Attending the event was Nguyen Van Nen, Politburo member and Standing member of the Document Sub-committee of the 14th National Party Congress.
Born on February 14, 1922 into a Catholic family, Pham Ngoc Thao joined the uprising in Saigon in August 1945. In late 1947, he was appointed Head of the Southern Secret Service – the first revolutionary intelligence organization in the South. In 1949, he became Commander of Battalion 410, a main force of Zone 9, leading several major operations that expanded the liberated areas.
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Delegates cutting the ribbon to inaugurate the memorial house. |
After the 1954 Geneva Agreement, Pham Ngoc Thao was assigned by the Party Central Committee to infiltrating deeply into enemy ranks, holding key positions to conduct single-line intelligence operations. Despite facing constant danger and isolation, he demonstrated exceptional intelligence, courage, and creativity, obtaining valuable information and achieving numerous outstanding feats. During his tenure as Governor of Kien Hoa province, he provided crucial intelligence that contributed to the preservation of revolutionary forces and the expansion of Dong Khoi Movement in Southern Vietnam.
In 1965, he was captured and brutally tortured by the enemy but remained steadfast and loyal to the revolution until his death on July 17, 1965, at the age of 43. In recognition of his great contributions, he was posthumously conferred the rank of Senior Colonel, recognized as a Martyr, and awarded many noble orders and medals. On August 30, 1995, he was posthumously honored with the “Hero of the People's Armed Forces” title.
The construction of the memorial house began in early September and completed right on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Foundation Day of the Vietnam Defense Intelligence Force (October 25, 1945 – 2025). It covers an area of 312 sq.m, built with reinforced concrete and traditional tiled roofing, at a total cost of VND 10 billion.
Translated by Trung Thanh