Before the August Revolution, Phuong Vien and Bang Vien (later merged into Phuong Vien) were communes where the Viet Minh movement developed rapidly and strongly. During the historical journey from Pac Bo to Tan Trao, leader Nguyen Ai Quoc stopped here and gave direct instructions, especially he gave new names to these two communes.

President Ho Chi Minh, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Van Dong with farmers in Bac Kan in 1951.

According to documents, on the afternoon of May 15, 1945, Uncle Ho arrived in Phuong Vien. That day, the Viet Minh Committee of the commune arranged for Uncle to stay at Mr. Hoang Van Cao's house in Ban Cai, Na Lang village, Phuong Vien commune.

After the meal, Uncle Ho suggested arranging a meeting with representatives of the Viet Minh, the provisional People's Committee of the commune and local elders to discuss the world political situation, the revolutionary situation in the country, the task of fighting the French, expelling the Japanese, moving towards a revolutionary climax, and seizing power nationwide.

The next morning (May 16, 1945), Uncle Ho and his group went to Pac Cai where two streams meet, about 1 km from Cho Don district town, when they heard gunshots from Cho Don district town, and everyone immediately dispersed according to the previous regulations.

Mr. Nong Van Lac, who followed Uncle Ho on that trip, recounted in his memoir "Here is the light": "The advance guard went a short distance and returned to report that the Japanese had arrived near Cho Don. We returned to the road to Bang Phuc. We heard gunshots above the old post. The brothers returned to report that the Japanese had come all the way to Bang Lung."

Historical relic of Mr. Lang Van Quan's house foundation in Khuoi Dai, Phuong Vien commune, Cho Don district, Bac Kan province.

Source: Photo book "Land and people of ATK Cho Don area"

Faced with the above situation, the Viet Minh Committee, the Provisional Committee, and the Commune Self-Defense Command led the working delegation and Uncle Ho up to Ban Pit, into Khuoi Luong, over Khuoi Khuy pass, to Tong Luong village and then through Khuoi Dai (a village located at the foot of Tam Tao mountain in Bang Vien commune).

The Viet Minh Committee and the Provisional People's Committee arranged for Uncle Ho to stay at Mr. Lang Van Quan's house. Here, he asked the Viet Minh Committee and the commune's organizations to unite closely, keep secrets, not to work for the Japanese, not to pay rice to the Japanese... to consolidate the revolutionary movement. Uncle Ho named the two communes: "Bang Vien is called Hy Sinh commune, Phuong Vien is called Phan Dau commune". A few days later, the name Hy Sinh commune was engraved on the seal of the commune's People's Committee, and was used until the day of merger with Phuong Vien commune in 1947.

Copy of voter card issued by Hy Sinh Commune People's Committee on December 23, 1945 for citizens participating in the first General Election of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (January 6, 1946)

Regarding some details related to this event, Mr. Ha Van Ton, in Bang Vien village, who is 88 years old this year, recounted the story of his father, Mr. Ha Van Tuong, being assigned to deliver a secret document to Uncle Ho on May 16, 1945 as follows:

Portrait of Mr. Ha Van Tuong.

After the conversation at Mr. Lang Van Quan's house, Uncle Ho asked the commune to choose two self-defense team members to be assigned by him to carry the secret document to the next reception station in Ban Duong, Ngoc Phai commune. The two selected team members were Mr. La Dinh Soi and Mr. Ha Van Tuong. Mr. Nong Van Lac drafted the document on a small piece of paper, showed it to Uncle Ho to read and sign, then rolled it up as small as a cigarette and gave it to team member Soi, then team member Soi passed it to team member Tuong to hold and together they immediately set off to deliver it urgently to the Ban Duong reception station.

Mr. Lac instructed: "When you leave the village, wrap the document in leaves and always keep it in your hand. If you are unlucky enough to encounter the enemy on the way, throw it away immediately. If you are not in time, put it in your mouth, chew and swallow it. If you are unlucky enough to be captured or interrogated, resolutely do not reveal anything! On the way, every 10 meters, break a small tree in front of you (do not break or cut it) to mark the path for the group to follow." The two team members delivered the secret document to the Ban Duong reception station, which was the house of Mr. Hoang Van Quy, former village chief of Ngoc Phai commune.

After completing the mission, the two team members returned along the old road, upstream of the stream, not far from Nam Cang, and met Uncle Ho's group resting in a rice field. The two team members immediately reported to Uncle Ho that the mission assigned by Him had been completed, and that there had been no incidents on the way. Uncle Ho praised and shook hands to thank the two team members and instructed them to stay and continue to do well the assigned tasks with the entire people in the commune to complete the urgent Viet Minh program ahead.

About three months later, Hy Sinh commune received a letter of commendation from leader Ho Chi Minh for the reception, protection, and service of the delegation during the time the delegation passed through Hy Sinh commune on May 16, 1945.

Mr. Ha Van Ton pointed to Tong Luong village, where Uncle Ho passed through on May 16, 1945.

Mr. Ha Van Ton added that after carrying the letter and remembering Uncle Ho's advice that day, his father, Mr. Ha Van Tuong, became more active in participating in the local revolutionary movement, was admitted to the Party in 1948, held the position of Secretary of the Phuong Vien Commune Party Cell, Secretary of the Farmers' Executive Committee of Cho Don District, and Vice Chairman of the Commune Fatherland Front until his retirement in 1979. During his lifetime, he often recounted this event with honor and pride. He always taught and advised his children and grandchildren to be more proud of the family tradition, to study harder, work harder, and follow the example of beloved Uncle Ho.

Proud to welcome and protect Uncle Ho through the dangers of his historic journey from Pac Bo to Tan Trao and honored to have him directly name the commune, over the past 79 years, the Party Committee, government and people of Phuong Vien commune have kept in mind Uncle Ho's teachings, joined hands and strived to build a rich, beautiful and civilized homeland. Notably, the commune has completed the goal of building a new countryside by 2022.

Towards the 134th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birthday (May 19, 1890 - May 19, 2024) is an opportunity for the Party Committee, government and people of Phuong Vien to express their love and respect for Uncle Ho; strive to study, work, and build their homeland to become more and more beautiful and civilized; determined to make studying and following Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and lifestyle a regular activity of each Party Committee, government, departments, branches and organizations and increasingly spread in social life.