Historical Site of Uncle Ho with the Military Automotive and Engineering Branch – Birthplace of “Love Your Vehicle Like Your Child, Treasure Fuel Like Your Blood”
Right beside National Highway 3, not far from the center of Cao Bang, lies a small historical site that holds deep meaning for tens of thousands of drivers and mechanics of the Vietnam People’s Army. Here, in the spring of 1951, Uncle Ho visited and advised the army’s first drivers to “love your vehicle like your child, treasure fuel like your blood.” That teaching became the guiding principle of an entire branch for more than 70 years.
Where is the site located?
The historical site is located in Na Roac Hamlet, Bach Dang Commune (formerly Hoa An District), right next to Km9 on National Highway 3 along the Cao Bang – Bac Kan route. It’s conveniently positioned, making it an easy stop on the way in or out of Cao Bang.
March 28, 1951 – Uncle Ho Visits the Army’s First Drivers
After the victory of the 1950 Border Campaign, the army’s first two automobile transport companies, Company 200 and Company 203, were stationed in Na Roac village.
On March 28, 1951, Uncle Ho visited and spoke with this first transport unit. He sat and chatted warmly with about twenty or thirty soldiers. During the meeting, he advised the officers and soldiers of the Automotive and Engineering Branch to “love your vehicle like your child, treasure fuel like your blood.”
March 28 was later designated as the Traditional Day of the Vietnam People’s Army Automotive and Engineering Branch.
The Branch’s “16 Golden Words”
Uncle Ho’s teaching was engraved by the Automotive and Engineering Branch into 16 golden words: “Love your vehicle like your child, treasure fuel like your blood, overcome every difficulty, complete every mission.”
Taking that teaching to heart through the resistance wars and in peacetime, the branch as a whole has had 50 collectives and 35 individuals awarded, conferred, or posthumously conferred the title of Hero of the People’s Armed Forces by the Party and State.
Standing at Na Roac, where the army’s very first vehicles were once stationed, you’ll understand why such a simple phrase has endured for so long. In the hardship of wartime, every vehicle and every drop of fuel was precious to the entire front.
The Journey of Building the Historical Site
For many years, officers and soldiers of the Automotive and Engineering Branch have wished to turn this site into a historical monument so future generations can understand the roots of the branch’s traditions.
- 2005: The Department of Vehicle and Machinery Management worked with the Cao Bang Provincial Ho Chi Minh Heritage Management Board to research, survey, verify the site, and prepare the scientific documentation for the historical site.
- March 2009: Construction began on the Historical and Cultural Site of Uncle Ho with the Military Automotive and Engineering Branch in Na Roac village.
- 2020: Ahead of the 70th anniversary of the branch’s Traditional Day (1951–2021), the Department of Vehicle and Machinery proposed renovating and upgrading the site.
- March 20, 2023: The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued Decision No. 703/QD-BVHTTDL, officially ranking the “Memorial Site of President Ho Chi Minh with the Military Automotive and Engineering Branch” as a National Historical Site.
- March 25, 2023: A ceremony to receive the National Historical Site certificate was held at Na Roac.
A Cherished Landmark of the Automotive and Engineering Branch
Every year, especially around March 28, delegations of officers and soldiers from the Military Automotive and Engineering Branch return here to burn incense and report their achievements to Uncle Ho. This is a place for educating generations of drivers and mechanics about their heritage, and a cherished local landmark as well.
The Automotive and Engineering Branch also maintains close ties with the people of Bach Dang through goodwill activities, such as building gratitude houses for families with meritorious service in the commune.
Visiting the Historical Site
What to do:
- Burn incense in remembrance of Uncle Ho and the fallen heroes.
- Read carefully through the information about the events of March 28, 1951, and the branch’s “16 golden words.”
- Take a few moments to picture the scene from 1951, when Uncle Ho sat among the army’s very first drivers.
Meaningful dates:
- March 28: Traditional Day of the Military Automotive and Engineering Branch.
- May 19: Birthday of President Ho Chi Minh.
Combine It With Your Itinerary
The historical site sits right on National Highway 3, making it easy to combine with:
- Ho Chi Minh Monument Square in the center of Thuc Phan Ward.
- The Mac Dynasty Citadel ruins, Le King Temple, and Nam Lin Historical Site in Thuc Phan Ward.
- The Phia Oac – Phia Den area and Kolia Organic Farm, on the way toward Nguyen Binh.
Tips for Visiting
- Dress neatly and maintain a respectful attitude.
- The site sits right next to National Highway 3, with heavy traffic passing through. Park your vehicle safely and neatly, and watch out when crossing the road.
- Don’t litter — help preserve the site’s landscape.
- If traveling as a group, contact local authorities in advance for guidance.
Final Thoughts
The Historical Site of Uncle Ho with the Military Automotive and Engineering Branch may be modest in size, but it preserves a moment that shaped the tradition of an entire branch of the armed forces. From Na Roac Village in 1951, his advice to “love your vehicle like your child, treasure your fuel like your blood” traveled with convoys crossing the Truong Son Mountains, heading to the battlefronts, and still resonates today. As you pass Km9 on National Highway 3, take a moment to stop. You’re standing at the very place where the convoys that helped write history first set out.
