Celebrating Tet (Lunar New Year) with the General at Vung Chua

In the final days of the year, while everyone was eagerly anticipating the arrival of the Year of the Horse, the border guards assigned to watch over General Vo Nguyen Giap's "sleep" at Vung Chua (Quang Binh province) remained calm in their distinctive green military uniforms.

And, despite the choppy waves and the rushing forest wind, the throngs of visitors and the early-blooming wild apricot blossoms were enough to make the soldiers at Vung Chua feel the vibrant spirit of spring.

"Cold wind, hard work, but an honor."

On a winter afternoon, the wind from the open sea intensified. Around the mountain range, the trees roared in unison, as if "threatening" the soldiers guarding the General's tomb at Vung Chua. Yet, overcoming all obstacles, the border guards remained steadfast in the face of the raging wind.

Right at the foot of the mountain—where convoys of vehicles are entering the parking lot—every time a group of visitors disembarks, the border guards rush to perform their duties: guiding visitors to the registration desk, reminding everyone not to leave money or offerings, then lining up and adjusting their belongings before going up to visit the tomb and pay their respects to the deceased.

Amidst the bustling crowds lining up to pay their respects at the tomb, border guards took turns observing and reminding visitors who violated the rule: "Excuse me! Visitors to the General's tomb are not allowed to wear torn clothes. We hope you understand."

After a moment of hesitation, the young man stepped back, watching the group approach to light incense at the General's tomb with a regretful look in his eyes: "I came from the North to Dong Hoi city for work, and I took the opportunity to join the group to pay my respects to him! However, I made a mistake, so I must apologize..."

Before his voice faded, he declared, "I will definitely come back at the beginning of the year to offer incense to the General. After this trip, I will also remind everyone to be careful so that such an incident doesn't happen again."

Along the path leading to the General's tomb, border guards continued to be stationed at key positions. Nearly a dozen soldiers took turns guiding visitors up and down the path according to regulations. Long lines of people carried bouquets of vibrant yellow chrysanthemums.

At the foot of the grave, two soldiers on duty instructed visitors to place flowers as per regulations and then line up. Immediately afterward, incense sticks were distributed to visitors one by one. Inside, close to the grave, four soldiers stood solemnly, their eyes gazing distantly out at the vast ocean.

Sharing with a Vietnam+ reporter about the months spent guarding the tomb of General Vo Nguyen Giap, Lieutenant Khac Ngoc Tan Hao, the team leader of the security team, briefly replied: "It's cold and windy here, hard work, but it's a great honor!"

Lieutenant Hao said that the difficulty here is that Vung Chua is completely isolated from other populated areas, so there is still no electricity grid. Moreover, eating and personal hygiene are also very difficult because the market is far away, and traveling takes a lot of time, especially in the days leading up to Tet.

“But the biggest challenge at Vung Chua is the issue of fresh water. Because it’s a coastal area, we can’t use the local water. Therefore, to get water for drinking and bathing, we have to take turns going to the residential area nearly 5km away to fetch water to put into tanks for later use,” Lieutenant Hao confided.

Despite the hardships and shortages of food and shelter, regardless of rain or shine, day or night, weekdays or holidays, groups of soldiers remain solemn and respectful at the tomb of the people's general, the elder brother of the Vietnam People's Army, with boundless gratitude.

Proud to stand guard while He sleeps.

It is known that, in addition to protecting the mausoleum and guiding visitors to pay their respects to the General, the border guards also take turns handling logistics and environmental sanitation. Despite these difficulties, the group of 30 border guards stationed in Vung Chua remain wholeheartedly dedicated to protecting the General's resting place with reverence.

Sharing his feelings about celebrating Tet (Lunar New Year) away from his family, Lieutenant Hao said that this February 2014 marks 10 years since he joined the army and participated in the mission to protect his homeland and national sovereignty. During those ten years, he has spent 7 Tet holidays away from his family, each with very special emotions.

This year, 2014, Lieutenant Hao once again left his family to stay in Vung Chua to "celebrate Tet with the General" and his fellow soldiers. Another Tet away from family and loved ones, but Lieutenant Hao and his comrades remained proud to have been entrusted by their superiors with the important responsibility of guarding the General's "sleep."

"Staying at Vũng Chùa to guard the resting place of the General - a man beloved by the whole world - is an honor and a source of pride, not only after 10 years in the military, but also a lifelong memory," Lieutenant Hào shared.

According to Lieutenant Hao, even when he was a student, he was fortunate enough to meet the General three times on occasions when the General visited his hometown. And, all those fleeting encounters left in the young soldier's mind the General's simplicity and approachability.

Over the past nearly three months, the soldiers guarding the General's mausoleum have witnessed hundreds of touching and tearful stories. Especially those of elderly men and women, with failing eyesight and aching knees, who still made the arduous journey of thousands of miles with only one wish: "To come to Vũng Chùa to light incense and express our gratitude to him."

Recounting his most memorable experience, Lieutenant Hao said that anyone who comes to Vung Chua carries with them a heart full of respect and reverence for the General. Recently, a 93-year-old woman from Can Tho city traveled a long distance to visit the General's tomb, deeply moving all the soldiers on duty.

“This old woman said she couldn’t live to visit the General a second time, so she had to come even if she had the strength left, so that she could rest in peace when she passed away. Her words made us turn away to suppress our emotions as we saw her cry. And, more than anything, her words of comfort and encouragement helped dispel the biting cold that clung to the soldiers celebrating Tet in Vung Chua,” Sergeant Hao shared.

On the last afternoon of the year, as the Year of the Horse celebrations were in full swing everywhere, and the crowds visiting the General's tomb were somewhat sparse as everyone was thinking about their New Year's Eve dinner, the soldiers at Vung Chua, amidst the mist, wind, and waves, remained proud of their noble duty – guarding the General's "sleep."

According to vietnamnet