Stele house of the National Historical Site of President Ho Chi Minh's residence and workplace at Thanh Truc Hill, Phu Thinh Commune - the place marking the time Uncle Ho lived and worked before the day he returned to take over the capital city of Hanoi

During the resistance war against the French colonialists, Thai Nguyen held a particularly important position within the system of Viet Bac revolutionary base areas. In 1947, Ban Ngoai Commune (now Phu Thinh Commune) was selected by the Party Central Committee as part of the Resistance Safety Zone thanks to its strategically defensible terrain, favorable for both attack and defense, together with its patriotic tradition, its spirit of solidarity and the People's protection of the revolution.

The Diep Slope area in Phu Thinh Commune was the gateway linking the lowlands with the Viet Bac Resistance Base, and also an important route leading to the revolutionary bases in Dinh Hoa (Thai Nguyen) and Son Duong (Tuyen Quang). Throughout the resistance period, many central agencies, cadres and soldiers passed through this land to carry out revolutionary missions, wholeheartedly sheltered and protected by the local People.

After the victory of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign and the signing of the Geneva Accords in 1954, the Party Central Committee and the Government moved swiftly to prepare for the task of taking over the capital city of Hanoi. In that context, the Thanh Truc Hill area in Dam Mua Hamlet was selected as the residence and workplace of President Ho Chi Minh.

On the hillside beside La Bang Stream, a small stilt house was built as Uncle Ho's workplace. During his time here, President Ho Chi Minh and the Party Central Committee handled many important matters, preparing for the historic takeover of the capital after nine years of resistance against the French colonialists.

While focusing on the work of the Party and the State, President Ho Chi Minh also maintained a simple way of life and stayed close to the People. He regularly met local residents, inquired about their lives, and encouraged them to increase production, develop the economy, build a new life and preserve the great national unity bloc. Stories about Uncle Ho's simple lifestyle and his warm feelings toward the people of Dam Mua are still passed down through many generations as a beautiful memory of the beloved leader.

Relic stele recording the historic event of President Ho Chi Minh living and working at Thanh Truc Hill from August to October 1954 to prepare, together with the Party Central Committee, for the takeover of the capital

Thanh Truc Hill is also associated with many important activities of President Ho Chi Minh before the day he returned to the capital. From here, he attended the conference summing up the pilot land reform in Thai Nguyen; visited Hung Son Commune and Phuc Linh Commune (in the former Dai Tu District); attended the ceremony for the presentation of credentials by the Chinese Ambassador; and met and talked with cadres, soldiers and Youth Volunteers before the day Hanoi was taken over.

President Ho Chi Minh also prepared many important documents during his stay in Dam Mua, such as the speech welcoming the International Commission on August 12, 1954; the letter to southern soldiers, cadres and cadres' families who regrouped to the North; the instructions to army units before they entered Hanoi; and the appeal issued on the occasion of the Liberation of the Capital. These documents helped prepare for the takeover of the capital and for leading the country into a period of peace, construction and development.

On October 10, 1954, Hanoi was completely liberated. On October 12, 1954, President Ho Chi Minh left Thanh Truc Hill to return to the capital. This event brought to a close his period of activity in the Viet Bac Resistance Base after nine years of resistance against the French colonialists, and opened the period of building a peaceful North advancing toward socialism. For the People of Phu Thinh in particular and of Thai Nguyen in general, it was an honor and a source of pride to see Uncle Ho off to Hanoi on behalf of the people of the Viet Bac Resistance Base. Given its special historical values, on September 28, 2006, the Ministry of Culture and Information (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) classified the Site of President Ho Chi Minh's residence and workplace at Thanh Truc Hill as a National Historical Site.

At present, the Site has been developed with a memorial stele house, a relic stele, a ceremonial yard, an internal road system, green landscaping and auxiliary works, creating a solemn space for visits, research and education in revolutionary traditions. The locality regularly carries out management, conservation and sanitation work at the Site to preserve and promote the value of this revolutionary historical heritage.

Display space introducing works and documents on the life and revolutionary career of President Ho Chi Minh at the Site, helping educate generations in the tradition of patriotism

Comrade Nguyen Huu Dong, Vice Chairman of Phu Thinh Commune People's Committee, said the locality currently has four historical sites, including one national-level site and three provincial-level sites. Among them, the Thanh Truc Hill Historical Site is identified as the focal point of local education in revolutionary traditions.

According to Comrade Nguyen Huu Dong, in recent years Phu Thinh Commune has regularly held return-to-the-roots activities, thematic sessions, and activities to study and follow Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and style; at the same time, it has incorporated the Site into the program of education in revolutionary traditions for pupils, Youth Union members and young people. This has helped spread historical values and foster patriotism, revolutionary ideals and national pride among the younger generation.

Alongside the conservation of the Site, the locality has always paid attention to implementing policies of repaying debts of gratitude and caring for people with meritorious services to the revolution. Every year, especially on the occasion of War Invalids and Martyrs Day on July 27, incense-offering ceremonies, the cleaning of martyrs' cemeteries, and visits and gift presentations to policy beneficiary families are carefully organized, helping educate the community in the tradition of "When drinking water, remember its source."

In recent years, Thanh Truc Hill has become a destination for many delegations of cadres, Party members, pupils, students and visitors from within and outside the province. It is not only a place to visit and learn about history but also a venue for return-to-the-roots activities, political sessions, achievement-reporting ceremonies, and activities to study and follow Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and style.

Publications and documents on President Ho Chi Minh on display at the Site, helping cadres, Party members, pupils and visitors better understand his life, career and ideology

Preserving and promoting the value of the Thanh Truc Hill National Historical Site not only helps safeguard the traces of the life and revolutionary career of President Ho Chi Minh but also affirms the role of Thai Nguyen in the Viet Bac revolutionary base area - where the Party Central Committee and Uncle Ho led the resistance war against the French colonialists to victory. More than seven decades on, Thanh Truc Hill remains a landmark for education in revolutionary traditions, helping nurture patriotism, national pride and the aspiration to contribute among generations today and tomorrow.