Bird's eye view of Hiệp Hòa District in northern Bắc Giang Province. —VNS Photo

BẮC GIANG — Safety Zone 2 (ATK2), Hiệp Hòa District, Bắc Giang Province, comprising 16 communes, was once the clandestine operational area of the Vietnamese Communist Party's leaders during the pre-revolutionary period (1940 - 1945). Upholding the revolutionary traditions of the people in ATK2, communes in Hiệp Hòa today have seen significant achievements in socio-economic development and construction of new rural areas.

The 16 communes of ATK2 in Hiệp Hòa District include Mai Đình, Hương Lâm, Hoàng Vân, Hợp Thịnh, Hoàng Lương, Hoàng An, Quang Minh, Mai Trung, Xuân Cẩm, Đại Thành, Hòa Sơn, Hoàng Thanh, Thái Sơn, Đồng Tân, Hùng Sơn and Thanh Vân.

Before the August Revolution in 1945, ATK2 was an important area for the Central Committee, Provincial Party Committee and the Revolutionary Military Committee of North Vietnam to organise political and military training camps. It was also a place to hide and ensure the safety of high-ranking Party officials during that period. 

From 1938 to 1945, high-level party members including Trường Chinh, Hoàng Quốc Việt, Ngô Thế Sơn, Trương Công Lệnh, Lê Hoàng, Hà Thị Quế, Nguyễn Trọng Tỉnh, Nguyễn Thị Thuận and Lê Thanh Nghị came here to help build the revolutionary movement. They were protected and supported by the people of the communes in the region. The people united courageously to fight against invading enemies, contributing to the success of the General Uprising to seize government power nationwide.

Today, in the process of economic and social development, the living standards of the people have been improving, with the poverty rate gradually decreasing. All 16 communes have completed the construction of new rural areas, with Hòa Sơn Commune achieving an advanced level of new rural areas, and Xuân Cẩm and Hoàng Vân communes expected to achieve this by the end of the year. 

In Xuân Cẩm, high-rise and elegant houses, village roads and alleys have been expanded with concrete surfaces wider than three metres, and many high-tech agricultural models have been established. 

The Party Secretary of Xuân Cẩm Commune, Ngô Hữu Thủy, said agriculture remains the main economic sector in Xuân Cẩm, showing vibrancy and shifting towards commodity production. The commune has attracted many businesses to invest in agriculture such as the GOC Food Processing Export Company, which has leased 15 hectares of farmland in Cẩm Trung village for 15 years for high-tech agricultural production. The project is expected to create regular employment for over 100 workers, with incomes ranging from VNĐ5 million to VNĐ7 million (US$209-$292) per month. In addition to agricultural development, Xuân Cẩm is also promoting other economic sectors, including detailed planning for the Hương Lâm-Xuân Cẩm Industrial Zone.

The highlight of Xuân Cẩm's economic and social development is the willingness of local communities to donate land for road construction. To build a 1.8km dyke along the Cầu River, passing through Cẩm Hoàng village, 175 households in Cẩm Hoàng voluntarily dismantled various structures such as gates, fences, auxiliary constructions and houses, covering an area of over 5,000sqm to expand the dyke width from 5-12 metres.

Chairman of the People's Committee of Hiệp Hòa District, Hoàng Công Bộ, said that the local authorities at all levels in Hiệp Hòa District have been working alongside local communities in the economic and social development of ATK2 communes.

Transportation infrastructure has been systematically developed, connecting ATK2 communes with other localities within and outside the district. Inter-communal and inter-village transportation systems have been expanded and upgraded. 

Transportation projects have been the focus of infrastructure connecting with Phổ Yên City, Thái Nguyên Province, from National Highway 37 to Hòa Sơn Bridge, passing through Thắng Town and the communes of Lương Phong, Danh Thắng, Hùng Sơn, Thái Sơn and Hòa Sơn, with a total length of 10.5km. Another project connecting Sóc Sơn District and Hà Nội to Hiệp Hòa District through Xuân Cẩm Commune has also been underway. 

New schools were built with a total area of over 2 hectares, such as Hòa Sơn Primary School, Xuân Cẩm Secondary School and Thanh Vân Kindergarten. ATK2 communes have planned industrial zones, clusters and urban service areas to promote industrial development, such as Thanh Vân Industrial Cluster, Hà Thịnh Industrial Cluster, Hợp Thịnh Industrial Cluster and Hương Lâm-Xuân Cẩm Industrial Zone. Many areas specialised in high-tech raw material production have been established, such as Hường Lương Celery and Hoàng Vân Black Pepper.

Local elders during a gathering at the National Heritage Site Xuân Biều Communal House in Hiệp Hòa District, Bắc Giang Province. — VNS Photo

Preservation and enhancement of revolutionary historical sites in ATK2 communes have always been a priority for the local government. Over the past two years, Hiệp Hòa District has invested VNĐ65 billion to implement various projects, upgrading the special National Historical and Cultural Site ATK2. Once completed, the project will include infrastructure system construction of the historical and cultural heritage site of Y Sơn Temple and Pagoda in Hòa Sơn Commune; upgraded Xuân Biều Communal House and expansion of the road to the communal house; renovated Traditional Exhibition House of ATK2, reception house, and the courtyard of Chợ Vân Communal House.

Ngô Công Chính, party secretary of Xuân Biều Commune, Xuân Cẩm District, said with the attention from various levels of government, the special National Historical and Cultural Site of Xuân Biều Communal House has been renovated and upgraded, bringing joy and excitement to the villagers. It has become an important site for revolutionary education and communication, a source of pride for the people of Xuân Biều in particular and Xuân Cẩm in general.

To promote the value of ATK 2 historical sites, Hiệp Hòa is linked to the development of tourism routes. Recently, the district issued a plan for the development of tours in the 2023-30 period. In this plan, the district is developing domestic routes associated with special ATK2 National Historical and Cultural Sites, such as Chợ Vân Communal House - Traditional ATK2 Exhibition House; Vân Xuyên Communal House - Soi Temple, the site of Ngô Văn Thấu's Memorial House in honour of a famous local patriot. — VNS