Poor hometown, great ambition
Xuan Nha village, Chau Nhan commune (Hung Nguyen) is located on the left bank of Lam river, opposite Hong Linh mountain range. This is considered the "flood center" of Hung Nguyen district, the birthplace of many national heroes, including martyr Pham Hong Thai.
From the center of Chau Nhan commune, crossing the Lam left dike, we headed straight to the Lam river bank to reach Xuan Nha village. Here, the memory of the heroic martyr Pham Hong Thai with the "Sa Dien bomb sound" is still remembered.
Memorial stele for martyr Pham Hong Thai at the Martyrs Memorial of Hung Nhan commune (now Chau Nhan commune, Hung Nguyen). Photo: Tien Dong
Martyr Pham Hong Thai (real name Pham Thanh Tich) was born in 1895 in Xuan Nha village. His father, Pham Thanh My, was a teacher (an official in charge of education and examinations in the district), but was a scholar who actively participated in the Van Than movement. From a young age, Pham Hong Thai was often taken to the ancestral temple by his father to be educated and trained in the spirit of serving the country and the people.
From 1919, Pham Hong Thai went to work as a worker in factories in Vinh, Ben Thuy, and witnessed the exploitation of the French owners. He became an active factor in mobilizing workers to strike and protest. Fired by the factory owners, he went to Bac Can province to work as a zinc mine worker and then went to Hai Phong to work as a cement factory worker.
Xuan Nha village, the hometown of martyr Pham Hong Thai, is located right on the bank of Lam River, opposite the Hong Linh mountain range. Photo: Tien Dong
On February 17, 1924, Pham Hong Thai and a number of patriotic youths in the region secretly went to Siam. At Dang Thuc Hua's Cay Camp, he was introduced to Guangzhou (China). In Guangzhou, he joined the "Tam Tam Xa" organization founded by a group of 7 Vietnamese patriotic youths in 1923.
The organization "Tam Tam Xa" advocated causing a big explosion to awaken the people in the country and shock international public opinion. Taking advantage of the notorious Governor-General of Indochina Martial Merlin working in Guangzhou, "Tam Tam Xa" planned the assassination and assigned Pham Hong Thai to carry it out.
On June 19, 1924, after writing an indictment denouncing the crimes of French colonialism to the people of the world , he disguised himself as a journalist and entered the Victoria Hotel in the Shadian Concession in Guangzhou to assassinate the Governor-General of Indochina, Merlin, at a banquet. During the banquet, he threw a grenade disguised in a camera into the middle of the banquet table. The assassination attempt failed, Merlin was only slightly injured and escaped death. Pham Hong Thai was pursued closely, so he jumped into the Pearl River and was swept away by the water due to exhaustion.
Tomb of martyr Pham Hong Thai at Hoang Hoa Cuong Cemetery (Guangzhou, China). Photo: Document
This event left a huge echo in China as well as in the world with the name "Sa Dien Bomb", at the same time it caused admiration and awakened patriotism of tens of thousands of compatriots in the country. Because of that meaning, although he did not agree with the personal assassination policy of "Tam Tam Xa", comrade Nguyen Ai Quoc still highly appreciated the brave action of Pham Hong Thai; He wrote: "...That event was small, but it signaled the beginning of the era of national struggle, like the swallow signaling Spring".
Need to soon upgrade the place of worship of martyr Pham Hong Thai
Currently, the grave of martyr Pham Hong Thai is located at Hoang Hoa Cuong Cemetery (Guangzhou, China), along with 72 other Chinese revolutionary martyrs. In his hometown of Chau Nhan commune, the Pham family church, which is also the place to worship martyr Pham Hong Thai, is degraded, cramped, and in dire need of upgrading.
According to our observations, the Pham family church is located in a deep alley, in front of the entrance is a stele with a few lines: "Historical and cultural relic, Pham family church, where Pham Hong Thai's patriotic ideology was formed, the Party's base of activities 1930-1931". Inside, on a small, narrow campus, there are 3 church rooms located close to each other.
The entrance to the Pham family church, where martyr Pham Hong Thai is worshiped, is very narrow. Photo: Tien Dong
Mr. Le Khanh Quang - Chairman of Chau Nhan Commune People's Committee, said: The Pham family church, where martyr Pham Hong Thai is worshiped, is currently very cramped. The local government has also recognized this problem, especially many times local people as well as families and clans have also made recommendations for upgrading and repairing. However, because this is a National Historical and Cultural Relic, the upgrading and repairing must also go through many procedures.
Mr. Quang also added that the commune has proactively planned a land area of about 2,500 m² behind the church to serve the expansion and upgrading of the Pham family church. However, due to limited financial resources, this work has not been implemented yet. At the same time, the commune also had the idea of building a memorial area for martyr Pham Hong Thai, a project of profound significance, located near the church area, forming a complete complex of cultural and historical relics.
From above, we can see, deep in a small alley, a cluster of three churches of the Pham family, where martyr Pham Hong Thai is worshiped. Photo: Tien Dong
"But to realize those ideas," according to Mr. Quang, "it is necessary to have the attention and investment of superiors and mobilize social resources from organizations and individuals who are passionate about the cultural heritage and revolutionary traditions of the nation."
From July 1, 2025, Chau Nhan commune will merge with Hung Nghia, Hung Thanh, and Phuc Loi communes to form Lam Thanh commune. The new Lam Thanh commune covers the entire Southeast area of the former Hung Nguyen district. This is the area associated with the ancient Nghe An citadel located at the foot of Lam Thanh mountain and on the banks of Lam river; there are also many historical and cultural relics at national and provincial levels that have been recognized. If exploited properly, it promises to become an attractive cultural and spiritual tourism area.
In Chau Nhan commune, there are currently 3 historical, cultural, architectural and artistic relics at the national level. In addition to the historical relic of Pham family temple, there is also Ram Temple relic and Hoang Vien's house (which is the operating base of the Central Region Party Committee). Not to mention there are 4 historical and cultural relics at the provincial level. Without synchronous investment, these relics are also very susceptible to degradation and damage.
In the narrow campus there are 3 churches of the Pham family. Photo: Tien Dong
It is known that in early 2025, regarding the response to voters' opinions and recommendations for planning and expanding the grounds of the memorial site of martyr Pham Hong Thai. The Department of Culture - Information, Hung Nguyen District People's Committee also issued a document requesting Chau Nhan Commune People's Committee to coordinate with the Pham family church relic management board to survey specific items to prepare a submission requesting policies at all levels. Chau Nhan Commune People's Committee is requested to supplement the planning, land use plan, and complete procedures to submit to competent authorities for consideration.
It can be seen that the renovation and upgrading of the church and the construction of the memorial site for martyr Pham Hong Thai are not only a requirement for heritage preservation, but also a responsibility, expressing deep gratitude to the revolutionary predecessors. It is a way to preserve the flame of patriotism passed from generation to generation, so that the "Sa Dien bomb sound" is not only a historical echo, but also a source of inspiration for noble actions for the Fatherland in the present and the future.
Source: https://baonghean.vn/can-su-quan-tam-xung-tam-noi-tuong-niem-liet-si-pham-hong-thai-10300659.html
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