Ba Chúc, An Giang: Border memories at the Ba Chúc mausoleum.

The Ba Chúc Memorial in An Giang province is a place where many visitors are moved to tears, even weeping, upon seeing firsthand the remnants of the massacre that took place more than four decades ago. The town of Ba Chúc, Tri Tôn district (now Ba Chúc commune, An Giang province), is only about 4km from the Vietnam-Cambodia border, making it a frontline area that suffered attacks during the Southwest border war.

Explore the memorial space.

The Ba Chúc mausoleum was built in 1979 and is still preserved today.1,159The skull and skeleton structure. The hexagonal structure, with each corner supported by a pillar, is symbolized as a hand holding a blood-stained sword hilt, raised high – representing a will to hate.

Inside, the remains are arranged by gender and age. The exhibition space also features black-and-white photographs documenting the tragedy, along with many artifacts such as landmines, knives, bayonets, gasoline cans, and bamboo sticks – the execution tools used by Pol Pot's army.

The historical context needs to be remembered.

On the night of April 30, 1977, along with 13 other border communes of An Giang province, Ba Chúc was simultaneously overrun by Pol Pot's troops. The peak of the atrocities occurred from that day onwards.18-30/4/1978, when they committed the massacre3,157Innocent people. In just 12 days and nights of occupation, Ba Chúc was plunged into tragedy; houses and public buildings were burned and destroyed; innocent civilians were murdered indiscriminately, young and old, male and female.

A year later,1979The Ba Chúc mausoleum was built to commemorate the thousands of people who died tragically and to bear witness to the crimes of the Pol Pot genocidal regime.

The value of a journey of memories

The memorial site not only preserves the tragic memories of the people in the border region but also reminds today's generation of the value of peace and the unforgettable losses. Many visitors light incense sticks and silently walk past each framed photograph before pausing for a long time at the area where remains are sorted by gender and age.

Fact-checking information

• Location: Ba Chúc town, Tri Tôn district (now Ba Chúc commune, An Giang province); approximately from the Vietnam-Cambodia border.4km.
• Memorial infrastructure: The Ba Chúc mausoleum is a national historical monument, with a hexagonal architecture, preserving...1,159skull and bones.

Notes for visitors

• The memorial space can be very moving; many visitors have broken down in tears while touring it.
• Maintain a solemn and respectful attitude towards the memorial space.