65 years of loyal love between Hai Duong and Phu Yen

Side by side

Responding to the North-South twinning movement launched by the Central Committee, exactly 65 years ago, on January 9, 1960, the Party Central Committee approved the people of Hai Duong and Phu Yen provinces to become brothers.

At Hai Duong Town Theater, more than 10,000 people witnessed the signing ceremony and attended a rally to welcome this event of profound political, historical and cultural significance. This is also a milestone that marks the beginning of a close, loyal and affectionate relationship between the Party Committees and people of the two provinces.

Right from the first days of the twinning, with the motto "all for the frontline, all for the South, for Phu Yen", Hai Duong province launched a labor and production emulation movement with the spirit of "one person working is equal to two" to support the South, Phu Yen.

During the years of resistance against the US to save the country, Hai Duong actively provided people and material support to the Southern battlefield, including regiments sent specifically to Phu Yen such as: Trung Dung Hai Duong, 95A (Ngo Quyen), Tran Hung Dao... Hundreds of cadres and soldiers from Hai Duong heroically sacrificed their lives, forever remaining in their native land of Phu Yen. The Phu Yen provincial martyrs' cemetery currently has many graves of martyrs from Hai Duong.

Also during those years of resistance, Hai Duong sheltered and helped many cadres, soldiers and students of Phu Yen to go to the North. Many cadres and soldiers of Phu Yen grew up in their sister homeland of Hai Duong, such as comrades: Le Thu (former Secretary of Phu Yen Provincial Party Committee in 1951) was elected by the Party Committee and people of Hai Duong as Vice Chairman of the Provincial Administrative Committee; Vo Van Kha was promoted to Deputy Head of the Construction Department; Pham Trong Tuyen was assigned the task of Deputy Provincial Team Leader...

During the period when the US escalated its bombardment of the North, Hai Duong and Phu Yen encouraged each other to fight steadfastly and bravely, contributing significantly to the whole country's defeat of the invading enemy.

After peace was restored, Hai Duong continued to provide material support and sent hundreds of cadres, workers, teachers, medical staff, etc. to help Phu Yen take over the newly liberated area, stabilize the political situation, and social order and safety. Many people from Hai Duong decided to stay and make a living in Phu Yen. Up to now, many families have had 2-3 generations living happily in the land of "yellow flowers and green grass".

Hai Phu Library is located on Tran Hung Dao Street (Tuy Hoa City) with an area of ​​over 2,800 m²built by Hai Duong and given to Phu Yen nearly 50 years ago is one of the "red addresses" symbolizing the friendship. In 2022, attending and talking to the youth of the two provinces about participating in the program "Hai Duong Youth Journey for the Homeland's Sea and Islands", Comrade Cao Thi Hoa An, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Phu Yen Provincial Party Committee, emotionally shared: "I myself have visited Hai Phu Library many times with the leaders of Hai Duong and Phu Yen provinces. Every time we come here, we are moved to tears. There are newspaper pages, books written with heart, blood and tears, clearly describing the great help that Hai Duong province has given to Phu Yen in many aspects. Many people from Hai Duong have heroically sacrificed and spared no blood to make Phu Yen what it is today".

In Hai Duong, many places of Phu Yen province have been named for streets in Hai Duong city such as: Tuy Hoa, Tuy An, Son Hoa, Dong Xuan, Ngan Son, Xuan Dai... In Phu Yen, many streets are also named to remember the great affection of Hai Duong province such as: Hai Duong, Chi Linh, Con Son, Mac Thi Buoi...

Share the sweet, share the bitter

Over the past 65 years, the people of Hai Duong and Phu Yen provinces have continuously preserved, cared for and increasingly deepened their close friendship.

Every year, especially on major anniversaries, the two provinces organize visits and work activities to continue to foster their feelings. At the end of November 2024, on the occasion of attending the 60th anniversary of Vung Ro wharf receiving the first shipment of the unnumbered ship, a delegation from Hai Duong province led by comrade Tran Duc Thang, member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, visited and worked in Phu Yen province. Comrade The Secretary of the Hai Duong Provincial Party Committee affirmed that nearly 65 years have passed but the good traditional relationship between Hai Duong and Phu Yen has always been maintained, developed and become an invaluable asset of the Party Committees, governments and people of the two provinces on the path of construction and development. He hoped that the two provinces would continuously foster and enhance the relationship, share in the work of Party building, economic and social development, and improve the lives of the people.

In addition to maintaining the signing of a memorandum of understanding on development cooperation in each phase, the two provinces have coordinated to publish the book "Hai Duong - Phu Yen history, development potential" to depict valuable traditions, contributing to deepening the affection between the two localities.

The activities of "sharing the good and the bad" between the two provinces have been continuously maintained over the years. Hai Duong has supported Phu Yen in building hundreds of "charity houses", some projects such as people's bridges, clean water systems... Whenever Phu Yen people encounter difficulties due to storms and epidemics, they receive both material and spiritual support from Hai Duong people.

Phu Yen also supported the giving of many gifts and the construction of dozens of "great solidarity" houses for families with difficult circumstances in Hai Duong province. In September 2024, Hai Duong suffered damage due to storm Yagi, Phu Yen was one of the first localities in the country to participate in supporting damage recovery. Phu Yen Provincial Youth Union established a delegation to encourage, help, and give gifts to people in some areas severely damaged by the storm...

Despite being more than 1,000 kilometers apart, twinning activities and strengthening close cooperative relations have always been maintained and developed well by agencies, units and localities of the two provinces. In 2021, the two districts of Nam Sach (Hai Duong) and Tay Hoa (Phu Yen) signed a comprehensive cooperation agreement. The Fatherland Front Committees of the two provinces regularly exchange experiences in social supervision and criticism activities. The Youth Unions of the two localities maintain political and ideological education activities and participate in ensuring social security. Cultural and artistic exchange activities are regularly organized...