The soldiers from Nghe An were part of the army that took over the capital.

From my homeland in Nghe An province

On August 21, 1945, the uprising to seize power in Nghe An was successful, and the Provisional Revolutionary People's Committee was introduced to the people. On August 24, the complete revolutionary government apparatus was established. On August 28, 1945, based on the Viet Minh's Action Program, the Provisional Revolutionary People's Committee of Nghe An announced 10 new policies, including..."Organize the liberation army detachments, strengthen the militia and police organizations."Accordingly, the self-defense units, which were the shock troops during the General Uprising, now became the armed forces of the new government.

By the end of 1945, most villages had militia units; streets and factories had self-defense units. This can be seen as a continuation of the Red Self-Defense Units (also known as the Red Guards) formed during the Nghe Tinh Soviet Uprising. Alongside the militia and self-defense forces, a Liberation Army detachment named Doi Cung was established in Vinh City, with Comrade Nguyen Van Uyen as detachment commander, Comrade Nguyen Phan as political commissar, and Mr. Nguyen Van Tran, a former security guard of the old government, as deputy detachment commander.

Following the August Revolution, the political and security situation in Nghe An was quite complex. Ten thousand Japanese soldiers, still armed, and remnants of French troops continued their activities along the western border districts. Then, on September 24, 1945, ten thousand Kuomintang troops began to replace the Japanese, creating numerous complications aimed at undermining the revolutionary government. The Doi Cung detachment, working alongside the revolutionary government, handled the situation skillfully and strategically, avoiding falling into their provocations, and upholding national sovereignty and unity.

To protect the security of the western border, the Doi Cung Detachment and the armed forces of Nghe An province proactively attacked remnants of the French army, preventing them from infiltrating the territory. A unit of the Doi Cung Detachment and self-defense forces from Thanh Chuong, Anh Son, Con Cuong, and Tuong Duong districts attacked French troops at the Noong Het outpost (Xieng Khouang province – Laos).

Arriving at Dien Bien Phu

To consolidate the organization of the armed forces, on June 1, 1946, the Doi Cung Detachment was renamed the 57th Regiment. The regiment's structure at this time consisted of three infantry battalions: 346, 265, and 418.

With the outbreak of the nationwide resistance war, in response to President Ho Chi Minh's call for national resistance, at 11 PM on December 19, 1946, Regiment 57, along with other armed forces in Nghe An, simultaneously opened fire and, by 0:30 AM on December 20, 1946, forced the French forces in Vinh city to surrender unconditionally. Following this, under the command of Military Zone 4, Regiment 57 deployed its forces to the western region to operate, fight, and build up its forces in the Muong Xen and Quy Chau areas. Another unit, in conjunction with Battalion 400 (Regiment 103 - Ha Tinh), fought in Quang Binh, continuously attacking and destroying the enemy in Sen Bang, Thu Loc, and Hoan Lao, expanding the guerrilla zone in Bo Trach, before withdrawing to the north to build a defensive line along the Gianh River and Ngang Pass with other units.

In November 1949, the entire regiment advanced into Quang Binh along with regiments 18, 95, 101, artillery battalion 888, and local armed forces of Binh Tri Thien to participate in the Le Lai campaign in Tuyen Hoa, Bo Trach, and Quang Trach districts (from December 22, 1949 to January 27, 1950). During this campaign, Regiment 57 won many battles at Dai Nam, Phu Kenh, Don Sa, and Ba Don, most notably the ambush on the Gianh River that annihilated 200 European and African soldiers at Phu Trich - La Ha (Quang Trach).

On March 10, 1950, in accordance with Decree No. 62-NDA of the General Staff dated February 9, 1950, the 304th Main Division was established. The 57th Regiment, after its famous victory at the Gianh River, returned from the Binh Tri Thien battlefield to join forces in Thanh Hoa as part of the division, along with the 9th and 66th Regiments. At this time, the 57th Regiment had been reinforced with troops from the 103rd Regiment (Ha Tinh), whose predecessor was the Phan Dinh Phung Detachment.

Within the 304th Division, the 57th Regiment participated in the Tran Hung Dao Campaign (Winter-Spring 1950-1951) in Ninh Binh and northeastern Thanh Hoa; and in the Quang Trung Campaign (from May 28 to June 20, 1951), contributing to the complete destruction of the Day River defense line and shaking the enemy's political center of Phat Diem.

During the Hoa Binh campaign (from December 10, 1951 to February 25, 1952), the 57th Regiment was tasked with attacking the enemy on Highway 21 from Cho Ben to Xuan Mai. It won many battles, most notably destroying the Doi Moi hilltop guarding Highway 21, organizing ambushes against the enemy on Highway 21 and Highway 6, and participating in the liberation of Hoa Binh town.

Following the Hoa Binh campaign, the 57th Regiment was assigned the task of operating behind enemy lines in Nam Dinh province, coordinating operations with the Left Bank battlefield, consolidating base areas, and intensifying guerrilla warfare, mobilizing the people to resist enemy sweeps, and mobilizing forces to supplement the main army. In about three months, the Regiment fought 12 battles, winning many victories such as ambushing enemy ships on the Day River, destroying the Lac Quan outpost, ambushing the enemy in Tra Thuong village, liberating the Luc Thuy prison, and rescuing 200 cadres who were about to be killed by the enemy… In total, they killed and captured 700 enemy soldiers.

During the 1952 Northwest Campaign, the 57th Regiment and other units of the 304th Division and the 320th Division operated in the southern part of the Northern Delta, in the provinces of Nam Dinh and Ninh Binh. The 57th Regiment, along with the 66th Regiment, was tasked with engaging the enemy on Highway 10, the Ninh Binh - Phat Diem route. The regiment destroyed the Tuy Loc Thuong stronghold, intercepted enemy reinforcements to Phat Diem on the Day River, and destroyed the Van Lai outpost and many other outposts along Highway 10.

During the Upper Laos campaign, from April 13th to May 18th, 1953, Regiment 57 crossed the Puxailaileng Pass, advanced towards Muong Ngan and Muong Ngan, and liberated Xieng Khouang town, making a worthy contribution to the campaign's objective of drawing the enemy out to engage them in battle, as directed by the General Staff.

During the 1953-1954 Winter-Spring Campaign, the Regiment was tasked with concealing troops in the Son Nhieu and Kieu Thon areas (Phu Tho province) to prepare for the destruction of the enemy alongside other units, ensuring the safety of the Viet Bac base area. Later, the Regiment moved to Thanh Hoa and on November 20, 1953, began a secret march to Moc Chau. On January 5, 1954, it received orders to march to Dien Bien Phu, advancing into the area east of Hong Cum. In the Dien Bien Phu campaign, from the very beginning, Battalion 418 was ordered to participate in moving artillery in and out as directed by the General Staff. In the first phase (from March 13 to March 17), Regiment 57 successfully completed its mission of suppressing enemy artillery in Hong Cum. Phase 2 (March 30-April 30) involved coordinating with friendly units to complete the task of suppressing enemy artillery and advancing into Zone C of Hong Cum, blocking reinforcements from Hong Cum to Muong Thanh, and engaging paratroopers around and south of Hong Cum. Phase 3 of the campaign (May 1-7), the battalion-regimental unit established a blockade on the road to Tay Trang, preventing the enemy from retreating to Laos.

Immediately after the successful conclusion of the campaign, the 57th Regiment advanced towards Son Tay and Ha Dong, defeating the enemy at Gia Hoa, Dai Dong, and Pho Gach, threatening the outposts along Highways 11, 21A, and 21B, and liberating most of these two provinces.

Advance to take over the capital.

On July 20th, the Geneva Accords were signed. On August 19th, the 57th Regiment advanced to liberate Son Tay town and began all necessary preparations to reinforce the 308th Division in taking over Hanoi.

Previously, the unit had sent several officers to work with the Central Armistice Committee to finalize regulations for receiving the specific handover of each stronghold, outpost, economic zone, industrial zone, port, and airport... occupied by the French army.

On the morning of October 9, 1954, Battalion 346 advanced along two routes from Ha Dong to take over Bach Mai airfield and Vinh Tuy outpost.

On the morning of October 10, 1954, Battalion 346 sent a platoon to take over Bach Mai Hospital. At the same time, Battalion 418 advanced to take over the Buoi area, including Buoi School, Quan Ngua, and Thuy Khue Leather Factory.

On the morning of October 10, 1954, Battalion 265 received the handover from the French forces at Cau Giay outpost. Following this, they advanced to Kim Ma and Ngoc Khanh, deploying companies at Dong Da Hill, the Exhibition Hall, and Hanoi Railway Station.

Thus, before the main army entered the capital, on October 9th and early morning of October 10th, 1954, Regiment 57 successfully completed the task of taking over key positions in the northern, western, and southwestern arcs of Hanoi, ensuring the safe and dignified entry of the main army into the capital.

Upholding the tradition of the Soviet Red Self-Defense Force of Nghe Tinh, the courageous soldiers of Regiment 57 endured nine years of resistance against the French, fighting and winning, sacrificing and maturing amidst the bloodshed. The Regiment's footprints stretched across battlefields, from Nghe Tinh to Binh Tri Thien, from Xieng Khouang to Ninh Binh and Nam Dinh, from Hoa Binh to Son La and Dien Bien, and finally from Son Tay and Ha Dong to take over the capital. Within the 304th Division, II Corps, the soldiers of Regiment 57 continued to fight throughout the resistance against the Americans, participating in the vanguard that liberated Saigon on April 30, 1975.