50 years of intact memories: A Fidel devoted to Vietnam

During President Fidel Castro’s historic visit to the liberated area of ​​Quang Tri in September 1973, there were two people, although not high-ranking officials at that time, who were fortunate enough to have very close contact with the Cuban leader. They were a photographer and an interpreter.

" I was only half a step away from him the whole journey."

One of the two people mentioned here is Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phong (80 years old, former Director of the Americas Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; former Vietnamese Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain). Coincidentally, Mr. Phong is a son of Quang Tri, from Lap Thach village (Dong Le Ward, Dong Ha City; now retired and living in Hanoi). At the age of 10, he left his mother's arms to go to the North with his grandfather. After finishing high school, he was sent to study abroad in Cuba. In 1965, while still in university, he was recruited as a Spanish interpreter for the delegation of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam in La Habana and then became a foreign affairs officer of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam and the Provisional Revolutionary Government of South Vietnam.

"It was in that position that I was able to interpret for Fidel Castro when he visited the liberated area of ​​Quang Tri in 1973 (at that time, former Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Dinh Bin was the main interpreter for Fidel during his activities from North to South). This was also the first time I returned to my hometown Quang Tri after nearly 20 years away, and I traveled with a legendary figure of world stature. Throughout the journey for several days, I followed him like a shadow, half a step apart," Mr. Phong recalled at the time when he was just 30 years old.

Photo: At the foot of Fidel Castro is the barrel of the American "king of the battlefield" cannon on Hill 241, Quang Tri

HO SY SO

Speaking to Thanh Nien , Mr. Phong said that it was not the first time he had translated for Fidel, because during his years working in Cuba, he had done this before. It was just that this time it was different, as Fidel spoke directly to his people, in his homeland. "About 2 kilometers from Dong Ha is my village, Lap Thach; 80 kilometers to the south is my mother, who is waiting for me... Does anyone know that I am here and is listening to me... I always tell myself: I must do well," Mr. Phong emotionally shared.

Mr. Phong said that what impressed him most about Fidel during the entire trip was the Cuban leader's determination to come to Vietnam and visit the liberated area of ​​Quang Tri. "I flew on the same plane with leader Fidel from Algiers (capital of Algeria) to Hanoi. Fidel's program at that time was to visit many countries, but the reactionary coup in Chile on September 11, 1973 forced him to shorten his trip, keeping only the visit to Vietnam. In Vietnam, the visit should have been longer, visiting more places, but it had to be shortened, but he still kept the visit to the liberated area of ​​Quang Tri. The whole story eloquently affirmed Fidel's deep affection for Vietnam and especially for South Vietnam," Mr. Phong said.

Mr. Phong also said that Fidel's language is very simple and everyday. Many verbs and nouns go straight to people, things and actions. There are not many empty, polite adjectives and adverbs. "His thinking is also very clear and logical. Therefore, translating for Fidel is not difficult. The most difficult thing is his eloquence when speaking to the public. Honestly, due to limited ability and emotional state, when translating, I could not express Fidel's eloquent power. But I guarantee that I have fully conveyed what Fidel wanted to say," Mr. Phong said.

In peace, Mr. Phong had many opportunities to return to Quang Tri to visit the places where Cuban leader Fidel Castro set foot and reminisce about memories 50 years ago. Standing at the windy peak 241 (Cam Lo District), he still seemed to hear Fidel reading his eloquent speech:

"Dear comrades and friends.

Today, we gather here in the heart of the liberated territory of South Vietnam, at a place where there used to be a military base of the American imperialists that was thought to be impregnable but was crushed. Our group came here peacefully from Ben Hai River along Highway 1, through Dong Ha, then the famous Highway 9, and now we are standing on the historic Hill 241 that you conquered with your heroism and courage.

…

And the final victory to liberate South Vietnam and peaceful reunification of the country will only be a matter of time.

...

Long live the heroic Vietnamese people!

Long live Cuba - Vietnam friendship !".

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phong stands on the left next to President Fidel Castro.

NVCC

That was the "moment" of my life

For journalist and photographer Ho Sy So (83 years old, residing in Vinh Giang commune, Vinh Linh district, Quang Tri), Fidel's visit in 1973 was the "moment" of his life. "The photo series capturing that event is a source of pride, a legacy of my photography career," Mr. So affirmed.

Now, despite his old age and hearing loss, Mr. So still remembers the story of September 1973. That was when he was working at the Quang Tri Department of Culture and Information when he suddenly received a piece of paper with the brief content: "At 5 p.m., you must be present at the Quang Tri Security Department for Chief Thuy to meet." After reading it, his hands and feet were exhausted, sweat poured out, his mind "jumped numbers" continuously, searching to see if he had... violated any discipline in the past? However, the order had been issued, Mr. So clenched his fists, calmly went to the Security Department. Luckily, the Chief of Security at that time only talked about preparing working tools and then told him to go to the Provincial Party Secretary to receive a new assignment. But what assignment was it, no one said?

As ordered, Mr. So and his tools and machinery went to "stay" at the Quang Tri Provincial Party Committee for several days and was told that when Provincial Party Secretary Ho Si Than gave the order, he should get in the car and go with him.

It was not until the morning of September 15 that all vague thoughts about Mr. So's mission were cleared: to welcome the Cuban delegation led by Fidel to visit. "At that time, seeing more than 40 reporters, cameramen, and photographers from domestic and international news agencies with their cameras and pens ready to record the important moment of this historic land, I realized that I was really very lucky," Mr. So recalled.

During his journey following Fidel, Mr. So took about 300 photos. In 2013, he selected 51 typical photos to print in the photo book Fidel Castro - Quang Tri, a historic day in 1973 , on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of President Fidel Castro's visit to the liberated area of ​​Quang Tri. However, this veteran photographer said that he still "likes" the photo the most: Under Fidel Castro's feet is the barrel of the US "king of the battlefield" cannon on Hill 241 in Quang Tri. "Why? That moment depicts the heroic and epic action of a Commander-in-Chief who always fought for the independence and freedom of the people of Cuba, Latin America and the world," Mr. So said.

By capturing the moments of life, photographer Ho Sy So was honored to receive the State Prize for Photography from the President for his collection of works, including the photo series: Fidel Castro - Quang Tri, a historic day in 1973 and the photo series of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam (1960 - 1975).

"I only had one day to take pictures of Fidel. Just one day, but I got so much. It was probably the best day of my life," Mr. So emotionally shared. (to be continued)

Thanhnien.vn