Exactly 85 years since January 28, 1941, leader Ho Chi Minh returned to the Fatherland through landmark 108, Pac Bo (Truong Ha commune, Cao Bang province) - the origin of the Vietnamese revolution - today has put on a new face.
These days, the Ho Chi Minh road leading to the Pac Bo Special National Relic Area is being expanded and paved with spacious asphalt. Flags and flowers are brilliant along the road, local people are excitedly preparing for the 85th anniversary of Uncle Ho's return to the country (January 28, 1941 - January 28, 2026).
From the center of Cao Bang province, a journey of more than 50km to Truong Ha takes reporters through winding mountain roads. On the top of Po Teng Chay, Pac Bo mountains and forests stretch green, the clear Lenin stream winding in the vast forest.
The quiet space on the border evokes a sacred historical moment more than 8 decades ago.
Landmark 108 - where Uncle Ho set his first foot when returning to his motherland - is now preserved as a historical relic. About 5m away is border marker 675, built in 2001 under the Vietnam - China Border Agreement, marking the national border in modern times.
From a remote revolutionary base area, Truong Ha has made a clear transformation. As one of the leading communes in building new rural areas of Cao Bang province, the locality focuses on developing agricultural economy with specialty farming and animal husbandry models such as pheasants, plums, roses, and red-flesh dragon fruit.
Mr. Nong Thanh Bang (Pac Bo hamlet) said that from a poor household, his family boldly borrowed capital to raise chickens and grow roses. Thanks to hard work, his income currently reaches hundreds of millions of VND per year, and his life is more stable than before.
Along with agricultural production, many households have opened homestays and developed tourism services. According to Ms. Duong Thi Hop - Secretary of the Party Cell of Pac Bo hamlet, the hamlet currently has nearly 90 households, of which nearly 50 households participate in service business, contributing to increasing income and changing the face of the revolutionary land.
The border gate economy is also Truong Ha's advantage. In 2025, import and export turnover through Soc Giang Border Gate reached nearly 9.6 million USD, exceeding nearly 160% of the target. This is expected to be a driving force to promote border economic development, creating more livelihoods for people.
Social security work continues to be concerned. In 2025, Truong Ha completed the elimination of 38/38 temporary and dilapidated houses for poor households. It is expected that in 2026, the locality will continue to support the construction and repair of new houses for 22 households.
According to the People's Committee of Truong Ha commune, in the period 2025-2030, the commune sets a target of an average income of 40 million VND/person/year, reducing the poverty rate to 3%.
85 years ago, Pac Bo was the origin of the revolutionary fire. Today, on that sacred border land, the fire rising to get rich and build a prosperous life is still being lit up.
