Delegation of Nghe An province offered incense to commemorate the heroic martyrs who sacrificed their lives on Lao soil.

Delegation of Nghe An province held a ceremony to offer flowers and incense to commemorate the heroic martyrs at the Laos - Vietnam combat alliance memorial. Photo: Pham Bang

On April 6, during the working visit to Xieng Khouang province (Laos), the delegation of Nghe An province led by Mr. Nguyen Duc Trung - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, offered flowers and incense to commemorate the heroic martyrs of Vietnam and Laos at the Laos - Vietnam fighting alliance memorial.

The Laos - Vietnam Combat Alliance Memorial was built to commemorate the close relationship between Vietnamese soldiers and Pathet Lao soldiers, and to commemorate the heroic martyrs of Vietnam and Laos who heroically sacrificed their lives in the resistance war against American imperialism to save the country.

Comrade Bunchan Sivongphan - Secretary, Governor of Xieng Khouang Province and Comrade Nguyen Duc Trung - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Committee of Nghe An Province offered flowers to commemorate the heroic martyrs. Photo: Pham Bang

Comrade Bunchan Sivongphan - Secretary, Governor of Xieng Khouang Province and Comrade Nguyen Duc Trung - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Committee of Nghe An Province offered incense to commemorate the heroic martyrs. Photo: Pham Bang

During the years of fighting against foreign invaders, more than 40,000 Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts heroically sacrificed their lives on the Lao battlefield, of which about 15,000 were martyrs in the three provinces of Xieng Khouang, Xay Xom Bun and Vientiane.

The Laos-Vietnam Combat Alliance Memorial is a symbol of solidarity and close relationship between the two Parties, two States and armies of Laos and Vietnam; commemorating the blood sacrifices for the revolutionary cause of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who helped Laos in the struggle against foreign imperialists.

The Laos-Vietnam Combat Alliance Memorial is a symbol of solidarity and the close relationship between the two Parties, two States and armies of Laos and Vietnam. Photo: Pham Bang

On the same day, the delegation of Nghe An province led by comrade Nguyen Duc Trung - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee offered incense at the Temple of Vietnamese - Lao Martyrs in Nhuom village, Pek district, about 4km from the center of Phon Sa Van town.

During the extremely fierce war years in Xieng Khouang province from 1969 to 1972, the enemy invaded and occupied the liberated area of ​​Xieng Khouang Plain of Jars. In that "fierce" moment, in response to the request for help from the Lao Revolution, the Party, Government and People's Army of Vietnam provided support to the Lao Revolution.

Delegation of Nghe An province commemorates heroic martyrs at the Vietnam - Laos Heroic Martyrs Temple. Photo: Pham Bang

Many Vietnamese volunteer military units and experts went to Laos to fight side by side with Lao soldiers and people against the common enemy.

In those battles, many Vietnamese and Lao officers and soldiers sacrificed their lives for the independence and freedom of the two countries. In the three provinces of Xieng Khouang, Xay Xom Bun and Vientiane alone, more than 15,000 Vietnamese volunteer officers, soldiers and military experts sacrificed their lives.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung offered incense to commemorate the heroic martyrs at the Vietnam - Laos Heroic Martyrs Temple. Photo: Pham Bang

With the tradition of "remembering the source of the water you drink", the Vietnamese Association in Xieng Khouang province has invested in building a shrine to show gratitude and partly repay the boundless sacrifices of the heroic martyrs of the two countries for the independence and peace of the two nations.

The Vietnam - Laos Martyrs' Shrine was started to be built in March 2022 on an area of ​​10 hectares granted by the local government. Phase 1 of the shrine was completed in July 2022, on the occasion of the two countries organizing many activities to celebrate the Vietnam - Laos, Laos - Vietnam Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022, the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the 45th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam - Laos Friendship and Cooperation Treaty.

Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung assessed this as a very meaningful project to pay tribute to the heroic martyrs of Vietnam and Laos who sacrificed their lives in the war to protect the Lao homeland. Photo: Pham Bang

Speaking at the ceremony, Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung assessed that this is a very meaningful project to pay tribute to the heroic martyrs of Vietnam and Laos who sacrificed their lives in the war to protect the Lao homeland. At the same time, he thanked the leaders of Xieng Khouang province for their attention in allocating land to build the Temple. On this occasion, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee presented 200 million VND to the Vietnamese Association in Xieng Khouang province.

Next, Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung visited the team collecting the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Laos, stationed in Phon San Van town, Xieng Khouang province.

Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung visited the team collecting the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Laos, stationed in Phon San Van town, Xieng Khouang province. Photo: Pham Bang

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung and his delegation offered incense to commemorate the martyrs who had been searched for and gathered. Photo: Pham Bang

Lieutenant Colonel Che Ngoc Ha - Captain of the Martyrs' Remains Collection Team under the Nghe An Provincial Military Command said that the Team was established on April 18, 1984, with the task of searching for and collecting martyrs' remains in Nghe An province and the three provinces of Xieng Khouang, Vientiane, and Xay Xom Bun (Laos).

Up to now, the Team has searched, recovered, and collected more than 13,014 martyrs' remains, of which 12,538 are in Laos alone. It has also handed over 1,684 martyrs' remains whose identities and hometowns have been identified to their families.

Lieutenant Colonel Che Ngoc Ha - Captain of the Martyrs' Remains Collection Team reports on the Team's performance of its tasks. Photo: Pham Bang

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung acknowledged, commended and appreciated the efforts, attempts and results that the Collection Team has achieved in the past time. Photo: Pham Bang

In the 2021-2022 dry season alone, the Team searched for and collected 103 martyrs' remains in the three provinces of Xieng Khouang, Vientiane, and Xay Xom Bun. In the 5 months of the 2022-2023 dry season, the Team collected 82 sets of martyrs' remains. During the course of the mission, 14 comrades were injured and 9 comrades died.

After listening to the report, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung expressed his emotion at the sacred and noble mission of the officers and soldiers in the Collection Team to search for and bring the heroic martyrs who sacrificed on the Lao battlefields back to the Fatherland, hometown and family.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung presents gifts to the team collecting martyrs' remains. Photo: Pham Bang

Colonel Phan Dai Nghia - Commander of the Provincial Military Command presented gifts to the Martyrs' Remains Collection Team. Photo: Pham Bang

Recognizing, praising and appreciating the efforts, attempts and results that the Collection Team has achieved in the past time, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee assessed that, in addition to performing the main tasks, the comrades also actively participated in activities to help the local government and people, contributing to tightening the special friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, the two States, the people of Vietnam - Laos in general and between Nghe An province and the provinces of Xieng Khouang, Vientiane, Xay Xom Bun in particular.

In the coming time, the Gathering Team needs to promote the achieved results, overcome difficulties, and strive to excellently complete the sacred and noble assigned tasks.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung visited the living quarters of officers and soldiers of the Martyrs' Remains Collection Team. Photo: Pham Bang

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung talked, visited and encouraged officers and soldiers of the Martyrs' Remains Collection Team. Photo: Pham Bang

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung emphasized that cooperation in collecting martyrs' remains is an important content in the cooperation minutes between Nghe An and Xieng Khouang provinces. In the coming time, Nghe An province hopes that Xieng Khouang provincial leaders will continue to pay attention to Nghe An's Martyrs' Remains Collection Team, thereby contributing to building an increasingly strong and effective friendship and cooperation relationship between the two provinces.