Nguyen Luong Bang - a famous person born in the year of the Dragon

Heroic life

Born in the year of Giap Thin 1904 (the year of the dragon), in a peasant family with a tradition of patriotism in Doan Tung commune (now Thanh Tung commune, Thanh Mien district, Hai Duong), a land of studiousness and mandarinism, Nguyen Luong Bang was eager to learn and had a passionate love for his country since his youth.

At the age of 18, Nguyen Luong Bang went to Hai Phong to work as a hired hand, starting his independent life. In the fall of 1925, Nguyen Luong Bang applied to work on the Canton - a large French ship, running the Hai Phong - Hong Kong route. From here, the "dragon" spread its wings and flew across the sea and sky: Hong Kong, Sa Dien - Guangzhou (China). Then fate brought Nguyen Luong Bang to meet leader Nguyen Ai Quoc and work under his direct guidance. He was quickly admitted to the Revolutionary Youth Association.

Then, from Hai Phong, he went to Saigon to work. In 1931, he was arrested by the French in Saigon, taken to Hai Phong, and then imprisoned in Hoa Lo. Finally, they brought him to the Hai Duong Criminal Court and sentenced him to life in prison. Nguyen Luong Bang escaped to Vinh Yen to work, then found his way back to Thanh Mien.

In 1933, on a business trip to Bac Giang, Nguyen Luong Bang fell into the hands of the enemy again. They imprisoned him in Hoa Lo - Hanoi, then exiled him to Son La prison. It was here, in 1943, that he was organized to escape from prison and return to prepare for a general uprising to seize power.

In 1945, at the Party's national conference, he was elected as an official member of the Party Central Committee, then elected to the National Liberation Committee, and then to the Standing Committee headed by President Ho Chi Minh.

The revolution succeeded, on August 28, 1945, the National Liberation Committee was transformed into the Provisional Government. To realize national unity, he asked to resign from that position, leaving it to other patriotic figures, to join the Front with the responsibility of General Secretary. President Ho Chi Minh said: “That was a selfless, good gesture, not greedy for position, putting the interests of the nation, of national unity above personal interests…”.

After the August Revolution in 1945, he was trusted by the Party and State with many important responsibilities: Member of the Party Central Committee, first Vietnamese Ambassador to the Soviet Union, General Director of the State Bank of Vietnam, Government Inspector General, Vice President.

Nickname Big Brother, Red Star

During his exile to Son La, Nguyen Luong Bang was imprisoned with To Hieu. At that time, To Hieu was suffering from severe tuberculosis and was unlikely to survive. He devoted himself to taking care of him, saving medicine to inject his comrade. Once, To Hieu refused to inject it for someone else. He also boldly found a method to mix quinine into water and inject it directly into the body of a fellow prisoner suffering from acute malaria. The work of "nurse" Nguyen Luong Bang saved the lives of many revolutionary soldiers and he was respected by his comrades, affectionately called "Big Brother".

During his revolutionary activities, with his pure heart and strong will, his comrades also gave him the name Sao Do. In the early 60s of the last century, in a land of talented people - Hai Duong province, people used his name to name a district town, now Sao Do ward, Chi Linh city.

First Ambassador

Vietnam became independent in 1945, but 7 years later (1952), for the first time, Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Luong Bang solemnly presented his credentials to the Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union, marking a diplomatic milestone in the international arena. At that time, the country was at war, so the Embassy was just a narrow house, located on a small road, with water flowing all over the floor at rainy nights. Ambassador Nguyen Luong Bang told the diplomatic staff to overcome difficulties to fulfill their duties to the Fatherland.

During his stay in the Soviet Union, within the framework of diplomacy, the Ambassador had many meetings with the host country and delegations from other countries to introduce the image of the country during the resistance war, and received sympathy and support from many countries.

The story goes that once he went on a business trip to China, and was short of clothes. He wore a military jacket on the outside and a worn-out shirt on the inside. It was so hot that day that his friends suggested that everyone take off their jackets to cool off, but he refused, still trying to endure the heat. When he got home, the story was accidentally revealed later, and his friends who heard the story were even more impressed and sympathetic.

Live forever

When he retired, the times he and his wife were allowed to go to Tam Dao to rest, the Vice President and his wife only chose a secluded house, like a normal family, to rest, not accepting a building for a high-ranking leader. During the years of the war against America, once when visiting their children who were evacuated to Son Tay, instead of using the official car, they went to the bus station to queue up to buy tickets.

Vice President Nguyen Luong Bang passed away in 1979 at the age of 75. His shining example of the qualities of a veteran revolutionary and his simple, honest, and pure life will forever remain in the hearts of the people.

When he passed away, his wife, Mrs. Ha Thuc Trinh, asked to return the villa at 5 Thien Quang (Hanoi) to the State and move to a more modest house.

Now in his hometown, there is the Nguyen Luong Bang Memorial House, which is preserved and worshiped. For decades, Hai Duong province has had the "Nguyen Luong Bang Journalism Award". Not only that, across the country, there are now countless provinces and cities, with avenues, schools, and bustling towns named after him...