‘Everyone in Dong Hoi is proud of Uncle Nguyen Phu Trong’

Late in the afternoon of July 19, Mr. Bui Van Vy, Head of the Elderly Association in Hoi Phu village (Dong Hoi commune, Dong Anh district, Hanoi), and more than ten members were still present at the historical and cultural relic cluster of the Temple - Pagoda - Communal House of Hoi Phu village. They were cleaning, wiping the altar, and covering the Buddha statue.

Everyone had a job, and everyone knew their tasks without being told. Mr. Vy mobilized members to bring tools to clean the relic site and divided them into groups to clean the worship objects and cover the Buddha statues at the village's communal house and pagoda.

Ms. Chu Thi Loc, Vice President of the Village Elderly Association, assigned female members to add incense oil and buy offerings to display.

“We have arranged and organized everything to prepare thoroughly,” said Mr. Vy.

The press announced General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's passing at around 6 p.m., and Mr. Vy could not hide his grief for the outstanding son of his homeland.

“We heard about the General Secretary's health a few days ago. Everyone was worried and prayed for him to get well soon to continue his important task of caring for the people and the country. Hearing the news this afternoon, we are all sad and miss him,” Mr. Vy said emotionally.

While holding a short shovel to scrub the dirt in front of the communal house gate, Mrs. Chu Thi Loc was moved: “Uncle Trong is an excellent son of our homeland. Everyone in our commune and village respects, loves and is proud of Uncle Trong. Now that he has joined the holy ones, the people can only express their condolences by making the village roads and alleys very clean and neat.”

Hoi Phu is adjacent to Lai Da village, the birthplace of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. The towns on Dong Hoi land have long been famous for their sacred land and cultural relics, with religious structures and institutions preserved and maintained by the Party, government, and people.

While cleaning, Mr. Vy leisurely introduced the place of his hometown: “Hoi Phu Temple is a historical and religious relic worshiping Mr. Dao Ky and Mrs. Phuong Dung, two talented generals of Hai Ba Trung from the early days of defending the country and gaining independence for Vietnam. The communal house is a place for cultural exchanges between people during local holidays. Formerly called Cu Trinh, it was the largest communal house in Coi commune. After many renovations, it still retains its old style. This is where important village activities take place,” said Mr. Vy.

Inside the ancient communal house, the elderly members had meticulously cleaned and tidied up the worship items and rituals since the afternoon. Under the warm electric light, a female member carefully arranged the offerings she had just brought, placing them on the altar and lighting them quickly.

The Association and other villages, such as Tien Hoi and Lai Da, along with various organizations and unions, proactively cleaned up the village roads and alleys. The working atmosphere was both urgent and solemn. Everyone understood the significance of their work and showed respect for the outstanding son of their homeland and village.

“Although he is no longer here, he will live forever in the hearts of our people. He was a shining example, a great personality, and the pride of our hometown, Dong Hoi and the people of the whole country,” shared the head of the association of the elderly in Hoi Phu village.

On March 26, Dong Hoi commune, the hometown of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, celebrated the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Dong Hoi commune Party Cell (Dong Anh district) - the predecessor of the Dong Hoi commune Party Committee (March 1949 - March 2024).

Historically, Dong Hoi was part of the Tu Son district in Bac Ninh province. In April 1946, Dong Tru commune and Dong Ngan commune merged to form Song Dong commune. At that time, Dong Hoi had three communes: Hoi Phu, Tien Hoi, and Song Dong.

At the end of 1946, the Tu Son District Party Committee directed the communes to establish loyal groups, including commune and village cadres and organizations active and enthusiastic in their work, organizing political studies to improve revolutionary qualities, class awareness, and understanding of the Party.

In early 1949, the Administrative Resistance Committee of Tu Son district advocated merging many small communes into one large commune. In March 1949, the three communes of Hoi Phu, Tien Hoi, and Song Dong merged into one named Dong Hoi commune.

In December 1960, the Dong Hoi Commune Party Committee was established, including five branches: Tien Hoi, Trung Thon, Hoi Phu, Dong Tru, and Lai Da - Dong Ngan.

According to the Government Council of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam's decision on May 12, 1961, Dong Hoi and four other communes of Tu Son district, Bac Ninh province, were transferred to Dong Anh district.

Over the past 75 years, under the leadership of the Party, the Party Committee and the people of Dong Hoi have been developing and growing steadily in all aspects of politics, socio-economy, national defense, and security, creating a rich tradition of revolution and heroism.

In the new rural construction movement, Hanoi City recognized the commune as meeting new rural standards in 2014, advanced new rural standards in 2023, and modeled new rural standards in 2024.

On the afternoon of July 19, the sad news reached the village: General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong passed away. At 8:00 pm on the same day, the commune People’s Committee headquarters was still lit up. The Party Committee and People’s Committee of Dong Hoi commune held an extraordinary meeting with many important contents, including organizing villages and hamlets to join hands in cleaning the environment, village roads and alleys; cleaning cultural houses and cultural institutions in the commune to welcome people back to their homeland.