Historic Site of the First Party Cell in Bao Lac District – Trong Nhi Ha Hau Cave
Amid the forests and mountains of Hong An, in a cave near Lung Sau Hamlet, three communists secretly met in the spring of 1945 to establish the first Party cell in Bao Lac District. The cell was led by a woman. From Trong Nhi Ha Hau Cave, the revolutionary movement spread across western Cao Bang, just months before the nation rose up to seize power.
Where is the historic site?
The site is at Trong Nhi Ha Hau Cave, Lung Sau Hamlet, formerly in Hong An Commune (the former Bao Lac District). In July 2025, Hong An and Xuan Truong communes merged to form the new Xuan Truong Commune.
Hong An lies beside the Xuan Truong Valley, along the Khau Coc Cha Pass, not far from the national historic site at Dong Mu Fort. When you visit, ask local residents or the commune authorities for directions to the cave.
The Dong Mu–Hong An revolutionary base
Preparations for the revolutionary movement in Bao Lac had been underway for years before the Party cell was established. In mid-1943, Bao Lac District formed a Viet Minh Committee, based in Xuan Truong Commune, where the Viet Minh movement was strong and helped spur activity in communes across the area.
Building on the movement’s progress, particularly the growth of armed self-defense groups, Bao Lac District formed its own self-defense unit. It was the district’s first centralized armed force and the forerunner of the local armed forces that followed.
Dong Mu and Hong An gradually developed into a strong revolutionary base. This provided an important foundation for establishing Bao Lac’s first communist organization.
Just over two months earlier, on the night of February 4, 1945, the Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Army attacked Dong Mu Fort in the area. Martyr Xuan Truong was killed there. Revolutionary fervor was running high across the region.
April 15, 1945 – The first Party cell is established
On April 15, 1945, the first Communist Party cell in Bao Lac District was established at Trong Nhi Ha Hau Cave, Lung Sau Hamlet. It had three members:
- Comrade Nong Thi Trieu (also known as Nhan Tuong), who served as the cell secretary.
- Comrade Le Long.
- Comrade Do Quang Soan (also known as Do Quang Thang).
Notably, the cell was led by a woman, Comrade Nong Thi Trieu. In the 1940s, in this remote mountain region near the border, this was remarkable and reflected the role of ethnic minority women in the revolutionary movement.
Choosing a cave for secret meetings also reflected the conditions of the time: the mountains and forests offered shelter, local people provided support, and revolutionary cadres had to live close to the land as they built the movement.
Historical significance
The establishment of the first Communist Party cell marked a new phase in the revolutionary movement in Bao Lac District. From then on, the people’s struggle in the area came under the direct leadership of the Party, a crucial factor in securing national liberation in Bao Lac.
Not long afterward, under the leadership of the cell and Viet Minh organizations, people in many communes fought to seize power. On July 4, 1945, the provisional revolutionary committee of Bao Lac District was established to lead the area’s ethnic communities in building and consolidating a new government and way of life.
From that three-member cell in a mountain cave, the Bao Lac District Party Committee grew over the years, leading the area’s ethnic communities in building their homeland in this remote border region.
Visiting the historic site
At Trong Nhi Ha Hau Cave, you can stand where Bao Lac’s first communists met in secret. Take a few quiet moments to picture the spring of 1945, when the dim glow of a few oil lamps in the cave lit the way ahead.
Significant dates:
- April 15: Anniversary of the founding of the first Communist Party cell in Bao Lac District.
- February 3: Anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
A journey to the revolutionary landmarks of Xuan Truong
Xuan Truong is home to several revolutionary sites. You can combine your visit with:
- Dong Mu Fort National Historic Site: the site of the third battle fought by the Vietnam Propaganda and Liberation Army, where Xuan Truong martyrs lost their lives.
- Khau Coc Cha Pass: 15 switchback levels winding along the mountainside.
- Xuan Truong Valley: enjoy a cool climate year-round and white pear blossoms in the villages.
Visitor tips
- Ask local residents for directions as the site is in a mountainous area and may not have clear signposts.
- Wear grippy shoes and bring a flashlight if you enter the cave.
- Be respectful and do not write or draw on the cave walls.
- Do not litter; help preserve the site’s surroundings.
- Bring warm clothing: the Xuan Truong–Hong An area is quite cold year-round.
Final thoughts
Hang Trong Nhia Hau has no grand buildings or modern exhibition halls. Yet it was here, in a cave amid the mountains and forests, that three communists and a female Party secretary kindled the first flame of revolution across Bao Lac. When visiting Xuan Truong, after paying your respects at Dong Mu Fort, make your way to Lung Sau for a complete journey back to the early days of revolution in western Cao Bang.
