Students experience reading the historic victory news on April 30, 1975

Ms. Le Thanh Huong, principal of Tran Hung Dao Primary School, presented flowers to veterans who participated in the 1968 Tet Offensive and Uprising and the 1975 Ho Chi Minh Campaign - Photo: HH

History is recreated through "living witnesses"

The festival "From Mau Than to the great spring victory" was held on April 16, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025).

Nearly 1,500 students from Tran Hung Dao Primary School and 11 other primary schools in District 1, District 4 and Go Vap District participated in the event.

At the beginning of the festival, students had the opportunity to interact with veterans who participated in the 1968 Tet Offensive and Uprising and the 1975 Ho Chi Minh Campaign.

Stories about the years of fierce and arduous fighting; the shortages of food and water due to being surrounded by the enemy for days on end; the battles in which both our army and the enemy suffered heavy losses… were told emotionally in the schoolyard.

Students danced together, formed a map of Vietnam and sang the song "As if Uncle Ho were here on the great victory day" - Photo: HH

After the exchange, the students were very excited to dance together, form a map of Vietnam and sing the song "As if Uncle Ho were here on the great victory day".

Witnessing that joyful moment of their children, many parents were moved.

" Peace does not come naturally. For children to have peace and happiness like today, previous generations had to exchange sweat, tears, blood and youth...", the parent of a 3rd grade student at Tran Hung Dao Primary School, shared.

Students write messages of peace on birds' wings and attach them to the board - Photo: HH

Experience as a soldier

At the festival, students also experienced being soldiers when they had to conquer many different games.

At the "Bright Tunnel of Faith" station, many "child soldiers" sweated and gasped as they crawled through the tunnel, under the net, avoiding touching or ringing the bell (mounted on the tunnel).

Having crawled to the finish line and taken the victory flag, Nguyen Bao (5/1 grade student, Tran Hung Dao Primary School) said: "I just crawled through the tunnel a little bit and my back hurt so much. But the soldiers in the past not only hid but also fought in the tunnel, they were really good!"

Nguyen Bao, a student of class 5/1, Tran Hung Dao Primary School, has just completed the experience of crawling through a tunnel - Photo: HH

Meanwhile, many students said they were very moved when experiencing the "Moments of the Country" station.

Here, the festival organizers showed a short clip about the events at noon on April 30, 1975 with images Tanks of the People's Army of Vietnam crashed through the gate of the Independence Palace - the last symbol of the puppet regime in Saigon.

Many students raised their hands to experience reading the victory news: "Please listen to the victory news we just received. At exactly 11:30, our army entered Saigon and captured the Independence Palace. The puppet General Staff - General Duong Van Minh surrendered unconditionally. The red flag with the yellow star fluttered on the roof of the Independence Palace. The Ho Chi Minh Campaign was a complete victory!"

Luu Phuoc Nguyen (student of grade 4/3, Phan Van Tri Primary School, District 1) shared: "I really felt moved and proud when I read the sentence "The Ho Chi Minh Campaign was completely victorious!". Today's experience will be an unforgettable memory for me".

Together with the "little soldiers" competing at other stations such as: historical storytelling contest, golden bell contest, viewing the Flipbook "April 30 in my heart"..., Le Huynh Huu Thien (student of grade 4/3, Tran Hung Dao Primary School) concluded: "At first glance, it seems like we are just having fun, but in fact the festival is an opportunity for us to learn and understand more about our country's history".

"Of course I prefer learning at a festival like this, because the activities are all fun, interesting and impressive," Thien added.

Students of Tran Hung Dao Primary School participate in the festival "From Mau Than to the great spring victory" - Photo: HH

Luu Phuoc Nguyen (student of grade 4/3, Phan Van Tri Primary School, District 1) shared: "I really felt moved and proud when I read the sentence "The Ho Chi Minh Campaign was completely victorious!" - Photo: HH

Students compete in telling historical stories at the festival - Photo: HH

Students of Tran Hung Dao Primary School wrote letters expressing their admiration for veterans - Photo: HH

Students compete to ring the golden bell at the festival - Photo: HH

Communicate and share

"In the past three years, Tran Hung Dao Primary School has regularly invited administrators, teachers and students from other schools to come to our school to exchange and participate in experiential activities. This is an opportunity for teachers to share their professional experiences; students to exchange with each other; and students of Tran Hung Dao Primary School will have many new friends.

This is also what we do according to the wishes of many students of Tran Hung Dao Primary School. In the program "What I want to say", the students expressed their desire to go to other schools and invited their friends to come to their school to play".

(Ms. Le Thanh Huong, Principal of Tran Hung Dao Primary School)

HOANG HUONG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/hoc-sinh-trai-nghiem-doc-ban-tin-chien-thang-lich-su-30-4-1975-20250416163123375.htm