Smokeless 'Hoang Cam' kitchen was a small yet extremely significant initiative of a soldier chef named Hoang Cam in the Hoa Binh campaign in 1951 – 1952. This legendary stove, later named after him, accompanied the nation in the 1954 Dien Bien Phu Campaign, and during the resistance war against the US.
"Hoang Cam” stove ensures hot meals for soldiers in training, combat
readiness.
General Vo Nguyen Giap said that when mentioning
the Hoa Binh campaign, it would be a mistake not to mention the initiative that
brought about very important improvements for the meals of soldiers.
During the Hoa Binh campaign, Hoang Cam, a
soldier chef at Infantry Division 308, invented astove intake and chimney
system which diffused and dissipated smoke from cooking, thus preventing aerial
detection of smoke by military planes. The smoke from the stove rising through
the chimney system is only a thin strip that quickly dissipates as it leaves
the ground.
The "Hoang Cam” stove quickly became popular
among units, especially in Dien Bien Phu Campaign.
The invention helped chefs cook during the day
even when enemy reconnaissance planes flew overhead. The stove was effective in
all subsequent campaigns, even in the resistance against the US.
Many veterans said that without the Hoang Cam
stove, cooking meals to ensure the health of soldiers would still be very
difficult.
With this initiative, soldiers were able to take
hot meals and hot water in winter, and field military medical stations had hot
water to sterilise medical instruments. This initiative held significant value
in practical military operations and combat, contributing to maintaining the
health and the number of soldiers in long campaigns.
The use of the "Hoang Cam" stove in combat
was proven effective during the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, ensuring secrecy and
surprise, and avoiding detection by enemy aircraft, thereby minimising
casualties for the military.
In mid-May, the provincial Museum organised an exhibition named "Duoi la co Dang Cong san Viet Nam quang vinh” (Under the flag of the glorious Communist Party of Vietnam). This meaningful activity took place in the joyful atmosphere to celebrate the country's major holidays and the Party congresses at all levels for the 2025-2030 term, towards the 14th National Party Congress.
A delegation from Hoa Binh province led by Colonel Trinh Duc Thiem, Commander of the provincial Military Command, completed a mission to visit and encourage officers and soldiers stationed on Truong Sa and a DK1 platform from May 20 to 26 as part of activities of the Vietnam People’s Navy. The delegation included 12 senior officials from various provincial agencies and units.
Storytelling and painting contests honouring President Ho Chi Minh have been held at the Hoa Binh provincial Youth Activity Centre.
The Hoa Binh provincial People's Committee held a gathering at the provincial Military Command headquarters on May 20 to commend the armed forces that took part in a military parade celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification on April 30.
Throughout his revolutionary life, Uncle Ho visited Hoa Binh province four times. He also sent dozens of letters, telegrams, greeting cards, and heartfelt messages to local officials, Party members, and people of all ethnic groups, urging them to remain united, support one another, strive for progress, and actively engage in both production and resistance efforts to build a prosperous homeland.
To unlock the full potential of its forest resources, the standing board of the provincial Party Committee on July 30, 2020 issued a Resolution on the sustainable development of production forests through 2025, with a vision toward 2030.
