Van Ru Ferry Terminal

(Baonghean) - If you have the opportunity to visit Khanh Son commune (Nam Dan district), stop by to admire the Van Ru - Ru Tret ferry terminal, a place that was once an extremely fierce battleground. With courage, resourcefulness, and resilience, our army and people created miracles in this strategically important area…

Van Ru ferry terminal.

According to historical documents, to support the Southern battlefield, in early 1968, the General Department of Logistics of the Vietnam People's Army decided to survey and deploy a fuel pipeline to the South. The task was extremely urgent, as it had to be completed before the rainy season. Furthermore, the increasingly critical developments on the battlefield meant a high demand for fuel for combat. Therefore, maintaining secrecy was crucial to the survival of this fuel pipeline. On April 12, 1968, the General Department of Logistics established Irrigation Construction Unit 01 (later renamed Construction Unit 18) with 34 soldiers trained in basic techniques, commanded by Colonel Mai Trong Phuoc, Deputy Director of the Fuel Department. Under constant enemy attacks, construction faced numerous difficulties and dangers. In particular, constructing the pipeline across the Lam River was a major challenge, requiring the narrowest possible location to save time and effort. The Van Ru ferry terminal is quite ideal for construction; besides the narrowness of this section of the river, it is also surrounded by mountains and forests for protection, and is not far from the main road.

Many options were considered, and finally the Command decided to lay the pipeline underground at the bottom of the river to prevent detection and attack by enemy aircraft. However, they lacked the necessary equipment; neither tow trucks nor boats were available, forcing them to rely on manpower. On the night of June 22, 1968, the forces of Construction Unit 18 and a large number of militia from Nam Dong commune (now Khanh Son commune) were ordered to work together to pull the pipeline across the river. Above, enemy aircraft roared, dropping bombs and flares that illuminated the sky. Despite the danger, the soldiers and militia persevered, pulling each section of the pipeline, their cheers growing louder. By 5 a.m. the following day, the entire 500-meter pipeline was secretly and safely pulled across the Lam River, without a single trace detected by enemy aircraft.

After crossing the river, the oil pipeline system continued to be constructed on land by being sealed underground, all while maintaining secrecy and ensuring absolute safety. By mid-August 1965, the first oil pipeline, over 40 km long, was successfully installed across the "triangle of fire" of Vinh - Nam Dan - Linh Cam. From there, the oil pipeline continued to connect to the South and North to meet the needs of the battlefields, contributing to the glorious victory during the war against the Americans.

Route 15A, passing through the Nam Dong region, was extremely treacherous, bordered by mountains and rivers, creating a "bottleneck" in the supply of manpower and resources to the southern front. American planes frequently bombed the area to cut off this strategic route, with the region enduring 8-10 bombing raids daily. To reduce damage from American bombs, we implemented a plan for our troops to march along the left bank of the Lam River, reaching Xuan Lam commune and then crossing the Van Ru ferry. After some time, the enemy discovered our troops' new movement direction and intensified bombing in the area. At that time, the Dai Thanh Cooperative – a unit responsible for exploiting, catching, and transporting fish on the Lam River – was mobilized to safely transport troops and various weapons and equipment across the river. On some nights, more than 150 boats had to be mobilized to transport soldiers across the river. Children aged 14-15 would go out to row the boats, with 3-5 members from each family participating to form a team. The mission was carried out from around 5 PM until dawn the next day, with 4,000-5,000 soldiers safely crossing the river each night.

With the American bombing raids intensifying, Nam Dong commune decided to establish a "steel" company and a "10 Girls of the Lam River" squad, ready to carry out assigned tasks. These included coordinating with anti-aircraft artillery units to retaliate against enemy aircraft, filling bomb craters, clearing mines, protecting fuel pipelines, transporting soldiers and weapons across the river, and providing medical assistance to the wounded. The Van Ru - Ru Tret ferry crossing witnessed the deaths of countless cadres, soldiers, and civilians. On June 10, 1968, a convoy carrying wounded soldiers returning from the battlefield was bombed by enemy aircraft, killing 23 and injuring dozens more. More than a month later, on July 25, 1968, American planes again bombed, killing 16 and injuring 96. Not long after, they bombed again, killing 26 people and injuring 97… And countless other tragedies that occurred in this land are remembered by the local people.

War and bombs are long gone, and this land is reviving. The fields are green with corn and peanuts; the mountains and hills are covered with endless trees, and the villages are peaceful and prosperous. The people of Nam Dong in the past, Khanh Son today, always remind their descendants of a time of fierce but heroic struggle.

Tuong Anh