Binh Thuan road in Tuyen Quang city. Photo: Quoc Viet
"From the same tree, from the same family"
Responding to the North-South twinning movement launched by the Central Committee, in March 1960 the Party Central Committee approved the people of Tuyen Quang and Binh Thuan provinces to become brothers.
Identifying this as an important political event, Tuyen Quang Provincial Party Committee requested that it be widely disseminated and propagated among the masses. At the same time, it promoted work and production, focusing on immediate key tasks, creating a vibrant atmosphere in preparation for the twinning ceremony.
Binh Thuan Street is one of the busiest streets in Tuyen Quang city today. Photo: Quoc Viet
At 7:00 a.m. on April 3, 1960, at the Great Hall of Tuyen Quang Province, the twinning ceremony between Tuyen Quang and Binh Thuan Provinces was held in a joyful and exciting atmosphere. This was also the milestone that opened the door to the close, loyal and affectionate relationship between the Party Committees and the People of the two provinces.
Next, the twinning ceremony between districts and towns was held. Specifically: Tuyen Quang town was twinning with Phan Thiet town, Yen Son district was twinning with Ham Thuan district, Na Hang district was twinning with Tanh Linh district, Chiem Hoa district was twinning with Hoa Da district (now Bac Binh district), Ham Yen district was twinning with Ham Tan district.
Phan Thiet Ward Headquarters (Tuyen Quang City). Photo: Quoc Viet
Right from the first days of the twinning, Tuyen Quang province launched many emulation movements in production to support the South and Binh Thuan. Typical of these movements and activities are: "Day of building the road connecting Tuyen Quang - Binh Thuan", "For the South, for the twinning of Binh Thuan, for the unification of the Fatherland", "Emulation month of production for the South", "Peak labor day, making products, raising money to support women in Binh Thuan"... Many schools, production teams, shops, and streets in Tuyen Quang are named after Binh Thuan and Phan Thiet. In Binh Thuan, there are also schools and streets named after Tuyen Quang.
In particular, on the agricultural front, the army and people of Tuyen Quang have strived to compete with the spirit of "We attack the fields like the people of Binh Thuan storming the enemy's fort". From here, rice from the rear of Tuyen Quang has been continuously transferred to the front line, regardless of the years of natural disasters, enemies or famine.
On the cultural front, Tuyen Quang and Binh Thuan became one. Among them was the collection of poems and prose “For the beloved South” composed by writers from Tuyen Quang. The work was published during the week of fighting against American imperialism and its lackeys, promoting production, and supporting the people of the South and Binh Thuan from December 15, 1963 to December 25, 1963.
Phan Thiet road (Tuyen Quang city) today. Photo: Quoc Viet
Works sent to the Southern battlefield contributed to “lighting the fire” for the front line. Typical works include: “Honor” and “If you understand what is terrible” by former Provincial Party Secretary Tran Hoai Quang, “For the liberation soldier” by poet Gia Dung, “Throwing a ghost” by Nong Ngoc Thuan…
With the spirit of "All for the frontline, for the beloved South", the Party Committee and people of the two provinces were closely attached to each other, giving each other strength to defeat the American invaders, unify the country, and unite the country.
Peace was restored, the friendship between Binh Thuan and Tuyen Quang became even stronger and more intimate. Tuyen Quang continued to send Binh Thuan many leaders and managers and provided food, seeds, and livestock to restore production and stabilize people's lives; and donated books and newspapers.
A corner of Tuyen Binh Forestry Farm, Trang Da Commune (Tuyen Quang City) today. Photo: Quoc Viet
In particular, in September 1993, cadres, party members and people of Tuyen Quang organized a ceremony to receive a banyan tree from Tan Trao to their homeland Binh Thuan. The sacred and meaningful gift was received with respect and cherished by the people here. Today, the Tan Trao banyan tree has been planted in the campus of Duc Thanh School and Ho Chi Minh Museum in Binh Thuan.
Love each other, share the sweet and the bitter...
Over the past 65 years, the people of Tuyen Quang and Binh Thuan provinces have continuously preserved, cared for and increasingly deepened their close friendship. This friendship has taken root in the minds and flowed through the veins of generations of cadres and people of the two provinces, becoming a priceless spiritual value.
Over the years, to foster the ever-stronger and more faithful relationship, to rebuild the beautiful homeland together, the leaders of the two provinces and twinned districts regularly visit, exchange experiences in economic and social development and effectively implement social security policies.
The Chairman of the Spreading Love Charity Association of Binh Thuan province presented gifts to people in Tan Long commune (Yen Son) affected by floods.
Comrade Nguyen Van Than, former Standing Deputy Secretary of Tuyen Quang Provincial Party Committee, recalled that during his working years, he had the honor of welcoming delegations from Binh Thuan province to visit and work in Tuyen Quang province many times. The most memorable memory for him was the time when the Binh Thuan Veterans Association came to the province. Among them was a veteran who, because of his love for Tuyen Quang land, went to explore on his own and got lost in Lang Quan commune (Yen Son). After being found, he even wanted to stay for a few days because Tuyen Quang people are friendly and enthusiastic everywhere. Coming here is like returning home, extremely familiar.
Not only Binh Thuan people love and cherish Tuyen Quang land, but Tuyen Quang people who come to Binh Thuan also have the same feelings. Comrade Nguyen Van Than added: "Whenever the Tuyen Quang delegation goes to the South, they must visit Binh Thuan because it is their homeland, their home."
The education, agriculture, culture, provincial youth union, press... sectors of the two provinces have many activities to support, connect, and exchange to strengthen solidarity and unity. The most typical is the exchange of cadres to work and learn from each other's experiences.
The school is named after Tuyen Quang land in Binh Thuan.
Comrade Nguyen Van Mach, former Editor-in-Chief of Tuyen Quang Newspaper shared: “In 1997, Tuyen Quang Newspaper and Binh Thuan Newspaper implemented a reporter exchange program between the two provinces. During a period of 2 months, 2 reporters from Tuyen Quang Newspaper, the late journalist Do Hung and journalist Ngo Thi Thu Ha, came to Binh Thuan Newspaper to work. Binh Thuan Newspaper also sent 2 reporters to work at Tuyen Quang Newspaper. This is truly a meaningful program to exchange and share practical experiences, practice right at the other newspaper, so it is very effective for journalists to improve their skills.”
Despite being more than 1,000 kilometers apart, the twinning activities and strengthening of close cooperation relations are always maintained and developed well by the agencies, units and localities of the two provinces. In the field of Culture - Sports - Tourism, the two provinces have many exchange and performance activities to serve the spiritual and cultural life of the people; connecting and promoting local culture and tourism to friends of the two provinces.
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...
The schools are named after familiar places in neighboring provinces. For example: in Tuyen Quang, there is Phan Thiet Primary School, Binh Thuan Primary School, Binh Thuan Secondary School; in Binh Thuan, there is Tuyen Quang Primary School. Teachers and students from the two provinces often have twinning activities, exchanging teaching and learning experiences.
Binh Thuan students happily study at Tuyen Quang Primary School.
The districts of the two twin provinces also have many activities demonstrating the strong connection and warm affection between the two localities. Chiem Hoa district (Tuyen Quang) and Bac Binh district (Binh Thuan) regularly have exchange activities and support each other in economic and social development.
Comrade Ma Doan Tai, Secretary of Chiem Hoa District Youth Union, shared that the Youth Union of the two districts organizes many meaningful activities and programs such as: annually, building the project "Connecting Arms of Chiem Hoa - Bac Binh" for beloved juniors, and outdoor library projects at schools of the two districts.
Mr. Nguyen Tuan Anh, a Provincial Youth Union officer, said: "Although the two provinces are 1,000km apart, I feel that everything is very close. Provincial and district-level Youth Union officers of the two provinces almost know each other and connect regularly, sharing in work and life. Everyone sees each other as brothers and sisters, ready to help when in difficulty."
The activities of sharing joys and sorrows between the two provinces have been continuously maintained over the years. Tuyen Quang has supported Binh Thuan in building houses of gratitude, some projects such as bridges for people, clean water systems... Whenever Binh Thuan people encounter difficulties due to storms and epidemics, they receive both material and spiritual support from Tuyen Quang people.
Binh Thuan also supported the giving of many gifts and the construction of dozens of Great Unity houses for families with difficult circumstances in Tuyen Quang. In September 2024, Tuyen Quang suffered damage due to storm Yagi. Binh Thuan people, including citizens, officials, civil servants, and students, participated in contributing to the fund to support the people of Tuyen Quang. Members of the Spreading Love Charity Association of Binh Thuan province directly went to the damaged communes to visit and support thousands of gifts, necessities, and housing repair costs for dozens of households and schools to overcome the consequences of the storm.
Going through the ups and downs of history has proven that the strength created from the spirit of national solidarity has become a majestic and steadfast "wall" with the country. In that great strength, the strong relationship between the two provinces of Tuyen Quang and Binh Thuan has become a shining symbol of loyal and lasting affection: "Tuyen Binh has a deep affection/ Those sixty-five years are full of loyalty".
TQDT
