Preserving and promoting value of Ta Thiet Base relic

The Command Headquarters for the Liberation Army of South Vietnam relic (referred to as Ta Thiet Base) in Loc Thanh Commune is a "red address" associated with important milestones of the Southern revolution and a place that preserves the historical and cultural values of the Dong Nai region.

The special national relic site of the Command Headquarters of the Liberation Army of South Vietnam in Loc Thanh Commune has become a popular destination for people from all walks of life seeking to learn about the nation's revolutionary history.

To promote the value of this heritage in modern life, Loc Thanh Commune is gradually carrying out management and preservation work while effectively tapping into the potential of this special national relic site for traditional education and tourism development.

"Red address" for traditional education

Ta Thiet Base is located in Can Duc Hamlet, Loc Thanh Commune. The relic site holds exceptionally important historical and cultural value and is a place for preserving and promoting the traditional values of the nation's revolutionary struggle. During the decisive phase of the Southern revolution from 1973 to 1975, this was where the Central Office for South Vietnam, the Military Commission, and the Command of the Liberation Army of South Vietnam led and directed the resistance war against U.S. imperialists to save the nation. In recognition of its historical and cultural values, the site was designated a special national relic site in 2015.

The relic site currently preserves many structures associated with the activities of the Southern Command, including the residence and office of General Tran Van Tra, Commander of the Liberation Army of South Vietnam; the residence and office of Pham Hung, Political Commissar; the residence and office of Nguyen Thi Dinh, Deputy Commander; the residence and office of Le Duc Anh, Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff; the residence and office of Le Van Tuong, Deputy Political Commissar; the hall of the Southern Command; the briefing bunker; the Hoang Cam stove; and A-shaped bunkers.

In addition to the original and reconstructed structures, the relic also features commemorative works, including a monument to heroic martyrs, a temple dedicated to Uncle Ho and leaders of the Central Office for South Vietnam, the Political Department stele house, and a relic exhibition room. Together, these components create a historical space that helps visitors gain a deeper understanding of the people, events, and years of struggle at the base.

After the Ta Thiet Base relic was handed over to the local authorities, Loc Thanh Commune assigned the Commune General Service Center to directly manage the site and advise the Commune People's Committee on preserving and promoting the relic's value, as well as maintaining operations to welcome leadership delegations and visitors.

Chairman of the Loc Thanh Commune People's Committee Ho Quang Khanh stated, "After a period of operation, some of the commemorative works and sections of the relic have deteriorated and need to be repaired and restored. The equipment used to serve visitors is also outdated, while revenue from services is insufficient to meet repair and maintenance needs. Exhibition efforts remain limited and are not commensurate with the stature of a special national relic site."

Removing "bottlenecks" to promote relic's value

One of the major issues currently being addressed by Loc Thanh Commune is the overall and detailed planning of the relic. Although it has been designated a special national relic site, to date, a plan for its preservation, restoration, and value promotion has yet to be established and approved in accordance with the Law on Cultural Heritage. Establishing such a plan is a crucial basis for defining the protection space, directing investment, preserving the landscape, and organizing long-term activities to promote the relic's value. Furthermore, staffing at the relic remains limited, making it difficult to carry out professional tasks such as research, document collection, interpretation, communications, promotion, and the organization of traditional education activities. 

Tran Quang Toai, who holds a master’s degree and is the Chairman of the Dong Nai Association of Historical Sciences, said, "Ta Thiet Base has special historical and cultural value. To better promote it in contemporary life, the relic needs to be connected with typical revolutionary historical sites in Dong Nai. Connecting Ta Thiet Base with the Central Office for South Vietnam relic, the Southeast Regional Party Committee relic, and neighboring destinations will create a far-reaching product chain, contributing to both traditional education for the younger generation and local tourism development."

To continue promoting the value of the Ta Thiet Base relic, making it an attractive destination for visitors and contributing to tourism development, the Loc Thanh Commune People's Committee has petitioned higher levels and relevant departments to consider and coordinate the establishment of an overall and detailed plan for the relic and to allocate appropriate staffing and funding to ensure its operations. In addition, the commune has requested the early issuance of a specific mechanism for the relic management model and approval for the establishment of a Relic Management Board, as existed previously, separate from the Commune General Service Center.

In the long term, Loc Thanh Commune has petitioned relevant departments and agencies to advise the City People's Committee to approve a policy allowing the locality to develop an overall project for the special national relic site of the Command Headquarters for the Liberation Army of South Vietnam for the 2026–2035 period.

At a meeting with departments, agencies, and localities on the management of the Ta Thiet Base relic on August 16, Member of the Dong Nai City Party Committee’s Standing Board and Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee Le Truong Son requested that the Loc Thanh Commune People's Committee coordinate with relevant departments and agencies to establish a plan for the Ta Thiet Base relic. At the same time, he requested that each specific task be reviewed and that a budget estimate be prepared for the allocation of funding for the care of trees, lawns, and other related work, thereby improving the efficiency of management, exploitation, and promotion of the relic's value and gradually turning it into a "red address" that attracts visitors from both inside and outside the city.

By My Ny – Translated by Minh Hong, Thu Ha