Glorious history
Following the historical site “Pho Rang” in the poem Viet Bac, we found Pho Rang town, Bao Yen district (Lao Cai). Right in the center of the town, there is a national historical site named “Pho Rang Fort Victory Relic” still standing tall, reflecting on the Chay River.
According to official historical sources as well as the History of the Bao Yen District Party Committee (Lao Cai), Pho Rang post was built by the enemy on the 442 hill, covering an area of nearly 1 hectare. This is a strategic location, able to control the entire Pho Rang town basin and neighboring areas. The post is surrounded by the river on almost 3 sides, from the post's position, it is possible to observe and monitor all activities on the river and both banks. The French built a solid fortification system with many bunkers, trenches, and densely packed bamboo fences around the base; mines, obstacles, and gun emplacements were arranged around the post. The enemy also arranged 2 European-African platoons, 1 red-scarved soldier team, 1 paratrooper platoon, 1 militia platoon, and various weapons ready to fight back and block the progress of our troops to liberate the Northwest region.
On May 19, 1949, the Thao River campaign began. Our troops destroyed two positions, Dai Buc and Dai Phac (Tran Yen district, Yen Bai) in Nghia Lo sub-region, shaking the entire enemy defense system on the right bank of the Red River in Yen Bai province. Taking advantage of the victory, we attacked Pho Rang sub-region, a key stronghold, the enemy's brain base and also the sub-region's command post.
At 6:00 p.m. on June 24, 1949, our artillery began firing at the enemy's fort, suppressing the gun emplacements. After more than 40 hours of continuous fighting with fierce, resilient, and brave spirit, we and the enemy fought for each section of the trench, each bunker, and each gun emplacement. At exactly 8:00 a.m. on June 26, 1949, our troops controlled the battlefield, took down the fort, captured the fort commander, and destroyed more than one enemy company. Pho Rang fort was defeated, a part of the enemy troops retreated in two directions to Nghia Do and Lao Cai. We continued to organize interceptions, destroying 50 enemies and capturing many others. The destruction of Pho Rang command post shook the enemy's defense line from Pho Lu to Nghia Do, causing the enemy to suffer losses, confusion, and extreme fear.
The victory at Pho Rang fort broke an important link in the Bao Ha - Pho Rang - Nghia Do - Yen Binh defense line, promoted the disintegration of the enemy, created the premise for the main force to liberate Pho Lu and attack Nghia Do fort, contributed significantly to bringing the Song Thao campaign to complete victory, smashing the enemy's important defense line, liberating over 600 km2 and hundreds of thousands of people of the Northwest ethnic groups from the enemy's grip. The battle at Pho Rang fort was a heroic and resounding victory that has been recorded in the glorious history of the nation.
Recalling the heroic atmosphere 75 years ago, Mr. Lo Van Tinh, a veteran in Xuan Hoa commune, Bao Yen district, still remembers clearly: “I still clearly feel the fierce and extremely fierce atmosphere in the battle of Pho Rang fort. At that time, our artillery fired, mortars supported, the troops advanced to attack the fort in all directions as planned. To open the way to attack the solid fortification system, our troops mainly used explosives. The sound of explosives, artillery, and mortars exploded, causing the enemy's spirit to quickly fall into panic. The attacks quickly broke the enemy's defensive formation. At many posts and posts, the enemy troops quickly laid down their weapons and surrendered. After advancing close to the fort at Hill 442, our troops used explosives weighing more than 100 kg. When the explosion of the explosive shook the sky and earth, the enemy troops were completely paralyzed, and we completely controlled Pho Rang fort...”.
“After more than 40 hours of continuous fighting, from June 24 to 26, 1949, with a creative, resourceful spirit, not afraid of sacrifice, our main force, together with the army and people of Bao Yen district, destroyed Pho Rang post, contributing significantly to bringing the Song Thao campaign to final victory. The most valuable lesson of our army at that time and the armed forces was the spirit of bravery and determination to attack and destroy the enemy. The Pho Rang battle was later recognized by military historians as the first siege battle of our Vietnam People's Army” - Veteran Tran Ba Duong, in group 3a, Pho Rang town, Bao Yen district, recounted.
The battle of Pho Rang Fort was a heroic and glorious victory that has been recorded in the glorious history of our country. With that meaning, since 1999, Pho Rang Fort relic has been recognized by the Ministry of Culture - Information (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports - Tourism) as a National Historical Relic, becoming a special evidence, a source of pride for the people of all ethnic groups in Bao Yen district in particular and Lao Cai province in general.
Red address for revolutionary tradition education
About 75 years ago, the victory of Pho Rang garrison opened a historic turning point for the liberation of Lao Cai and the wider Northwest region from the yoke of French colonialism. Years have passed, but the victory of Pho Rang still resonates today and tomorrow, is a source of pride and encouragement for the people of Bao Yen ethnic groups to compete in economic development, ensuring security and national defense. And more than that, for a long time, the historical relic of Pho Rang garrison has become a red address to educate the revolutionary tradition for today's generations about the heroic spirit and self-sacrifice for the homeland of the previous generation.
Not only entering the history of the nation, the place name Pho Rang also enters poetry, with immortal verses in the poem Viet Bac by the late poet To Huu, in the poem there is a passage:
"...Does anyone remember who is back?
When I return, I miss Phu Thong and Giang Pass.
Remember Lo River, remember Rang Street
Remember from Cao-Lang remember to Nhi Ha...”
Along with poetry, the historic victory at Pho Rang Fort has also become an endless stream of emotions that created a lifetime travelogue called “The Battle of Pho Rang” by martyr and writer Tran Dang. His travelogue vividly recounted the process of our army attacking Pho Rang Fort, so that each generation of descendants today, when reading the work, can clearly feel the atmosphere of the heroic moments of history...
Talking to us, comrade Hoang Quoc Bao, Secretary of Bao Yen District Party Committee said: Over the years, the Pho Rang Fort Victory Historical Site has been an important part of the history of the local Party Committee. We always consider the Pho Rang Fort Relic a red address to educate revolutionary traditions for all classes of people, especially the young generation, about the heroic and indomitable spirit of our ancestors. At the same time, it contributes to preserving and promoting the cultural values of the land and people, which is a source of pride and great encouragement for the people of all ethnic groups in Bao Yen to compete in economic development, ensuring security and national defense.
With the roadmap to turn heritage into assets, effectively promoting existing potentials in economic development, especially tourism economy, in recent times, the locality has paid special attention to preserving and embellishing the historical relic of Pho Rang station in conjunction with propaganda and education work, arousing pride in local historical and cultural traditions, exploiting the potential strengths to build and develop Pho Rang town, Bao Yen district into a fairly developed district of Lao Cai province in the near future.
“With the determination to build Pho Rang Fort Relic into a highlight, a red address to educate the tradition of patriotism for generations, in recent years, Bao Yen district has continuously planned, invested in embellishing and building Pho Rang Fort Relic into a special destination in Bao Yen, both educating the revolutionary tradition for the young generation and promoting the preservation of cultural values, encouraging the heroic spirit of the nation. And more than that, the responsibility of our younger generations today is to build Pho Rang Fort Relic to be truly worthy of its historical value, making it a priceless spiritual asset for today and tomorrow” - Secretary Hoang Quoc Bao said.
Promoting the heroic spirit of Pho Rang battle
On the land of Pho Rang - where the fierce battle took place in the past, it has now changed its appearance, becoming the political, economic and cultural center of Bao Yen district, the rich and beautiful southern gateway of Lao Cai province. Promoting the heroic tradition, implementing the Party's renovation policy, over the past 75 years, the Party Committee and people of all ethnic groups in Bao Yen district have always upheld the spirit of solidarity and unity; exploited potentials and strengths, developed the socio-economy, consolidated security and strong national defense.
In terms of socio-economics, in recent years, Bao Yen district has had a creative approach of choosing spearheads and strengths to focus on development, creating a clear breakthrough. As for agricultural and forestry development, it is implemented in the direction of large-scale commodity production, applying advanced technology and science and technology. The concentrated agricultural commodity area has been formed and is growing stronger with 572 hectares of tea, 25,200 hectares of cinnamon, 285 hectares of bananas, 264 hectares of fruit trees... The whole district has 35 products that have been certified to meet OCOP criteria of 3 stars at the provincial level or higher. In addition, Bao Yen district also allocates resources for new rural construction associated with the development of community eco-tourism and spiritual tourism; prioritizing small-scale industries; developing economic sectors associated with planning and organizing socio-economic development space.
Since the beginning of the 22nd Bao Yen District Party Congress, the economic growth rate in the district has reached an average of 13.39% per year, ranking 4th in the province; the total value of social products in the area reached 9,296 billion VND, 1.7 times higher than in 2020; the average income per capita reached 58 million VND/person/year, 1.5 times higher than in 2020, ranking 4th compared to districts, towns and cities; The economic structure has shifted in the right direction, increasing the proportion of construction and service industries, reducing the proportion of agriculture; in which, the proportion of construction industry accounts for over 32%, services account for over 42%, agriculture accounts for nearly 30%. Agriculture has shifted in the right direction, the value of products per 01 hectare of cultivated land reaches 90 million VND; Forest coverage rate reached 63.13%, value of high-tech agricultural products reached 270 million VND/ha; poverty rate of the district decreased to below 5%...
Along with economic development, the cultural and social fields have many changes. The quality of comprehensive education has been improved; spearhead education is in the leading group of the province. The quality of health services has been improved, the movement of "All people unite to build a cultural life" associated with building new rural areas and civilized urban areas has been promoted, the material and spiritual life of the people has been constantly improved. The work of building the Party and the political system has been strengthened; the leadership, management and operation capacity of Party committees and authorities at all levels has been improved, the great solidarity of the people has been consolidated.
Faced with new opportunities and opportunities, Bao Yen has a lot of room to create strong development steps. As a southern gateway district of the province with a gradually invested traffic system, the district Party Committee has a tradition of solidarity and cohesion; the people in the district are brave and resilient in the revolutionary struggle, diligent and creative in working and studying, and dynamic to enrich their homeland. Those factors are the conditions for Bao Yen to develop on the basis of its own internal strength in the new context.
Promoting the heroic spirit of Pho Rang battle, with the spirit of solidarity, proactiveness and creativity, the Party Committee, government and people of Bao Yen district are striving to overcome difficulties and challenges, successfully implementing the Resolution of the 22nd District Party Congress, building Bao Yen into a district that meets new rural standards by 2025, worthy of the trust of cadres, party members and people in the district and the expectations of superiors...
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