15 sacred places in Vietnam

(Baonghean.vn) - These are places where every inch of land is soaked with the blood and bones of martyrs who sacrificed for the independence and territorial integrity of the Fatherland. On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs Day (July 27, 1947 - July 27, 2017), let's review with Nghe An Newspaper the sacred places of Vietnamese martyrs.

1. Truong Son Martyrs Cemetery

Truong Son Martyrs Cemetery in Vinh Truong Commune, Gio Linh District, Quang Tri Province is the eternal resting place of more than 10,000 soldiers who sacrificed their lives on the Ho Chi Minh Trail during the resistance war against the US to save the country. This is the most massive and largest work of gratitude with high artistic value, expressing deep remembrance, gratitude and honor for those who did not hesitate to sacrifice their blood and bones for the cause of liberation and national reunification.

2. Dong Loc T-junction (Can Loc district, Ha Tinh)

Dong Loc T-junction (Can Loc district, Ha Tinh) is an important traffic point, heavily bombed by the US Air Force during the war. There was a youth volunteer squad here whose mission was to guard the intersection, defuse bombs and repair the road, including 10 young girls, aged 17 to 22. On the afternoon of July 24, 1968, a bomb fell right next to the tunnel mouth, killing 10 girls. That heroic departure has become a legend in the history of the struggle of the Vietnamese people.

3. Quang Tri Citadel

Quang Tri Citadel was the site of a fierce battle lasting 81 days and nights between the forces of the Vietnam People's Army and the army of the Saigon regime with maximum firepower support from the US army in 1972. Today, the citadel area is considered by local people as "Spiritual Land" because every inch of land here bears the blood and bones of martyrs.

4. Ham Rong Bridge

Ham Rong Bridge across the Ma River in Thanh Hoa Province is a famous bridge during the Vietnam War as a key point in the struggle to destroy and protect traffic. Thanks to its special terrain and the bravery of the Thanh Hoa Youth Volunteer Force and militia, the bridge withstood many bombings before being destroyed by the US Air Force's state-of-the-art smart bombs in 1972.

5. Hien Luong Bridge

Hien Luong Bridge across Ben Hai River located on the 17th Parallel Demilitarized Zone is considered a symbol of the division of Vietnam into two parts in the past, and also a heroic symbol of the struggle for freedom and national reunification that the Vietnamese people steadfastly carried out during a special historical period. Photo: Panoramio.com.

6. Quang Tri Bridge (now Thach Han Bridge)

On April 10, 1972, at Quang Tri Bridge (now Thach Han Bridge) across Thach Han River, a suicide attack by 20 soldiers of Mai Quoc Ca Platoon took place to destroy the bridge and cut off the enemy's supply route. They were discovered and surrounded by 3 elite enemy battalions, but they still fought steadfastly until 19 people were killed, one was seriously injured and captured. The site of that battle is now a monument depicting the 19 drops of blood of 19 people who died for the Fatherland.

7. Gac Ma Island

On the morning of March 14, 1988, in the face of the threat of the Chinese army with large warships and heavy weapons, at the Gac Ma coral island of Vietnam, Vietnamese naval soldiers formed a circle to protect the national flag planted on the island. After the Chinese army engaged and was repelled, 37mm cannons from their warships fired directly at the Vietnamese soldiers who were determined to defend the island. 64 Vietnamese soldiers were sacrificed. Their deaths will forever be remembered with the sacred phrase: Immortal Circle.

8. Cu Chi Tunnels

Although only 70km from Saigon, during the 30 years of resistance, the Cu Chi tunnel system became an impregnable fortress, an inescapable thorn in the side of the US and the Saigon government. With its stature, the Cu Chi tunnels have entered the history of the Vietnamese people's struggle as a legend of the 20th century and become a famous place in the world.

9. Tunnel VshitMilestone

Located in Vinh Linh district, Quang Tri province, an area that suffered a huge amount of bombs and bullets during the war against the US, Vinh Moc tunnels, with a length of more than 1.7km and a dense system of trenches, is a work that marks the creativity and indomitable will of the army and people of Quang Tri.

10. Dien Bien Phu

The Dien Bien Phu campaign, which took place in the Muong Thanh basin, was the biggest battle in the Vietnamese people's resistance war against the French. This campaign recorded many examples of selfless sacrifice, becoming historical legends such as heroic martyrs To Vinh Dien, Be Van Dan, Phan Dinh Giot...

11. BattleKhe Sanh

The Khe Sanh battle, which took place from January to July 1968, was likened to a Dien Bien Phu battle in the resistance war against the US. This was an extremely fierce battle with the sacrifice of thousands of Liberation soldiers, resulting in the breaking of the US electronic fence line in Ta Con - an important military base, contributing to smashing the plot to expand the "Local War" strategy.

12. Con Dao Prison

Con Dao Prison is a prison complex in the Con Dao archipelago (now in Ba Ria - Vung Tau province) built by the French to detain political prisoners, death row inmates... later continued to be upgraded and expanded by the US and the Saigon government. This place is considered a "hell on earth" for revolutionary soldiers with many forms of torture and harsh punishments not inferior to those of the Middle Ages, leading to the painful deaths of many people.

13. Hoa Lo Prison

Hoa Lo is a prison established by the French colonialists in the center of Hanoi. This was once the place where many Vietnamese revolutionaries were detained during the period of fighting against the French colonialists. Many soldiers were executed by guillotine here such as Nguyen Thai Hoc, Pho Duc Chinh, Nguyen Duc Canh, Ho Ngoc Lan, Nguyen Hoang Ton... Today, Hoa Lo prison is still partially preserved, a special historical relic of the capital Hanoi.

14. Lao Bao Prison

Lao Bao Prison (Lao Bao Town, Huong Hoa District, Quang Tri Province) is one of the five largest prisons in Indochina. This is where many key communist revolutionaries who later became senior leaders of the government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam were imprisoned, such as poet To Huu, General Nguyen Chi Thanh, Tran Van Cung, Le Chuong, Le The Tiet, etc.

15. Phu Quoc Prison

Located on Phu Quoc Island, Phu Quoc Prison was the central prison camp of the Saigon regime before 1975, where more than 32,000 prisoners were held during the Vietnam War. Prisoners of war in Phu Quoc were subjected to cruel punishments and tortures such as nailing their hands, feet, and heads; burning red-hot wire into their skin and flesh, and drilling their teeth... From June 1967 to March 1973, more than 4,000 people died and tens of thousands were injured and disabled at this prison camp.

Peace

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