It has become a tradition that, in preparation for the new spring, young people in Ho Chi Minh City return to the old resistance bases of the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union in many southern provinces as a gesture of gratitude and to remind young people of their gratitude and pride in the past.
District 1 Youth Union Secretary Tran Ngoc Tri presents Tet gifts to people in the former resistance base area
The activity of visiting the Youth Union base has been taking place for many years, an opportunity for generations of cadres and members of Ho Chi Minh City to show gratitude to the people of the lands that sheltered and protected the revolution. Each trip brings different emotions, but 2025 is perhaps more special as it marks half a century of national reunification.
Mr. NGUYEN DANG KHOA (Head of Propaganda and External Affairs Department, Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union)
Along with the young people marching were some former cadres of the City Youth Union at that time. Memories of the not-so-distant past were interspersed through each story told along the way back to the base.
Reliving old memories at the Thanh Doan base
At dawn, Ms. Ngo Thi Cam Tien (alias Chin Nghia) was present at the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union headquarters. She said this was the second base out of 9 locations she would visit this spring. Memories of years past suddenly came flooding back...
At the age of 10, Ms. Chin Nghia participated in activities in the inner city. Five years later, she moved back to work in the base area, passing through many places such as Cu Chi, Nui Dinh, Vung Tau, Tay Ninh... As a liaison, she was tasked with bringing the City Youth Union cadres from outside to the base safely with the agreed-upon code words.
She said: "For example, when I meet a comrade, I ask, "Are you Uncle Ba?" If it's the right person, I'll get the answer, "Is it Miss Bay?" To be more certain, there are other signals, such as dropping a copy of Tia Sang newspaper, or dropping a bag of things that could contain peanuts or green beans, depending on the previous agreement."
But sometimes we had to use another code to confirm once again that it was the right person to bring into the base. Memories of Tet in the war zone were like yesterday. Mrs. Chin Nghia remembered Tet in the war zone as simple but warm. On the last afternoon of the lunar new year, the chief invited all the cadres to the meeting, talked about the meaning of traditional Tet, wished a happy new year, and then celebrated New Year's Eve together.
On the bus to Hoa Hung commune, Cai Be district (Tien Giang province), Mrs. Tran Phi Van (alias Ba Van) was excited to have the opportunity to return to the land that she said "marked her youth and sheltered her to contribute to the revolution". It has been 50 years of peace, and she has returned to the old base many times, but each time she cannot help but be moved when remembering the loss and sacrifice she witnessed.
At the age of 14, Ba Van left her family to follow her older siblings to "go to the revolution", working as a female liaison with the task of communicating and supporting the transportation of documents and weapons. At the same time, she was also active in the Student Union. However, the base at that time had to change locations constantly to ensure safety. At most, they would only stay in one place for about two years and had to move because they were discovered.
Becoming a member of the City Youth Union, Ms. Ba Van took students from the city to study, report and receive instructions. Many times, she had to travel far, walk, and before she could arrive, it was already dark, so she had to temporarily send them to stay overnight at a local's house.
"The simple joy is when I return and still see my parents and loved ones from the past present and healthy, there is nothing better," Ba Van smiled.
50 years of love still intact
No one knows how many trips he has made to visit the base, but Mr. Nguyen Dang Khoa, head of the Propaganda and External Relations Department (Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union), said that each time he returns, he is moved because even though half a century has passed, the people's feelings for the Youth Union remain as intact as ever.
During the war, hardships and deprivations of all kinds, although not blood relatives, the people were still willing to sacrifice, even blood and bones, to shelter and protect generations of Thanh Doan cadres. It has been 50 years, but every time you return, the people in the base area always warmly welcome you as if waiting for the children of the family who have gone far away to return.
Mr. Khoa said that it is a valuable asset that will last forever. If you have the opportunity, every young person should spend some time learning about the Thanh Doan base to understand why that attachment has lasted so long.
Completing the trip with the seniors, Nguyen Tran Minh Khoi (Foreign Trade University, Ho Chi Minh City campus 2) said that this activity was very meaningful and practical to educate the tradition of "remembering the person who planted the tree when eating the fruit".
Khoi said, hearing stories of fighting and sacrifice in the past was both touching and proud, and he admired the bravery of the previous generation even more.
"I think that each of us, no matter who we are, what we do or where we are, needs to always remember our roots and show gratitude for the sacrifices that have made our country independent and free today. So the responsibility of each young person is to dedicate and contribute more to make our country better and better," Minh Khoi shared.
A gift from the countryside
As soon as she saw the group stop at the gate, Mrs. Dang Hoa Thanh (78 years old, Tien Giang province) smiled brightly: "I am very happy, happy to see the delegation of the City Youth Union visit the base every year". The conversation seemed to last forever amid the memories of the past.
Before seeing the young people off, Mrs. Thanh hugged each of them and did not forget to remind them to bring baskets of star apples and grapefruits picked from their garden as gifts. For the old and weak Youth Union cadres who could not return to the base, she still carefully prepared to package them into portions and write down each person's name to send to the city.
The love of the youth of Uncle Ho City
During a visit to Cai Be district (Tien Giang province), 23 Tet gifts were handed over by young people from District 1 and Binh Tan to policy families here so that they could happily welcome the upcoming Tet At Ty 2025.
In Trang Bang town (Tay Ninh province), the Saigon Industry Corporation, Ho Chi Minh City Foreign Trade University, and Phu Nhuan District presented 55 gifts to families with meritorious services. They visited and presented gifts to the family of Vietnamese Heroic Mother Nguyen Thi Dung.
The joy of reunion of the green hairs of the past that have now turned white in Trang Bang town (Tay Ninh province) - Photo: L.HUY
Thousands of loving Tet giftsSource: https://tuoitre.vn/mua-xuan-cung-tim-ve-can-cu-thanh-doan-20250113013107833.htm
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