Visiting the base under the cajuput forest

During the historic August days, the road leading to the Soc Trang Provincial Party Committee Base Relic (My Phuoc Commune, Can Tho City) was brightly decorated with flags and flowers. Walking through the green cajuput forest, listening to the heroic stories of our ancestors through two resistance wars to protect the Fatherland, we became even more proud of our homeland's traditions and cherished the value of peace.

The working delegation of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism visited and surveyed the Soc Trang Provincial Party Committee Base Relic.

Soc Trang Provincial Party Committee Base in the middle of the immense My Phuoc cajuput forest was ranked as a National Historical - Cultural Relic by the Ministry of Culture, Information and Sports (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) in 1992.

According to documents at the relic site, during the resistance war against French colonialism and the early stages of the resistance war against the US, My Phuoc cajuput forest was chosen as the base of the revolutionary forces. In January 1968, the Soc Trang Provincial Party Committee Base from Gia Hoa commune, My Xuyen district (now Can Tho city) was moved to My Phuoc cajuput forest. All the agencies of the Provincial Party Committee Base such as the hall, office building, dining room, barracks... were made of available trees and leaves, scattered throughout the area of nearly 100 hectares.

The Base Area was surrounded by a dense network of canals and trees. This rugged terrain was very suitable for our guerrilla warfare tactics, and at the same time created a strategic position in attacking Chau Thanh, Soc Trang, Nga Nam, Thanh Tri or retreating to the deep areas of Hong Dan, Phuoc Long (now in Ca Mau province) and also effectively prevented enemy sweeps into the U Minh area.

Due to this strategic location, the enemy deployed a tight blockade with 4 posts: Cai Trau, My Phuoc, Tam Soc and Xeo Ly. At the same time, the enemy regularly organized large-scale sweeps, including artillery and bombers. They dropped thousands of tons of bombs and ammunition on this place in an attempt to destroy the Soc Trang Provincial Party Committee Base, but all failed. The Base remained safe and existed until the day the South was completely liberated. This is a vivid historical testament to the steadfast heart of the people of My Phuoc commune, who always firmly believed in the Party, and tried their best to protect and shelter the comrades in the Soc Trang Provincial Party Committee Executive Committee to overcome countless difficulties and challenges, organize many important conferences, issue many resolutions to lead the army and people of Soc Trang from one victory to another, and bring the revolutionary cause to complete victory.

* * *

From those documents, we followed the group of tourists to visit the relics such as the Memorial Temple, the Exhibition Area, the National Monument, the Reenactment Area of the Soc Trang Provincial Party Committee Base during the Resistance War... With each step under the cool, fresh canopy of the cajuput forest, we were more and more impressed with our ancestors' long-term efforts in the two resistance wars. Like the cajuput trees of our homeland, the "green shoots" of the revolution have always been nurtured and grown up in the protective arms of the My Phuoc people.

The National Monument of Soc Trang Provincial Party Committee Base is managed by the Soc Trang Provincial Museum, with a total area assigned for direct management of about 310 hectares. The monument is divided into 2 areas, one area is to restore the relic items with 281 hectares, including the Standing House, Provincial Party Committee Hall, dining hall, shelter, freshwater reservoir, Liaison Office, Cipher Office, Provincial Party Committee Office, Office of the Provincial Party Committee Chief, Finance Department; a 20-hectare Administrative Center area including the Memorial Temple, Tam Quan gate, stele house, youth activity house, exhibition room, operator house, office house... In 2022, the Soc Trang Provincial Party Committee Base Monument was recognized as a Provincial-level Tourist Destination.

According to Mr. Nguyen Chien Chinh, Head of the Management Board of the Soc Trang Provincial Party Committee Base Relics, on average, the relic site welcomes over 13,000 visitors each year. Most of them are students, unions, departments, branches, and socio-political organizations, who come here to visit, return to their roots, and learn about history. The unit maintains a good organization to serve visitors, with explanatory content suitable for each type of visitor. At the same time, it coordinates with the Professional Department of the Provincial Museum to organize specialized exhibitions and displays during holidays and Tet... In addition, the Relic Management Board also builds social networking sites to promote and introduce the relic, bringing positive results.

Coming to the relic site, visitors can also immerse themselves in the unique nature of the South with a system of canals, streams, and a natural ecosystem that is completely preserved under the canopy of immense cajuput forests. Visiting the Base in the midst of historic autumn days, visitors can hear stories about the heroic land and people of My Phuoc during the war, dynamic in economic development, joining hands to create a rich and livable countryside today. Visiting the Base to see the "land blossom" with "seeds" nurtured from revolutionary traditions, from the sacrifices of many generations of ancestors. Be proud, preserve and continue!

Article and photos: DUY LU

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/ve-tham-can-cu-duoi-tan-rung-tram-a189553.html