Nostalgia

People born and raised in the districts are certainly very attached to the name of the town. The town has always been the pride of the people of each district. It has both the modern features of a developed urban area and many historical and traditional cultural values.

In Hai Duong today, each district usually has a town. Just say "go to town to go to the market", "go to town" and no need to say the place name, everyone will understand where to go.

Now, the town is an administrative unit at the same level as the commune and ward, directly under the district level, is the center of the district and is a concentrated residential area, mainly developing trade, services and small-scale industry.

In the near future, when the district level ceases to operate and implements the arrangement of commune-level administrative units, the towns will no longer exist. Perhaps, many people will miss the towns of today.

Cam Giang (Cam Giang) is one of the towns with many unique cultural features in Hai Duong. The name Cam Giang, often translated as the brocade river of this town, also carries many historical stories.

Cam Giang is an ancient town of Cam Giang district, about 400 years old. In the 18th century, when Uy Nam Vuong Trinh Giang ascended the throne, to avoid taboo, it was read incorrectly as Cam Giang. In 2019, based on Resolution No. 788 of the National Assembly Standing Committee, Cam Giang town was established after merging with Kim Giang commune. Cam Giang town returned to its original beautiful name.

The town has the Hanoi - Hai Phong railway running through it. The railway station is also a source of inspiration, giving birth to many famous literary works, especially by writer Thach Lam.

Now, coming back to Cam Giang, you can still see the ancient and modern features of an old district town. The small town is still as peaceful as ever.

It is expected that Cam Giang town will be merged with Dinh Son and Cam Hoang communes to form a new commune. When Cam Giang town is no longer a town, many people will miss and regret it.

Mr. Tran Quang Thong was born and raised in the town, and used to be a cultural officer and town leader. His house is still located along the railway line today.

He is the one who proposed the unique set of street names in Cam Giang town with meaningful names. He is also an art enthusiast who has traveled to take photos and create many works about this town. In his house, Mr. Thong still keeps many valuable documents of Cam Giang.

"When the town is no longer there, we will also regret the place name, the name that has been attached to us for more than half of our lives. We only hope that the cultural and historical values, the stories about Cam Giang will not be lost along with its name, but will be cared for and preserved by the authorities at all levels for future generations to pass on and promote," Mr. Thong confided.

Not only Cam Giang, many towns in Hai Duong also have very proud cultural beauties. Many young towns are still on the way to build and develop strongly.

Future expectations for communes and wards

Despite regret, many people expressed agreement with the plan and the need to rearrange the current communes, wards and towns.

In Binh Giang district, Ke Sat is a very special ancient town. It is located on the border between many districts and provinces, so it developed early.

It is expected that from July 1, Ke Sat town will merge with Hung Thang and Vinh Hung communes and part of the area and population of Vinh Hong commune to form a new commune.

Mr. Bui Ngoc Ben in Ke Sat town, although not born and raised in Ke Sat town, came here to work, live, married a woman from the town and has been attached to the town for the past several decades.

Listening to the Party Secretary read the plan to arrange commune-level administrative units that was put out for comments, Mr. Ben nodded in agreement. He also felt sorry but he understood the need to arrange and merge communes, abolish the district level and no longer have towns under the district.

"The arrangement of administrative units is necessary. The town no longer exists, but people will still remember Ke Sat through Ke Sat gac rice paper, Ke Sat ham cake... and the people of Ke Sat. I only hope that the town will become a larger commune and develop more and more strongly. To do that, the work of cadres must be given top priority, with careful and thorough consideration so that even though the town's name is lost, people will always be excited and expect the day this place will change and have a new look," Mr. Ben shared.

In Ninh Giang district, Ninh Giang town is planned and developed as a center, a gateway connecting the southern economic space of Hai Duong province with Hai Phong city and Thai Binh province.

This is a rapidly developing urban area, the economic and cultural center of the district. The town will also merge with 3 other communes.

"Ninh Giang town is not only familiar to Ninh Giang people but also a familiar destination for many people in neighboring districts and provinces. No matter what happens in the future, I still hope Ninh Giang will develop more and more, rich and beautiful", said Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy in Ninh Giang town.

Like Ms. Thuy, many officials and people expect that after the arrangement, the towns will no longer exist, but their values ​​and identities will still be there and the development momentum will continue strongly.