BHG - Going up to the far North in the historic days of April, we visited Lung Cu (Dong Van) where the first strokes on the country's map began. On the top of Dragon Mountain, the Lung Cu National Flagpole flutters in the sky above the border. Looking at the country's mountains and rivers from the homeland's northernmost point, national pride suddenly surges as 50 years have passed since the country was reunited; the country has transformed itself into an era of rising with the aspiration to soar high and fly far.

Arriving in Lung Cu when the weather started to change seasons, the first showers of summer softened the dry heat of the border region. We chose to stay overnight in Lo Lo Chai village to welcome the sunrise early in the morning at the northernmost point of the country. Mr. Vang Di Pho, the owner of the Cuc Bac homestay, is a determined young man, currently the Secretary of the Lung Cu Commune Youth Union. In addition to his government work, Mr. Pho started a business in community tourism. He confided: “Born and raised in Lo Lo village, I love and am proud of this land. That is why I am determined to do tourism to introduce to visitors the cultural identity of the land and people of the northernmost point and to help the young generation remember their national roots.”

Lung Cu Commune (Dong Van) is changing every day.

From a poor village in the border area, today Lo Lo Chai has taken on a new look, full of vitality. People have renovated the rammed earth houses with yin-yang tiled roofs into homestays, both preserving the ancient features and bringing new experiences to visitors. The whole village has 42/119 households doing community tourism. In the evening, after visiting the village and enjoying the taste of a cup of coffee from the far North, we were able to immerse ourselves in the dances and songs of the folk art troupe at the village cultural house. In a conversation with the Head of Lo Lo Chai Sinh Gi Gai village, he proudly shared: The Lo Lo ethnic group preserves a rich spiritual cultural treasure through the rain-praying festival, the village washing ceremony, and the bronze drum dance. In particular, the ancestor worship ceremony was recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2012. Currently, the village organizes performances of excerpts of traditional rituals to both preserve the cultural values ​​of the community and promote tourism. On the occasion of April 30-May 1 this year, all homestays were full, because all visitors wanted to feel the sacred atmosphere of the far North during the historic moment of the nation.

As Mr. Gai shared, welcoming the sunrise on Lung Cu National Flagpole on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and the reunification of the country is a very special thing for many tourists. On the top of Dragon Mountain, when the sun gradually rises from the distant mountain range, the first rays of sunlight touch the red flag with yellow star, like a sacred ceremony welcoming the new day. The 54m² flag, symbolizing the longevity and solidarity of the 54 ethnic groups of Vietnam, proudly flies in the border sky. Ms. Phan My Tien, a tourist from Ca Mau, felt: "Traveling the length of the country, setting foot on the headland of the Fatherland in a historical moment, I feel the sacredness of the two words Vietnam. The moment the flag is raised, in the heroic sound of the National Anthem, is a dream, an honor and pride".

Tourists take souvenir photos next to Lung Cu National Flagpole (Dong Van).

From the top of Lung Cu, looking out in all directions, we feel the beauty of the far North appearing majestic and poetic. In the distance, small villages are located amidst vast mountains and rocks; terraced fields are connected as if stacked up to the sky. In the middle of that harsh rocky area, the soldiers of Lung Cu Border Guard Station still stick to their posts day and night, guarding the border line of more than 26 km with 26 landmarks stretching across the territory of the two border communes of Ma Le and Lung Cu. In the remote border area, the National Flagpole stands tall on the top of Dragon Mountain, an immortal testament to the country's everlasting sovereignty. According to history, this place was chosen by Thai Uy, Ly Thuong Kiet as the place to plant the flag during the Ly Dynasty; during the Tay Son Dynasty, King Quang Trung ordered the establishment of a military post, beating bronze drums to guard the land and sky. That heroic historical tradition continues in every patrolling step of the Border Guard soldiers today. No matter the scorching sun or pouring rain, they hold their guns firmly, protecting every inch of their homeland.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Xuan Hung, Political Commissar of Lung Cu Border Post, emotionally shared: “The country has the shape it has today thanks to the sacrifices of generations of fathers and brothers. The occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification reminds us, the Border Guard soldiers, of the historical lessons and national pride to maintain border sovereignty with all our hearts and love for the country. Under the national flag, we pledge to be absolutely loyal to the Party and the People, to maintain the peaceful border forever.”

Our last stop on the journey to the far North was the People's Committee of Lung Cu commune. Through the sharing of the commune leaders, it is known that the socio-economic picture of the locality is gradually changing strongly, thanks to the solidarity of the Party Committee, the government and the people, the commune has achieved the New Rural standard since 2021. The commune is honored to be the locality chosen by the province to implement Resolution No. 27 on eliminating bad customs and building a civilized lifestyle. Every year, the commune promotes the transformation of the economic model from livestock and crop farming to tourism services; notably the success of Lo Lo Chai village being recognized as a 3-star OCOP product. The rural economy develops, tourism services flourish, backward customs are pushed back, and people's lives are gradually improved.

In the far North, every roof and village amidst the grey rocks carries the soul of the nation. At the first line drawn on the map of Vietnam, we can feel most clearly the patriotism, the steadfast belief and the strength of national unity. Lung Cu flagpole is not only a sacred symbol, marking the territorial sovereignty of our country, but also closely associated with the name, land and people of Ha Giang.

Article and photos: HOANG HA

Source: https://baohagiang.vn/50-nam-giai-phong-mien-nam-thong-nhat-dat-nuoc/202504/don-binh-minh-tu-noi-dia-dau-cuc-bac-3371a99/