May Truong Bon remain ever green.

A stream of memories from artifacts

In late October, under the dry, crisp sun, we traveled along National Highway 15A to visit the Truông Bồn National Historical Site in Mỹ Sơn commune (Đô Lương district). Although winter had arrived, the road was still lined with the lush green of endless acacia hills, vast orchards overflowing with flowers and fruits, and especially the verdant green of the historical site's grounds.

Panoramic view of the Truông Bồn National Historical Site. Photo courtesy of Thành Cường.

At this timeCovid-19 pandemicDue to the complex situation nationwide, people are limiting travel to prevent the risk of spreading the virus. The Truông Bồn Historical Site is quite deserted, with the number of visitors coming to offer incense and pay respects significantly lower than in previous years.

That tranquil space allowed us to feel the warmth of the green foliage and the sacredness through the solemn incense smoke mingling with the fragrance of flowers. Strolling through the grounds of the historical site, offering incense at the graves and shrines of the martyrs of Truông Bồn, our hearts calmed, worries vanished, and our steps became light and peaceful…

Young people in Nghe An province lay flowers and offer incense to commemorate the heroes and martyrs on the 53rd anniversary of the Truong Bon victory. Photo: Quynh Anh

Mr. Phan Trong Loc – Director of the National Historical SiteTruong BonHe led us into the museum. Stepping through the door, we were greeted by a space filled with nostalgia, as it houses hundreds of artifacts from the war-torn Truong Bon area. The first impression was of the various bombs and ammunition that the American imperialists dropped to hinder supplies to the southern front. There were magnetic bombs, delayed-action bombs, fragmentation bombs, cluster bombs, mortar shells, armor-piercing rounds, tropical tree sap… Some still retained their original paint, others were rusted, all lying silently but still evoking scenes of tragedy.

The magnetic bomb is on display at the Museum of the Truông Bồn National Historical Site. Photo: Công Kiên

Tools used by the Youth Volunteer Force to fill bomb craters are on display at the Museum of the Truông Bồn National Historical Site. Photo: Công Kiên

Then there were the oil lamps of the Youth Volunteer Force, crafted from cluster bomb and grenade casings, to guide convoys through the dark night. There were rudimentary tools like hoes, shovels, rakes, and marker posts used to fill bomb craters and guide vehicles through the roads. There were also everyday items like bowls, plates, canteens, and water bottles. And there were even documents, files, and papers related to the Youth Volunteer Force units on duty and the martyrs who died at "fire coordinatesTruong Bon...

Each artifact contains its own information and voice, but they all share a common message: the strength of the spirit and will of the Vietnamese people, the bravery and courage of the generation that fought against the Americans, and the preservation of this memory to keep it ever vibrant.

The oil lamps used by the Youth Volunteer Force, crafted from shrapnel and grenade casings to guide convoys through the dark at night, are preserved and displayed, giving viewers a glimpse into wartime life. Photo: Cong Kien

The storytellers

These days, the female tour guides at the Truông Bồn National Historical Site are busy cleaning portraits of martyrs and religious artifacts, rearranging flower baskets and offerings in front of the graves and altars. With her small and skillful hands, Phạm Thanh Hảo (born in 1993) – a female tour guide – carefully arranges and organizes everything neatly. Hảo is a young woman.Luong regionHe is from Da Son commune (Do Luong district), holds a bachelor's degree in Vietnamese Studies, and has been working here for 6 years.

According to her, it was a stroke of luck, a fortunate coincidence, to find a job after graduation that matched her field of study and her childhood dream. And to be able to return to serve in her homeland, where the Truong Bon historical site has become a legend, a spiritual destination for people from all over the country.

Truong Bon – a spiritual destination for people from all over the country. Photo: Sach Nguyen.

Pham Thanh Hao and his colleagues are tasked with explaining and introducing to visiting groups the flower and incense offerings and visits to the historical site, highlighting the fighting spirit and victory over the American invaders displayed by the forces stationed at Truong Bon. In particular, they emphasize the courageous fighting spirit andsacrificeThe heroic sacrifice of the 13 Youth Volunteers of Company 317 who fell in the early morning of October 31, 1968, wrote a tragic chapter in the history of their homeland.

According to her, in order for tourists to have a lasting impression when visiting Truông Bồn, the tour guides have tried to recreate the scenery and convey emotions in the most authentic and moving way possible.

A tour guide at the Truông Bồn National Historical Site introduces the heroic sacrifice of the heroes and martyrs. Photo: Công Kiên

“To achieve this, when performing our duties, we try to embody the spirit of female Youth Volunteers fighting against the Americans, using our voices, gestures, and body language to portray the ferocity of the war and our determination to fill bomb craters to keep the vital supply route open, because ahead lies the beloved South. We want visitors to feel the scene of bombs falling and bullets flying, the hardships and dangers, the camaraderie, and above all, the spirit of self-sacrifice for the Fatherland.”

Ms. Pham Thanh Hao

Depending on the age, occupation, and region of each group of visitors, Pham Thanh Hao and his colleagues use different approaches during their introductions. This is what creates the charm and appeal through each gesture and movement, truly leaving a lasting impression, so much so that many tourists have returned to Truong Bon more than once.

At the same time, the exchange and interaction with tourists has helped the female tour guides gain more emotions and supplementary materials, making the content increasingly rich and varied. Especially with groups of former Youth Volunteers, whenever Ms. Hao finishes her presentation, the women and men often run to hug her and cry, saying that listening to her stories and seeing her gestures makes them feel like they are meeting their comrades from years ago. They then share more situations, details, and memories from the past, helping Ms. Hao accumulate more material.

Ms. Nguyen Ha Thu introduces the Truong Bon historical site to a group of visitors from the South. Photo: Cong Kien.

Two years younger than Pham Thanh Hao, Nguyen Ha Thu is a graduate in History Education, originally from Hung Trung commune (Hung Nguyen district). This young woman rejected a teaching job in Vinh city to work as a staff member in Truong Bon.narrationFor Thu, this was both a stroke of luck and a passion; her historical knowledge provided a foundation, and her pedagogical skills helped develop her ability to guide tourists.

After three years of work, Ha Thu has become proficient in her job and is well-liked by many tourists for her expressive, friendly, and moving voice. Thu confided: "I never regret choosing to come to Truong Bon, to this land that has become legendary with its heroic deeds and immortal people. And I am also extremely proud to be the one who conveys these tragic and heroic events in history to tourists near and far."

The grounds of the Truông Bồn National Historical Site always exude an atmosphere of sacredness and solemnity. Photo: Công Kiên

Although she hasn't been working there for long, Ha Thu has many memories, including one about a former female Youth Volunteer who still brings tears to her eyes whenever she thinks of her. That day, a former Youth Volunteer who had lost a leg was brought to Truong Bon by her son to offer incense. She wept uncontrollably, moving everyone to tears. She said that years ago, while serving on Highway 15A, she was hit by shrapnel from a bomb, severing one of her legs. She lost a part of her body and suffered pain for the rest of her life, but she was still luckier than many of her comrades who fell there, because she was able to return home, to have a family and children to rely on.

“The Truông Bồn National Historical Site covers an area of ​​22 hectares and includes many structures. We consider it a great honor to undertake the task of managing, protecting, and caring for this historical site. Each person has their own role, all working towards ensuring that Truông Bồn remains lush and green, both in terms of its natural environment and the legendary memories it holds.”

Mr. Phan Trong Loc - Director of Truong Bon National Historical Site