(HBO) – In autumn days of August, we had an occasion to visit the Cao Phong – Thach Yen revolutionary base. Following the historical traces, we relived the old revolutionary days. The Cao Phong – Thach Yen land formerly had rough mountainous terrain.

In late 1944, the regional party committee of Bac Kyassigned comrade Vu Tho, former Secretary of the Party delegation of Hoa Binh, to come to the region to popularize the nation’s revolution among ethnic people there, which paved a way for the establishment of the Cao Phong – Thach Yen revolutionary base. In July 1945, Vu Tho selected 30 young, tough and enthusiastic militiamen for military training courses in Cao Phong – Thach Yen region. At first, the classes were located at Ngai hamlet, Thach Yen commune (now Yen Lap commune), and then removed to Khanh pagoda, Thach Yen commune (now Yen Thuong commune).


Quoen Ang pagoda site in Tan Phong commune was upgraded to satisfy the spiritual demand and educate revolutionary tradition for today young generations.

Quoen pagoda in Trang hamlet, Tan Phong commune, was the gathering of the Hoa Binh Party delegation in April 1945. During the meeting, the Party delegation decided to establish revolutionary bases. On August 23, 1945, the delegation of Cao Phong – Thach Yen base coordinated with the army in Lac Son to enter Phuong Lam, then crossing the Da River to Dung street to join revolutionary forces in the whole province to seize the power.

While visiting Quoen Ang pagoda relic site, Bui Van Yen, Chairman of Tan Phong commune’s People’s Committee shared that after the anti-France resistance war, the pagoda was damaged due to many reasons. On the land of the old pagoda, there were only a few of broken tiles. The only object found at the pagoda is a bronze bell weighing over 100kg and dating to the 18th century. In 2012, one billion VND was invested in upgrading the pagoda relic site to meet the spiritual life and educate revolutionary history for young generations today. Along with Khanh pagoda, Quoen Ang is a popular place for spiritual tourism, attracting a lot of tourists on Tet holidays. Promoting the tradition of the revolutionary land, officials and residents in Tan Phong commune have spared no effort to overcome difficulties and build a new life. In 2017, the commune strives to increase annual per capita average income to 28 million VND. The rate of poor households will be reduced by 17.2 percent. Currently, the commune has met 15 out of the 19 criteria on building new-style rural areas.

The Thach Yen – Cao Phong base was recognised as a national revolutionary relic site by the Ministry of Culture and Information in 1996. Nowadays, not only Tan Phong commune, but also other mountainous communes such as Yen Lap and Yen Thuong are witnessing day-by-day changes. Thanks to the Party and State’s support, the infrastructure at these communes has been improved, bringing a facelift to the land. Local people are excited to join labour production and build a well-off life.


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