Signboard to the Central Financial Printing Office in Phong Thai Ward

From the test print

Immediately after declaring independence on September 2, 1945, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam faced numerous challenges, internal and external enemies, an exhausted economy and most importantly, the lack of an independent monetary system. The early issuance of Vietnamese currency became an urgent task to consolidate the government, build people's trust and affirm national sovereignty . In that context, under the direction of President Ho Chi Minh and Minister of Finance Le Van Hien, comrade Nguyen Van Tan was assigned as Director of the Central Finance Department to direct the establishment of the Central Printing Agency.

With a strategic location in the Central region, a tradition of patriotism and highly skilled human resources, Hue was chosen as the location for one of the first silver printing establishments in our country, called the Central Region Financial Printing Agency (also known as Uncle Ho's silver printing establishment). Under the direct guidance of central and local financial officials , in the heart of the city there was a test printing facility for Uncle Ho's financial silver at Ngo Tu Ha printing house on Hang Be street (now Huynh Thuc Khang street, Phu Xuan ward, Hue city). That was the first facility with comrade Le Trong Cu as director and comrades Bui Chau and Nguyen Thuc as deputy directors.

In the early days, this facility only occupied a small area, was covered discreetly and completely separated from other printing departments. The printing machines only had 2 small vertical machines: Mars and Victoria, and a paper cutter (massicot). The printing paper was a special type of paper with a 5-pointed star watermark, the ink and the template were all provided by the Central Printing Agency. At first, the facility only printed small types of silver: 1 dong, 5 dong with a yellowish background interspersed with green images. This was the trial printing period, the number of printed silver notes was small, but it was very focused on and cherished, as the first product, it was carefully packaged and stored, then transferred to the Central Vietnam Banknote General Issuance Committee for distribution.

In mid-1946, realizing that the printing facility in Hue city was unsafe, the superiors decided to move it to Phong Son commune, Phong Dien district, Thua Thien Hue province (now Phong Thai ward, Hue city). The move was carried out urgently and secretly. All machine parts were disassembled, neatly packed into boxes, some were carefully sealed with iron straps. From Hue to Phong Son is about 30km by road, but the transport team had to travel by river for more than 3 days and nights, stopping and resting on the way, misleading and feinting to prevent enemy spies, ensuring absolute safety and secrecy for the "machine transfer" work.

The words on the memorial stele of the Central Financial Printing Department have become blurred and smudged.

Switch to digital printing

The new location is located on the edge of a cajuput hill, next to a bald stilt. There are already 2 rows of prefabricated houses, creating favorable conditions for the accommodation and meals of the staff and workers here (about 20-25 people), in addition to an office, warehouse and silver storage vault. In addition to some machines brought in, there are also 2 Marinoni printing machines delivered by Anh Sang printing house. The process of producing silver coins includes the following steps: cooking glue, casting batches, cutting paper (paper made from ground tree bark), making molds, lubricating the machine, printing test and then adjusting.

The small machine can print 6-8 bills, the large machine can print 12-14 bills on one sheet of paper, which are neatly arranged, and then transferred to printing numbers. The large sheets of paper will be arranged exactly 500 sheets per stack, put into the cutting machine to separate into small stacks of 500 bills (1 dong or 5 dong, later printing 10 dong and 20 dong bills). The cutting department ties them into packages, labels them, puts them in wooden crates, ties them with steel, and then seals them with steel bands. These tasks are done in a separate room, with self-defense brothers strictly monitoring the entry and exit. The boxes of silver are put into the warehouse, and then transferred to the Central Vietnam Banknote General Issuance Committee for distribution, contributing to stabilizing the young national finances. Despite the shortage, this process demonstrates the creativity and self-reliance of the young revolutionary government.

In mid-December 1946, based on the actual situation, the Central Financial Printing Agency located in Phong Son was divided into two parts: One part was moved to Zone IV (Ha Tinh) to directly manage financial work in the provinces from Thua Thien to Thanh Hoa. The second part was moved to Quang Ngai to work with the Administrative Resistance Committee of Zone V and South Central to be in charge of financial work in the South Central region. At this point, the Central Financial Printing Agency had completed its historic mission.

Although it was born and existed for a short time, the place to print Uncle Ho's silver in Hue is forever the pride of the people of Hue city and the revolutionary financial sector, and at the same time affirms the legality and constitutionality of an independent country in the international arena. Today, when Vietnam is moving forward on the path of economic development and international integration, the lesson of independent finance from the early days of nation building becomes even more valuable. It is a lesson of proactiveness, creativity, daring to think, daring to do, and the Central Financial Printing Agency in Hue is a living proof of that spirit.

On January 20, 2010, the Provincial People's Committee (now Hue City) issued Decision No. 156/QD-UBND to rank the Central Financial Printing Agency (Department) in Hien Sy village, Phong Son commune, Phong Dien district (later town), now Phong Thai ward, Hue City, as a provincial-level revolutionary historical relic. The Ministry of Finance coordinated with the province (now Hue City) to organize the construction and inauguration of this historical relic. Including the erection of a monolithic granite memorial stele, steps leading up, a parking lot, a brick yard surrounding the stele...

Over time, the Central Vietnam Financial Printing Department relic has degraded many items, such as: The memorial stele is covered with moss and dirt, the words on the memorial stele are blurred, faded, and very difficult to read; the steps up and down, the area around the relic yard are peeling, cracked, broken... Therefore, it is necessary for the local government, the cultural and financial sectors to join hands to soon invest in restoration and repair to promote the historical value of the relic.

Duc Loc - Mai An - Photo: Hai Hue

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/chinh-tri-xa-hoi/theo-dong-thoi-su/co-so-in-bac-cu-ho-o-hue-noi-khoi-nguon-cua-nen-tai-chinh-doc-lap-157145.html