Love story of a couple with 70 years of Party membership

At an age rarely exceeding 90, the two elders’ lucidity and agility surprised everyone who came in contact with them. Whispering slowly, holding her hand tightly, Mr. Vien began to tell us his life story.

Going back in time to December 1946, young man Tran Van Vien joined the army when he was just 18 years old. “Back then, people were very simple, knowing that joining the army meant they could sacrifice themselves at any time. So every time someone joined the army, the whole family and the village were reluctant. That’s why, even though I loved Mrs. Nhu, I didn’t promise anything so she wouldn’t have to wait for me. During the years of fighting, I didn’t write a single letter home, so that if I was no longer around, my parents, family and people wouldn’t have to wait in pain,” Mr. Vien said.

Mr. Vien and Mrs. Nhu (commonly called Mrs. Nha) with their children and grandchildren in the family. Photo: Thanh Quynh

After joining the army, Mr. Vien joined the Cung Doi Regiment, Battalion 265, Company 17. Our army's mission at that time was to besiege and attack the posts and outposts occupied by the French army in the western part of the province. Because the terrain of the western region was rugged, with dense forests and mountains, a sparse population, and very little local supply, while most of our army came from the plains, many were sick. Mr. Vien, like many of his comrades, had to fight malaria while fighting. However, with perseverance and resilience, our army destroyed the enemy posts in Muong Long, Nam Can and Muong Xen.

In particular, in the battle of Muong Long, Mr. Vien and 7 comrades of the company were commended for their great achievement in capturing 120 enemy guns. After that battle, Mr. Vien was sent to Laos to do mass mobilization work. The task at that time was to both fight and propagate, mobilize the people, explain and expose the plot of the French colonialists, and strengthen the solidarity between Vietnam and Laos to encourage the people to resist.

In 1949, after completing his mission and returning, Tran Van Vien was honored to be introduced by two company cadres, comrades Hoang Dai and Nguyen Du, to join the Party.

Mr. Tran Van Vien is now 92 years old, one of the few people in Tan Thanh commune honored to receive the title of 70 years of Party membership. Photo: Thanh Quynh

As for Mrs. Nhu, thanks to her active participation in the work of popular education and women's movements, in 1950 she was also honored to be introduced and admitted to the Party. Mrs. Nhu had just finished admitting to the Party when Mr. Vien received a telegram from his family asking him to return home immediately to...get married. The person his parents chose for him was none other than Mrs. Nhu.

When he heard the news, he was both happy and worried. He was happy because he had secretly loved Mrs. Nhu, but he was worried that if he died, he would make her suffer for the rest of her life. That was why he was determined not to go back.

After much thought, he telegraphed his family to inform them that he was in the final stages of the campaign in Ninh Binh and could not return yet. Then he wrote a letter to Mrs. Nhu, although the content of the letter was only a few lines, it contained all his feelings at that time: “Dear Nhu! The resistance war still has many hardships and losses. The war will continue and I can fall on the battlefield at any time. I advise you that if anyone loves you, accept their love and build a happy family with them.After sending two telegrams, Mr. Vien continued to return to his combat unit.

Mr. Vien and Mrs. Nhu at the ceremony to receive the 70-year Party membership badge. Photo courtesy

Until the end of 1950, he received an order from Battalion Commander Nguyen Duc Diep to summon him for an urgent meeting. “I had just run up when the Battalion Commander sternly handed me 13 kg of rice, 18 dong and a new set of clothes and asked me to... go home to get married. That was the order! I received the money, received the goods and walked from Ninh Binh - where the unit was stationed to return home. Now thinking back, I feel grateful to my superiors, because of that order I have a wife!”, Mr. Vien said with a toothless smile.

Less than 10 days after his wedding, Tran Van Vien had to return to the battlefield. From the day he got married, he began to form the habit of writing letters, because of the long distance between the couple, he could only send his feelings and promises through letters. And from then on, he no longer thought about death. He only knew that he had to fight, had to win to return to his loved ones, his family and his homeland.

Mrs. Nhu's 70-year Party badge. Photo: Thanh Quynh

“The fierce war years are unforgettable memories, but even peacetime is a long story of overcoming difficulties for my husband and I,” Mrs. Nhu continued her husband’s words: “After being demobilized, Mr. Vien served as Deputy Secretary of the Party, then held the important position of Party Secretary and then Chairman of the Commune People’s Committee. I also participated in the women’s cadres of the hamlet and commune for many years. Because we are both Party members, we not only fulfilled our responsibilities to our families but also to society. I remember the days of mobilizing people to do new economic activities the most.

These were the most difficult years because after the war, life was difficult for the whole country, there was a lack of jobs, materials and capital, meaning a total crisis. Tan Thanh was crowded and land was scarce, so people had to be mobilized to migrate to build new economies or reclaim the hills in the area to further solve the food problem.

My husband and I have days when we don’t see each other, but we all understand that it is not a loss, but the happiness of sacrifice. We are even happier now that our 6 children have grown up. Up to now, our family has 4 children in the Party ranks. I think that is a great happiness because without the Party, we would not have such a happy love, just like my husband Vien often said: “The Party has given me love and happiness when we became husband and wife”!

Thanh Quynh