source and delegations to offer incense and commemorate at the relic site, contributing to spreading the traditional revolutionary values, gratitude and morality "When drinking water, remember its source."

After reorganizing the administrative apparatus and units, Ho Chi Minh City has many programs and orientations to develop Con Dao into a high-quality cultural and ecological tourist area in the future.

Mr. Le Anh Tu, Secretary of the Party Committee of Con Dao Special Zone, said that in the coming time, Con Dao aims to develop into a high-quality marine and island eco-tourism zone of regional and international standards, harmoniously combining nature conservation, historical preservation and improving the quality of life for the people.

This orientation includes developing green infrastructure, conserving biodiversity, developing sustainable tourism, and improving people's lives.

To develop Con Dao Special Zone into an attractive tourist destination, the harmonious combination of nature conservation and historical value preservation must be considered a consistent viewpoint throughout the future development process of Con Dao, and these two issues must not be overlooked.

At the same time, it is necessary to build and firmly protect the sovereignty of the sea and islands. Con Dao strengthens the restoration, embellishment and preservation of historical and cultural relics, especially the Con Dao prison relic site, considering this a priceless asset that needs to be preserved and protected.

Tourists visit Phu Tuong Prison in Con Dao (Ho Chi Minh City), a prison known as the "French tiger cage", where revolutionary soldiers were detained during the resistance war against French colonialists and American imperialists. (Photo: Huynh Son/VNA)

In green economic development, Con Dao builds a modern wastewater treatment system, ensuring that treated wastewater meets standards and does not pollute the environment, prioritizing the use of solar energy and other renewable energy sources to minimize environmental impacts, moving towards a clean energy Con Dao; at the same time, strengthening the protection of natural forests, marine ecosystems, and biodiversity in Con Dao; developing specific regulations and guidelines on tourism activities to ensure no negative impacts on the environment and ecosystem.

According to Mr. Le Anh Tu, to develop in the above direction, first of all, it is necessary to remove the traffic bottleneck of Con Dao in connecting the island with the center of Ho Chi Minh City and other provinces and cities in the country, with the region and internationally.

Therefore, it is necessary to soon build and expand an airport capable of receiving large aircraft, research and build a seaport that can receive international cruise ships to visit Con Dao; have a power grid system that meets the needs of investors, business development and the needs of Con Dao people; synchronously develop a clean water supply system, develop high-quality healthcare and education to meet the health care and learning needs of all people.

The image of Con Dao that remains in everyone's heart is not only the blue sea and golden sunshine, but also the green of the banyan trees, poplar trees, and casuarina trees standing tall in the storm, like the spirit of those who have remained here.

Returning to the sacred land of Con Dao is a journey for each person to reflect on themselves, to foster love for their homeland and country, and to realize that the peace and freedom we are enjoying today were exchanged for the blood and steadfast will of an entire generation of heroes./.

(TTXVN/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/ve-dat-thieng-con-dao-boi-dap-them-tinh-yeu-que-huong-dat-nuoc-post1051699.vnp