Returning to Pac Bo and Na Nua... young intellectuals in Ho Chi Minh City are filled with the desire to contribute

Standing in front of Pac Bo cave, Na Nua hut... many young intellectuals were moved when seeing with their own eyes the place where Uncle Ho used to live, fueling their pride, gratitude and desire to contribute to the Fatherland.

Ho Chi Minh City intellectual delegates listen to a presentation about President Ho Chi Minh 's revolutionary career in Tan Trao, Tuyen Quang - Photo: HH

"How beautiful our Fatherland is" - many delegates exclaimed this verse of To Huu when visiting famous landscapes of the country such as Nguom Ngao cave, Ban Gioc waterfall in Cao Bang province. This is also the first destination of the journey to the source "Proud of intellectuals in the city named after Uncle Ho", organized by the Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee from September 23 to 27.

Grateful to our ancestors

But the most impressive thing was visiting the revolutionary bases in Cao Bang and Tuyen Quang provinces. Standing in front of Pac Bo cave (part of the Pac Bo National Special Relic Site, Cao Bang, where Uncle Ho stopped during the first period of returning to the Fatherland to lead the revolution in the period 1941-1945), many young delegates were very surprised: "Why is the place where Uncle Ho lived and worked so small and narrow?".

Next, in the drizzling rain, the delegates went together to Na Nua hut - where President Ho Chi Minh lived and worked from the end of May to August 22, 1945 after leaving Pac Bo.

Looking at the simple, narrow hut deep in Na Nua forest, Tan Trao commune, Tuyen Quang province, petroleum engineer Nguyen Xuan Quang shared: "In a difficult, arduous, and deprived place like this, Uncle Ho made important decisions to prepare for the August General Uprising to gain independence, giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

Tan Trao Communal House, where the Tan Trao National Congress took place, considered the predecessor of the Vietnamese National Assembly, is just a simple thatched-roof house. Going there makes me feel more deeply, more proud, and more appreciative of the boundless sacrifices of Uncle Ho and previous generations.

Dr. Nguyen Phuoc Vinh - Deputy Head of Pharmacy Faculty, University of Health Sciences, Ho Chi Minh City National University - also shared: "My first feeling is gratitude for the contributions of President Ho Chi Minh and previous generations.

In such harsh and difficult living and working conditions, Uncle Ho and his predecessors made a great career, liberating the nation and regaining independence - freedom - happiness for the people.

Our generation today lives in peace with many favorable conditions. We dare not talk about great things, but we must contribute our strength and intelligence to make the country richer and more beautiful, and for the people to have a better life."

Civic responsibility

Sharing his feelings after the trip, architect Nguyen Duc Lap, Chairman of the Association of Architects of Ba Ria - Vung Tau (formerly), said: "I have been to the source many times, but this is the most meaningful trip, the most impressive, leaving me with the most profound thoughts.

The Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee's Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department has designed a very methodical, sophisticated and scientific itinerary. We were the first to go to Cao Bang, where Uncle Ho stopped after 30 years of wandering abroad to find a way to save the country."

Architect Nguyen Duc Lap added: "The next journey we took to Tuyen Quang - following the historical process when in May 1945 Uncle Ho left Cao Bang for Tan Trao, Tuyen Quang to prepare for the August General Uprising. And the final destination was Hanoi, where Uncle Ho read the Declaration of Independence and passed away. Therefore, we had a complete and systematic understanding of our nation's struggle for independence, and of Uncle Ho's immense contributions."

Meanwhile, Dr. Pham Manh Thang - Head of the Department of Political Education, Ho Chi Minh City University of Education - commented: "As a lecturer teaching the history of the Communist Party of Vietnam, I feel like I am experiencing the space of each slow-motion film going back to the years 1941-1945.

The lessons learned during the trip back to the source will enrich my archive of materials for each of my future lectures, giving me ideas to foster patriotism and civic responsibility in students. Ho Chi Minh City has many red addresses, I think that universities and high schools can absolutely bring students here to study, research, and experience...".

Similarly, Dr. Tran Hai Linh - member of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, founding Chairman of the Vietnam - Korea Experts and Intellectuals Association (VKEIA) - said after the trip back to the source: "The journey back to the source, witnessing with my own eyes and feeling with my heart the sacred vestiges of revolutionary history has given me more faith, pride and responsibility towards the Fatherland, especially for a Vietnamese person who has lived far away from home for quite a long time like me.

This is not only a trip of gratitude and remembrance, but also a journey to foster the spirit of dedication, connecting the city's elite intellectuals in the mission of accompanying the country's development.

I truly appreciate the care, thoughtfulness and significance from the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee's Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department, which has created conditions for us to have days full of experiences, bonds and sharing. Every conversation, every moment in the delegation ignited the spirit of comradeship, teamwork, colleagues..., with the same ideal for the prosperity and happiness of the people, including the contributions of the Ho Chi Minh City intellectual team."

Dr. Tran Hai Linh added: "I hope that this affection and connection will continue to be nurtured in new journeys so that we will always be intellectual ambassadors contributing to the cause of building and developing Ho Chi Minh City in particular and Vietnam in general. Goodbye to memorable days. I carry with me the baggage of faith, pride and aspiration to contribute so that no matter where I am, my heart will always turn to the Fatherland."

* Mr. Nguyen Viet Long (Deputy Head of Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department of Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, Head of the delegation of intellectuals of Ho Chi Minh City on the trip back to the source in 2025):

Fostering patriotism and desire to contribute

For the first time, Ho Chi Minh City organized a journey back to the source for intellectual delegates, especially in the context of the new Ho Chi Minh City merger, opening up many development potentials in which intellectuals play a key role.

The journey received attention and support from the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, gathering intellectual delegates from many fields and generations, especially patriotic overseas intellectuals.

The trip took place on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, with activities to visit famous places, explore culture, historical relics associated with the life and great career of President Ho Chi Minh and revolutionary predecessors.

Thereby fostering patriotism and the desire to contribute. In addition, the delegation also organized gift giving to policy families and disadvantaged students in Cao Bang, demonstrating the spirit of sharing, humanity, and joining hands with the community of the city's intellectuals.

Through the journey back to the source, intellectuals have the opportunity to exchange, connect, expand cooperation, and at the same time spread good values, steadfast beliefs and patriotism to the whole society, to the intellectual community at home and abroad; join hands to build a civilized, modern, and affectionate Ho Chi Minh City and an increasingly prosperous and happy country.

Awarding Ho Chi Minh badges to members of the city's intellectual delegation

Major General Pham Van Hieu, Political Commissar of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Command, pinned the Ho Chi Minh badge on Mr. Nguyen Viet Long, Deputy Head of the Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee - Photo: H.HG.

On September 27, the last day of the journey back to the source, the delegation of intellectuals from Ho Chi Minh City arrived in Hanoi, visited the mausoleum of President Ho Chi Minh, visited the Uncle Ho relic site at the Presidential Palace, and watched a touching documentary about Uncle Ho's last days before passing away...

Here, the Command of President Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum received the delegation and directly awarded Ho Chi Minh badges to all members of the city's intellectual delegation.

HOANG HUONG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/ve-nguon-pac-bo-na-nua-tri-thuc-tre-tp-hcm-bung-khat-vong-cong-hien-20250930105017901.htm