Warm feelings of Hai Duong people when returning to Dien Bien

This is the third time that Mr. Truong Quoc Vinh (2nd from right) from Chuong Duong street (Hai Duong city) has visited the Dien Bien Phu battlefield (photo provided by Mr. Vinh).

emotional

That was the sharing of Mr. Truong Quoc Vinh (born in 1933) in Chuong Duong street (Hai Duong city) when he returned to visit the Dien Bien Phu battlefield. He has visited the old battlefield 3 times and each time he is excited and moved by the glorious memories of the past. "Everywhere I look, there are footprints of myself, of my comrades and moments of loss and sacrifice. Until now, there are memories that I cannot forget," Mr. Vinh said with tears in his eyes.

72 years ago, when the young man Truong Quoc Vinh was just 21 years old, he ran away from his family to join the resistance army and was assigned to Battalion 38, Company 44, Regiment 98, Division 316. With his agility and liveliness, he was appointed as a communications officer.

During the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, Mr. Vinh narrowly escaped death twice from enemy bombs. The first time was on April 10, 1954, when the deputy company commander was hit by a bomb and died on the battlefield. The two people accompanying him were both seriously injured, and he suffered from ringing in both ears from the bomb's pressure. The second time was on April 20, 1954, when he and his leaders and teammates went on a mission, only he survived. "I fought on many fronts, from North to South, but I have never seen a battle as arduous, fierce and dangerous, with life as fragile as the Dien Bien Phu Campaign," Mr. Vinh affirmed.

Despite his old age, Mr. Truong Quoc Vinh is still clear-headed and actively plants and takes care of flowers and ornamental plants.

Coming to Dien Bien Phu this year, not only those who fought on this battlefield but also those who want to learn about the history of the nation. Mr. Nguyen Van Duan, Chairman of the Veterans Association of Hai Duong City, said that he had also visited the Dien Bien Phu battlefield 3 times, each time bringing different emotions but all of them were admiration for the strong will, endurance and sacrifice of our ancestors in the past.

Young people who witness the real-life “battlefield” with A1 hill, Doc Lap hill, Hong Cum base, the residence of General Vo Nguyen Giap… cannot help but be moved.

Meaningful gifts

Hai Duong City Veterans Association visited and presented gifts to veterans who participated in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign of Hai Duong and Hung Yen who remained in Dien Bien (photo provided by the base)

Coming to Dien Bien today, units, organizations and individuals of Hai Duong also brought gifts of gratitude to the people of Dien Bien or Hai Duong people who chose this land to settle down and make a living after the Dien Bien Phu Campaign.

After nearly 1 year of launching, the Veterans Association of Hai Duong province has transferred 425 million VND to the Central Association to support the construction of "great solidarity" houses for poor households and veterans with housing difficulties in Dien Bien province and some provinces in the Northwest. Mr. Nguyen Xuan Chinh, Head of the Movement Committee (Provincial Veterans Association) said that this is a practical and meaningful work of Hai Duong people for veterans and people in difficult circumstances in Dien Bien province and some provinces in the Northwest.

Recently, when organizing a delegation to visit Dien Bien Phu, the Hai Duong City Veterans Association had an exchange with 15 veterans from Hai Duong and Hung Yen who are living in Dien Bien. The Association also gave each veteran 1 million VND and a gift. "Although the amount of money and gifts is not large, it shows our affection, heart and admiration for the previous generation," said Mr. Nguyen Van Duan, Chairman of the Hai Duong City Veterans Association.

This year, Hai Duong has many organizations and individuals visiting Dien Bien (photo provided by the facility)

During the journey back to the source in mid-April, the Provincial Youth Union and the Provincial Association of Former Youth Volunteers also presented 20 gifts worth a total of 10 million VND to former youth volunteers in difficult circumstances in Dien Bien province.

Previously, in 2023, responding to the campaign to support the construction of houses for poor households in Dien Bien province and some provinces in the Northwest region launched by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee and its member organizations and the Fatherland Front Committees of districts, towns and cities actively promoted and mobilized over 5.6 billion VND, exceeding the assigned target by over 607 million VND.

Although the Dien Bien Phu battle has receded into history, the tradition of "When drinking water, remember its source" still remains. The younger generation always remembers the great sacrifices of the previous generation in both thought and action.

THANH HA

Source