The song of the cake from the spark of Treo cave
In July 2021, implementing the policy of the 8th Central Conference, the Thanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee sent 11 officers and soldiers to the Ngoc Trao mountains (now in Ngoc Trao commune) to build a revolutionary base. Just over two months later, at Treo Cave - the central base - Ngoc Trao Duong Team consisting of 21 elite soldiers was officially established. This is the first armed tourist team to escape the glass of Thanh Hoa and is also one of the earliest tourist teams in the country.
In the area of rugged mountains and forests, the red flag with yellow star was flying for the first time. From here, the revolutionary movement spread to Ha Trung, Vinh Loc, Cam Thuy, Hoang Hoa and many other localities. The people secretly contributed rice and medicine, enthusiastically sent young people to the battlefield, and implemented the motto "taking the people as a garrison".
In late September and early October 4, the enemy discovered and organized fierce sweeping battles, causing many losses. However, despite short-lived existence, Ngoc Trao battlefield has become an indomitable symbol, continuing the spirit of the Bac Son and Nam Ky uprising, affirming the strong vitality of the Thanh Hoa revolutionary movement.
On August 13, 1945, the National Uprising Committee launched a campaign for the entire people to rise up to gain power. The Thanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee immediately sent officials directly to Thach Thanh to direct the movement. On the night of August 18 to the morning of August 19, 1945, the gongs rang out throughout the village, groups of people under the red flag with yellow star dragged to Kim Tan district, forcing the district to submit the district's seals. The uprising won a victorious government in just a few hours, contributing significantly to the August uprising peak nationwide.
Changes in the revolutionary homeland
Ngoc Trao today has a new look. After merging the four communes of Ngoc Trao, Thanh An, Thanh Long, Thanh Tam, the locality currently has an area of nearly 79km2, with a population of over 23,000 people.
In 2025, Ngoc Trao commune was recognized as meeting new rural standards. The total mobilized resources are more than 183 billion VND, of which the people contribute up to 150 billion VND, the rest is supported from the central budget, provinces and districts. Traffic roads are concreted, schools, medical stations, spacious cultural houses...
The locality also attracts the FiveF Ngoc Trao High-Tech Livestock Farm project, approved by the Provincial People's Committee in 2025, opening up a direction for modern agricultural development. Currently, Thanh Hoa is promoting the application of high-tech agriculture, many models for profits from 200-400 million VND/ha for cultivation, even aquaculture to 2 - 5 billion VND/ha.
Mr. Le Xuan Binh - Secretary of the Ngoc Trao Commune Party Committee, said: "The Party Committee and the people are always united, attracting investment for economic development. High-tech agriculture, large-scale production, industry and handicrafts are all flourishing. Folk festivals, traditional craft villages and natural landscapes have become attractive tourism products.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa, a resident of the commune, expressed: "In the past, we only knew how to plant forests and cultivate rice. Now that there are roads and high-tech farms, life is completely different - children can go to school fully, people do not worry about lack of water and stable income".
September 19 every year - the anniversary of the founding of the Ngoc Trao Duong Team - is not only a traditional festival but also a cultural - historical event that attracts a large number of tourists to the source. In the 2025 - 2030 term, the Commune Party Committee determined to make a breakthrough in building synchronous infrastructure, promoting digital transformation, developing a team of brave cadres, meeting new requirements.
From the spark of Treo Cave in 1941 to the appearance of the new countryside today, Ngoc Trao still maintains the revolutionary spirit. That tradition has become a fulcrum to help the Party Committee, government and people unite, build a rich and civilized homeland, and be a red address to educate patriotism for the young generation of Thanh Hoa.
