Kim Dong Historical Site – Visit Na Ma, Where the First Youth Leader Will Always Be 14
Every generation growing up in Vietnam hears the story of Kim Dong. Yet few people get to stand where he was born, where he served as a youth leader, and where he was laid to rest. In Na Ma Village, beneath Cao Bang’s limestone mountains, the Kim Dong Historical Site brings a story from schoolbooks to life.
Where Is the Historical Site?
The site is in Na Ma Village, Truong Ha Commune, about 200 meters from Provincial Road 203. The grounds are enclosed by a wall. It is part of the Pac Bo Historical Site complex, making it easy to combine with a visit there in the same day.
Kim Dong’s grave lies at the foot of Phia Dai and Phia U mountains, with Na Ma Village behind it. The Lenin Stream also flows through the village.
A Young Hero
Kim Dong’s real name was Nong Van Den. He was Nung and was born in 1929 to a poor farming family in Na Ma Village.
His older brother, Nong Van Tang (codename Phuc Quoc), joined the revolutionary movement early. To give his brother more time to work for the cause, Kim Dong took his place at age 12, working as a laborer cutting trees and planting grass at Soc Giang Fort.
On May 15, 1941, the National Salvation Children’s Team was founded at Po Doi–Thoong Ma. It had four members: Kim Dong, Cao Son, Thanh Thuy, and Thuy Tien, with Kim Dong as its leader. The group was the forerunner of today’s Ho Chi Minh Young Pioneer Organization.
In August 1942, Kim Dong met Uncle Ho at Noc En Cave, on the mountain behind Na Ma Village. Ho Chi Minh assigned him to carry messages and protect the revolutionary movement.
At 5 a.m. on February 15, 1943, while keeping watch over a Viet Minh meeting, Kim Dong spotted enemy troops searching nearby. Quick-thinking, he drew them away to protect the officials. The enemy opened fire, and he was shot and killed just after turning 14.
In 1997, the Party and State posthumously awarded him the title of Hero.
A Historical Site Built with Contributions from Children Across Vietnam
The story behind the site’s construction is just as remarkable. The Central Youth Union launched the “Small Plan” campaign among children and young people nationwide to raise funds for the site. Construction began in 1985, and it was inaugurated on May 15, 1986, marking the 45th anniversary of the organization’s founding.
The site was later expanded to 12 hectares, with Area A covering 7 hectares and Area B covering 5. The total cost was more than VND 100 billion, including VND 8.1 billion from the Small Plan Fund, supported by children and young people across the country. In other words, many of the bricks here were paid for with scrap paper and bottles collected by children from all over Vietnam.
What to See at the Historical Site
Kim Dong’s Grave and Monument
Kim Dong’s grave and monument stand at the foot of a high rocky mountain range, beside a leafy nghiến tree that casts welcome shade. The statue depicts him setting a starling free.
Look closely at the design details. Seven pine trees stand on each side of the entrance. Seven stone slabs flank the monument, and 14 stone steps represent Kim Dong’s age. Each step you climb marks one year of his short life.
The Grave of Kim Dong’s Mother, Lan Thi Ho
Just to the left of Kim Dong’s grave is the grave of his mother, Lan Thi Ho. Both graves are faced with white granite.
Lan Thi Ho died in 1972, nearly 30 years after her son was killed. She lost her husband to the enemy, then her 14-year-old son, but continued to live in Na Ma, where her family had sheltered revolutionary officials. The sight of mother and son resting side by side at the foot of the mountain is what moves many visitors most.
After lighting incense for Kim Dong, leave a stick for his mother, too. His story would be incomplete without the woman who gave birth to him and raised him through years of hardship.
Kim Dong’s Stilt House
The Central Youth Union rebuilt Kim Dong’s stilt house on the family’s original land, where he was born and raised. The 200-square-meter home was recreated to match a traditional Nung stilt house, complete with a garden, gate, and surrounding stone fence. Step inside to imagine the life of a poor Nung boy in Na Ma in the 1940s.
Exhibition Hall and Statues of Young Heroes
The expanded grounds include an exhibition hall, a plaza, a memorial hall, and a statue group honoring young heroes, helping children learn about role models from Kim Dong’s generation.
Po Doi – Thoong Ma and Noc En Cave
These two sites are closely connected to Kim Dong’s life. Po Doi – Thoong Ma is where the National Salvation Children’s Team was founded. Noc En Cave is where Ho Chi Minh gave him his mission. Today, a commemorative stele at Po Doi – Thoong Ma marks the founding of the team and lists its members.
A place of remembrance for children across Vietnam
Many groups visit the site for educational trips, outdoor activities, camping and ceremonies welcoming new members, held in front of the Kim Dong Monument. Visit on May 15, the anniversary of the team’s founding, and you’ll find crowds of children from across the country wearing their red scarves.
If you’re travelling with young children, this is a meaningful stop. Standing before the monument, hearing Kim Dong’s story and climbing the 14 stone steps will leave a stronger impression than many pages in a book.
Visitor tips
- Dress respectfully and keep quiet around the gravesite.
- Wear comfortable shoes if you plan to visit Po Doi – Thoong Ma or Noc En Cave.
- The site is often busy with school groups on May 15 and during the summer holidays. For a quieter visit, choose a weekday.
- Please keep the area clean and do not climb on the monument.
- Suggested itinerary: Km 0 Milestone → Ho Chi Minh Memorial Temple → Coc Bo Cave, Lenin Stream → Kim Dong Historical Site.
Kim Dong will forever be remembered as a 14-year-old. Yet in Na Ma, his story lives on through the children who visit each year, the reconstructed stilt house and the bricks donated through the Small Plan movement. A visit here shows that you don’t have to grow old to do something extraordinary.
