The symbol of Uncle Ho's hometown
Looking down from above, Uncle Ho's hometown is like a giant lotus leaf. In the book "Ho Chi Minh - Ethnic quintessence" has a paragraph: "In the past, this area (Kim Lien) called Sen Trai, with all places of lotus: Dam Sen, Sen well, lotus, deep lotus, lotus, lotus market, Bau Sen, Con Sen:
Afternoon, go to Con Sen
White-white, pink-red-pink ( Ca dao).
Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, a resident of Kim Lien commune, remembers Uncle Ho's hometown: "Phu Dam used to be a low-lying area with many lagoons and few fields. There are lotus ponds here, but no book records who was the first to bring lotus seeds to plant. Only know that the first lotus trees grow scatteredly in Con Sen and Dam Sen".
Like humans, lotus has ups and downs. Mr. Hanh, a resident of Sen village, recalled in the 60s, when the cooperative developed a garden - pond - barn model, lotus had to give way to fish. It was not until decades later that the lotus tree was revived in Kim Lien. And until now, in Sen village, lotus has been present everywhere.
If the lotus from Uncle Ho's hometown surrounded the village, creating a cool highlight, the lotus from Chua village (Hoang Tru) - Uncle Ho's hometown - was like green dragons winding and bending gently in each alley.
It is impossible to say all the joys of the people, tourists when the lotus village still retains the native lotus seeds: Single-wing white flowers (from 18-24 wings) and traditional pink lotus. My hometown lotus has rough leaves, flowers bloom when the leaves stand.
But it is even happier when Sen village today is a gathering place, with famous lotus varieties from all over the North and South.
The most beautiful Muoi Tower with lotus flowers
The most beautiful Vietnam named after Uncle Ho
Next to the West Lake lotus - from the thousand-year-old Thang Long document - is the Dong Thap Muoi lotus, with plain leaves, single leaves, without roots. This lotus species is special in that: In early summer, when the leaves are still sticking on the water surface, the flowers have bloomed in time, creating a diverse and unique highlight.
I am thinking about the Sen Lotus Festival 2025 - the 135th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birth. When the rice is in the field, the ticks began to tingling on the arch of the leaf, also when the lotus entered the festival. The white lotus, pink lotus picked from the lotus village will be offered to the beloved Uncle Ho.
The entire space of the countryside seems to be surrounded by the scent of lotus. Lotus scent is still wrapped in tangerines on the way back. There is something very sacred and mysterious, which cannot be called out clearly...
A passionate journey
In Kim Lien commune, Sen Co Bac Agricultural Cooperative was established on January 2, 2019 with the goal of: preserving the lotus gene source. The cooperative is managing more than 60.5 hectares of lotus growing area in Kim Lien ponds, and has successfully propagated 130 lotus varieties to preserve valuable genetic funds.
The cooperative has produced dozens of lotus products: lotus leaf tea, lotus heart, lotus tea, Lotus tea, Lien Tu tea, lotus rice tea, lotus root tea; Fresh lotus seeds, dried lotus seeds, lotus seed milk; Lotus root starch, lotus kimchi, lotus root, lotus flavor ... and have launched a number of 4 -star OCOP products such as: lotus tea, Lien Tu tea, lotus rice tea.
To ensure a stable source of raw materials as well as a quality production process, the cooperative has signed a cooperation contract with 46 households in product care and harvesting, with the direct consultation and supervision of the technical department under the Cooperative.
Sen Cooperative from Ba not only preserves lotus, but also creates a stable livelihood for Kim Lien people. Currently, the cooperative has signed labor contracts with 20 people, each worker has an income of 6-8 million VND/month.
The journey from a master's degree in Agriculture (Vietnam Academy of Agriculture) to the position of Director of Sen Cooperative of Uncle Pham Kim Tien is inspiring. Having struggled to make a living in plant variety companies in Hanoi and Hai Phong, in 2013, Tien decided to leave the city and return to his hometown to start a business.
At that time, my family, friends, and relatives did not necessarily agree with my decision. Facing countless difficulties in capital as well as starting a business, but I have a great faith - love from my hometown, from beloved Uncle Ho - so the idea of establishing Sen Co Bac Cooperative has given me inspiration to overcome all obstacles, Tien shared.
From nothing, up to now, Sen Co Bac Cooperative has achieved a revenue of 2 billion VND per year, creating jobs for workers, gradually affirming its brand in the market.
Sen Cooperative from Ba has contributed to reviving the landscape, environment, and lotus space imbued with the countryside. The lotus field has become one of the highlights of the Kim Lien Special National Monument.
In the 5th lunar month, when returning to Uncle Ho's hometown, we can easily see the image of tourists enjoying, checking in, taking photos, filming videos by lotus ponds; picking lotus, enjoying lotus flowers, lotus tea... And in each person, always carrying the image of Uncle Ho, the image of Uncle Ho's Sen village - a peaceful, simple, and livable village.
