This article examines the transformation of patriotism in Hai Duong during the early 20th century as a process of experimentation and complex competition among various paths of national salvation. Through an analysis of local historical sources, the study reveals that the ascendancy of the proletarian trend was not a predetermined outcome but rather the result of an intense process of competition and selective adaptation. This triumph was shaped by the theoretical and organizational superiority of the proletarian orientation, coupled with internal local dynamics and the inherent limitations of other patriotic movements. The findings thus highlight the diversity and complexity underlying Vietnam’s revolutionary path selection process.