Journey of memories 50 years of Southern liberation

The group watched a documentary at the Independence Palace.

Back to memory

At exactly 7:00 a.m. on April 4, 2025, a convoy of 3 cars departed from Ben Tre to Ho Chi Minh City. Thanks to the highway, travel time was greatly reduced, the first destination was to offer incense to the heroic martyrs at Ben Duoc Temple - visit Cu Chi Tunnels. Despite sitting in the car for nearly 3 hours, being old, having many underlying diseases (out of 100 women, there were 90 women from 65 - 84 years old, only 10 women were nearly 60 years old, especially 1 woman in a wheelchair), everyone was excited to participate in the happy and healthy journey. The convoy offered incense to 3,120 heroic Vietnamese mothers and 45,670 heroic martyrs across the country who bravely fought and sacrificed for the cause of national liberation and national reunification.

At the cinema, the ladies were engrossed in watching each documentary image introducing the Cu Chi tunnels, an underground defense system, built during the resistance war against France and reinforced during the resistance war against America. The tunnel system is 3-12m deep, winding over 250km long, penetrating deep into the laterite clay soil, combined with 500km of surrounding trenches. In the tunnels, there are places to store weapons, food, water wells, Hoang Cam kitchen, leaders' working tunnels, wounded soldiers' surgery tunnels, engineering workshops, which can withstand the destructive power of many types of heavy bombs. That is why this place has endured thousands of tons of enemy bombs and bullets but could not be leveled, and the tunnels still stand tall like a changing underground battle formation, scaring the enemy...

As if returning to memories, the sisters were all moved, their eyes red and they quickly pulled their scarves… After a moment of silence, everyone was allowed to visit the tunnel.

Around 12 noon, the group left the tunnel to go to the lunch spot, then moved to Thu Duc City to experience Metro Line 1 Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien. To satisfy the new feeling, the group started by taking the train from Suoi Tien station to the end of the line at Ben Thanh station. This is the first urban railway line in the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway System with a total length of 19.7km, including a 2.6km underground section through 3 stations and a 17.1km elevated section through 11 stations with a total of 17 trains. Each train can carry 930 passengers (147 seated and 783 standing), the train runs at a maximum speed of 110km/h on the elevated section and 80km/h through the tunnel section.

Saying goodbye to Ben Thanh station in the late afternoon to quickly move back to the hotel, preparing for the evening exchange program. This is the "key" program of the "Journey of Memories of 50 Years of Liberation of the South" trip this time. The program has the participation of former Vice President Truong My Hoa - former political prisoner of Con Dao; acting Head of the Resistance Tradition Club of the Ho Chi Minh City Special Forces Armed Forces Nguyen Thi Bich Nga; former Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Internal Affairs Department Dang Thi Manh - a political activist in the enemy prison; Mr. Tran Van Nhiem (hero Ba Nhiem) - a prisoner who robbed enemy ships to cross Con Dao to the mainland in 1967; Mr. Vo Ai Dan, who spent 16 years in prison in Con Dao prisons, Head of the Ben Tre Mutual Aid Association in Binh Duong, "Outstanding Dong Khoi Citizen"; Mr. Le Van Thuc, a prisoner on death row in Con Dao (1968) and the character in the famous photo "Mother and Son Reunion" by Photographer Lam Hong Long exactly 50 years ago; Ms. Ly Thi Tiep - Deputy Head of the Board of Directors of Ben Tre Mutual Aid Association in Binh Duong, "Outstanding Dong Khoi Citizen", founder and director of the Traditional Mother Association of Phuoc Long A Ward, Thu Duc City, who has many activities for the community; Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Thoa - President of the Women's Union of Ben Tre Province, who accompanied and fueled the "journey of memories of 50 years of complete liberation of the South".

The exchange session with real stories, real events of historical witnesses, former prisoners of Con Dao, former Saigon Special Forces officers "United in one heart, unparalleled in intelligence, great courage, steadfast and indomitable" to fight directly, sharply, cleverly, and mentally with the enemy, brave and resilient actions (hijacking enemy ships to cross the sea, drifting in the middle of the ocean), cleverness, creativity in the eyes of the enemy, the brutal tortures of "former prisoners" like a legend, a documentary that adds strength, will, belief, and life energy to each retired female officer.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Tai - Political Commissar of the Military Command of District 5, Ho Chi Minh City Command shared: "Hearing the stories told by you guys is really touching, making us, the younger generation, extremely respectful of the examples of those who serve the country and the people, who are not afraid of hardships and sacrifices, fighting for peace and national reunification. We promise to be determined to study hard, practice, and hold our guns firmly to preserve and firmly protect our beloved Vietnam."

In the heart of the "Pearl" of the Far East

At the end of the one-day, one-night journey, everyone felt satisfied and full of energy. After a good night's sleep, at 6:00 a.m. on April 5, 2025, everyone was ready for the second day's journey: The first experience point was to take a bus on the Saigon River to see the city from the river, with Nha Rong Wharf, where Uncle Ho left to find a way to save the country in 1911, Bach Dang Wharf bustling with visitors from all over the world, majestic skyscrapers in the heart of the city, affirming the growth and change every day of Ho Chi Minh City - the "Pearl" of the Far East after 50 years of liberation and national reunification, the wide boulevards, the bustling streets, the crowded traffic all day long, showing a youthful, dynamic and promising city in the future.

At the end of the 45-minute journey on the Saigon River, the group visited the Independence Palace. Everyone was excited, because this was the main location during the journey back to the source, both historical and marking the trip. The group was introduced by the tour guide to the history of the formation, design and layout of the Palace. The Independence Palace is a mansion, once the workplace of the President of the Republic of Vietnam. The palace was started by President Ngo Dinh Diem in July 1962, in 1963, Diem was assassinated by the coup, his successor was President Nguyen Van Thieu, who lived and worked here from October 1967 to April 21, 1975. Here, on April 8, 1975, an F-5E aircraft piloted by Nguyen Thanh Trung took off from Bien Hoa airport to bomb the Independence Palace with the aim of assassinating the President but failed. At 10:30 a.m. on April 30, 1975, T54B tank number 843 of the Vietnam People's Army under the command of Lieutenant Bui Quang Than blew up the side gate and Type 59 tank number 390 commanded by Vu Dang Toan blew up the main gate and entered the Palace. At 11:30 a.m., Lieutenant Bui Quang Than lowered the flag of the Republic of Vietnam on the roof of the Palace and raised the flag of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam, marking a historic milestone for the nation, ending 21 years of resistance against the invading American imperialists.

Ending the morning journey here, the group only rested for lunch to continue the journey to visit Ben Nha Rong and Ho Chi Minh Museum - Ho Chi Minh City branch. Here, the sisters were introduced to Uncle Ho's journey to find a way to save the country, and learned more about his life and revolutionary career... Everyone was moved, as if reminding themselves to do something good to be worthy of being his descendants.

Ending the “Journey of Memories of 50 Years of Southern Liberation”, each member of the delegation seemed to have fulfilled their wish, because the journey had rekindled their pride, nurtured their youthful enthusiasm so that they could live happily, healthily, usefully, and in their hearts, everyone kept unforgettable memories of each place they visited. The success of the trip back to the source was also a great encouragement, adding energy to the Executive Board of the Provincial Retired Women's Club to have more motivation to continue organizing many activities towards the 30th anniversary of the club's founding.

Article and photos: Kim Loan

Source: https://baodongkhoi.vn/hanh-trinh-ky-uc-50-nam-giai-phong-mien-nam-11042025-a144995.html