The simple house and the ancient star fruit tree associated with General Vo Nguyen Giap's childhood

(Dan Tri) - The simple three-room house next to the poetic Kien Giang River is where General Vo Nguyen Giap was born. On the porch is a star fruit tree over a hundred years old, associated with the talented general's childhood.

This fall, it will be exactly 10 years since General Vo Nguyen Giap passed away. This is also an opportunity for us to remember and show deep gratitude for the contributions and achievements of the talented general - General Vo Nguyen Giap. General Vo Nguyen Giap was born in An Xa village, Dai Phong Loc commune, Le Thuy district, Quang Ninh prefecture (now Loc Thuy commune, Le Thuy district, Quang Binh province). It was this homeland with a rich revolutionary and heroic tradition that shaped the personality of the eldest brother of the Vietnam People's Army.

Nowadays, when tourists come to Quang Binh, besides the tomb of General Vo Nguyen Giap in Quang Dong commune, Quang Trach district, many people also choose to visit the house associated with the legendary general's childhood. The simple 3-room wooden house located on the Kien Giang river, at the end of An Xa village, Loc Thuy commune is where General Vo Nguyen Giap cried when he was born and spent his childhood years.

Mr. Vo Dai Ham, the General's nephew, has been in charge of looking after the house for nearly 45 years. Although he is 80 years old this year, Mr. Ham is still agile and very clear-minded. Many people who visit the General's house consider Mr. Ham a "living book" about the house as well as many memories of the General's visits to his hometown.

Mr. Ham said that in 1947, when attacking and occupying Le Thuy, the French completely burned down the more than 100-year-old house of General Vo Nguyen Giap's family. Later, the 3-room, 2-wing tiled house and the thatched house were rebuilt on the old foundation. Household items such as bookshelves, wooden beds, sofas, mahogany beds, altars, etc. were all restored to their original state.

In the wooden house are the altar, statue and portrait of the General. Next to it is a rosewood bed that has been polished by time; a set of sofas where visitors can sit and write in the guestbook; many photos of the General with Uncle Ho and his comrades... "Here, every time there are holidays, Tet or the General's birthday, many people come to visit. After offering incense, everyone stays a while to chat, share with each other their thoughts, feelings and emotions about the General's life and career. The General's memorial house has become a cultural and historical destination for everyone to visit, learn and be educated about revolutionary traditions," Mr. Ham shared.

Mr. Ham also does not remember clearly how many groups and how many guests he has received. Although he has not attended any tourism training courses, the simple, rustic, and familiar stories he shared have helped many people understand more about the General's life in the most profound and impressive way.

The grounds of the Memorial House of General Vo Nguyen Giap are about 2,700 square meters wide, with many trees and a green fence from the gate running into the yard, most of which were planted later. The only ancient tree that has survived since the General’s family lived here is the star fruit tree behind the house, which is over 100 years old.

Under this ancient star fruit tree, the General used to study and play with his friends during his childhood. During the war, bombs and shells destroyed almost all of the General's family's old house, leaving only the star fruit tree. Thanks to the more than 100-year-old star fruit tree, people were able to determine the exact location to restore the house on the old land as it is today. "Visiting the General's memorial house, sitting in the simple house, listening to the stories of the brilliant general's life, my heart was filled with emotions. It has been 10 years since the General passed away, but his great contributions will forever be engraved in the hearts of every Vietnamese person," said Tran Dinh Hung (born in 1998), a tourist.

A decade has passed since General Vo Nguyen Giap rested in the motherland of Quang Binh. For the people of Quang Binh in general and Le Thuy in particular, the General still lives forever, present in their hearts. According to Mr. Duong Cong Nhan, Chairman of the People's Committee of Loc Thuy commune, no matter where he goes or what he does, every time he returns to the General's house, he is moved and sees more clearly the affection of people from all over the country for the General, an outstanding son of his homeland Quang Binh, of Loc Thuy commune, of An Xa village.

General Vo Nguyen Giap's childhood was associated with Kien Giang River and Le Thuy folk songs. Every time he visited his hometown, the General talked with and advised the local people and authorities to unite and build his hometown more and more prosperous. Following the General's advice and promoting the tradition of his revolutionary hometown, in recent years, the people of Loc Thuy have joined the new rural construction, gradually transforming and developing their hometown. To boost economic development, the Party Committee and authorities of Loc Thuy commune have actively mobilized people to maximize resources, focusing on comprehensive economic development, gradually exploiting the potential and strengths of the locality; proactively converting crop structure to suit soil conditions to increase income.

Along with agricultural production, the locality has promoted and diversified rural occupations, developed industry and handicrafts, and trade and services. Many models of the people have been effective, gradually expanded, creating stable income, contributing to improving people's lives. Thanks to that, the poverty rate of the commune has decreased rapidly over the years, now only 2%; average income per capita has reached more than 65 million VND/year. "The General's advice during his visits to his hometown is not only a reminder but also a motivation for the people of Loc Thuy commune to overcome difficulties and improve their lives. Up to now, Loc Thuy commune is continuing to accelerate and implement the criteria with quality and build a model residential area," Mr. Duong Cong Nhan added.

Dantri.com.vn