I will always remember the time I met comrade Nguyen Phu Trong in Hai Duong.

Will keep the good memories forever

On February 10, 2008, on the occasion of the New Year, after visiting and wishing a Happy New Year to the Party Committee, government and people of Hai Duong province, comrade Nguyen Phu Trong visited the Con Son - Kiep Bac relic site. He burned incense to commemorate the national hero, world cultural celebrity Nguyen Trai, wrote in the guestbook at the Con Son relic site; burned incense to commemorate the national hero Tran Hung Dao at Kiep Bac temple and planted a memorial tree there.

Over the past 16 years, although the space and landscape have changed a lot, the images, words and wishes of Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong have been deeply imprinted in the minds of many cadres and workers working at the Con Son - Kiep Bac relic site. Mr. Nguyen Khac Minh, former Head of the Con Son - Kiep Bac Relic Management Board, said: Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong kindly asked the caretakers and managers at the relic site and emphasized that the Con Son - Kiep Bac relic site has great historical and cultural values, unique to the country. This place is also associated with famous events in the history of building and defending the country, associated with the names of many national heroes. Therefore, cadres and people of Hai Duong need to preserve and promote it as a heritage, a spiritual tourist destination, attracting a large number of visitors to come and worship.

Mr. Nguyen Khac Hoan, a former official of the Con Son - Kiep Bac Relic Management Board, currently living in Bac Dau village (Hung Dao commune, Chi Linh city), shared that when he visited the Con Son - Kiep Bac relic site, comrade Nguyen Phu Trong was quite simple, his words were simple but full of affection and concern for the cadres and workers at the relic site. “When I heard the news of the General Secretary's passing, I was very sad, the memories of when he visited the relic site came back. The banyan tree he planted in Kiep Bac is still green and flourishing, the lines of his notes recording his feelings about Nguyen Trai are still here. The simple, rustic words express his respect for the national heroes. We and future generations will forever preserve his mementos,” said Mr. Hoan.

On the afternoon of July 19, upon hearing the news of the passing of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, the cadres and people of Bo Duong village were filled with sadness. Many cadres and people of Hong Phong commune put aside their work and went to the Bo Duong village cultural house to search for memories and recall together the beautiful memories of the day when they were honored to welcome comrade Nguyen Phu Trong to attend and celebrate the Great National Unity Day on the morning of November 14, 2009.

Mr. Tang Van Lo (70 years old), former Party Cell Secretary, Head of the Front Work Committee of Bo Duong village, carefully cleaned the photo frame containing photos of comrade Nguyen Phu Trong with leaders of Hai Duong province, Ninh Giang district and cadres and people in the village hanging on the wall inside the cultural house.

Mr. Lo said with emotion: "These are photos taken on the morning of November 14, 2009. Now he has passed away, but these photos will help us keep beautiful memories of the exemplary leader, a lifetime of dedication and loyalty to the Party, the Fatherland and the people."

There are dozens of photos of Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong with the cadres and people of Bo Duong village nearly 15 years ago. But the photo that many people in the village like the most is the photo of Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong giving candy to kindergarten students, surrounded by many cadres and people.

Ms. Dang Thi Be (70 years old, from Chua hamlet) is one of the few villagers of Bo Duong village who had the honor of standing near comrade Nguyen Phu Trong in the photo above. She said that when she heard that "Uncle Trong" had arrived in the village, she left all her work behind to go to the cultural house with the villagers to welcome him.

In Mrs. Be's memory, comrade Nguyen Phu Trong was a person with a dignified, simple, gentle demeanor, always smiling and extremely caring, close, and friendly with the people. "Uncle told us to actively help each other, boldly do business to build a new, more prosperous, happier life. Uncle Trong's words will forever be imprinted in my mind," Mrs. Be said with a choked voice.

Mr. Duong Ngoc Nam - one of the 4 children in the photo who received candy from comrade Nguyen Phu Trong that day, is 18 years old this year. This afternoon, he was also present at the cultural house to join everyone in remembering comrade Nguyen Phu Trong. "Here I am! That year I was only 3 years old. At that time, I was still young and didn't know anything, but when I grew up, I heard my grandparents, parents and everyone tell the story of receiving candy from Uncle Nguyen Phu Trong, so I felt honored and proud," said Mr. Nam, pointing at the photo.

Since hearing that the heart of communist Nguyen Phu Trong had stopped beating, Ms. Bui Thi Thao, a teacher at Hong Phong Kindergarten - the girl wearing the pink ao dai in the photo above - has been very sad. She always remembers the moment when comrade Nguyen Phu Trong visited the teachers and students of Bo Duong kindergarten. "Uncle kindly told us to always love our students like our own children. We must always overcome difficulties and strive tirelessly for the future of our children and the future of the country. Remembering Uncle Trong's words, for nearly 15 years, we have united to build the school into one of the leading flags of the education sector of Ninh Giang district," Ms. Thao shared.

The banyan tree in front of the Bo Duong village cultural house, planted by comrade Nguyen Phu Trong himself on the day he came here to attend the National Great Unity Day, has now grown large and luxuriant, becoming one of the community activity venues for the local people.

In his own home, Mr. Pham Quang Hoc, former Party Secretary and Chairman of the People's Council of Hong Phong Commune (from Bo Duong Village) used the most prominent position in the large photo frame hanging in the living room to place a photo of him sitting next to Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong while watching a water puppet show. Mr. Hoc expressed his deep condolences for the passing of Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong and affirmed that he would never forget the beautiful memories he had with the leader of our Party. "That day, I was assigned to sit next to Uncle Trong to introduce the art of water puppetry of our homeland. He told us to always appreciate and preserve cultural values, considering them as the foundation for building humane and compassionate people, as a driving force to promote social development...", Mr. Hoc said.

Implementing the advice of comrade Nguyen Phu Trong

Over the past years, following the instructions of comrade Nguyen Phu Trong, not only the Con Son - Kiep Bac relic management board, but also relevant agencies, departments and branches of Hai Duong province have actively built the Con Son - Kiep Bac relic into a cultural and historical relic that attracts a large number of people and tourists from all over the country to visit and worship. On May 10, 2012, the Con Son - Kiep Bac historical and architectural relic site was ranked as a special national relic by the Prime Minister. Currently, this relic, along with a number of works and relics in Quang Ninh and Bac Giang provinces, are on the way to being recognized as a world heritage site.

To promote the potential for development into a national tourist area, in recent times, Hai Duong has received a large investment to complete traffic works, implementing many projects such as: building a wharf, Thuong River market, festival grounds and parking lot in front of Kiep Bac temple. In the near future, the project of renovating and restoring Mam Xoi mountain will continue; building Tran Hung Dao Museum; Vien Lang project; renovating and embellishing Thanh Hu temple; restoring Con Son stream...

For nearly 15 years, the cadres and people of Bo Duong village have always focused on preserving and fostering great solidarity and unity. This is an important foundation that helps this village achieve many important achievements in socio-economic development, making people's lives increasingly prosperous and happy...

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Thang, Party Cell Secretary and Village Chief, informed: "When Uncle Trong returned, my village had about 40 poor households, the economy of most families was still difficult. Thanks to solidarity, my hometown now has only 1.4% of poor households, high-rise buildings and villas account for 40%. The villagers have developed many occupations, and life is increasingly prosperous."

Comrade Nguyen Van Tranh, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People's Council of Hong Phong Commune, emphasized that Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong's instructions and advice on solidarity are not only meaningful to Bo Duong village but also of great value to the whole Hong Phong Commune. In recent years, the locality has achieved many important and positive results in socio-economic development thanks to the spirit of solidarity that has always been promoted.