Hanoi residents and their memories of Christmas 1972.

December 25, 1972, was a peaceful day for the people of Hanoi as the US announced a halt to bombing to celebrate Christmas. After seven days of fierce fighting against B52 bombers, Hanoi had a rare moment of calm, allowing people to return to their daily routines. Long lines of people queued to buy dried food, warm clothes, and other necessities for their families.

But just 36 hours later (the night of December 26th), one day after Christmas, the US resumed dropping B52 bombs on Hanoi. The entire city lost power, air raid sirens blared continuously. People ran to bomb shelters. Militia and self-defense forces were ready to fight… Mr. Tran Quang Phong, a militia member of the Kham Thien neighborhood at the time, recalled: On the night of December 26th, the enemy dropped bombs frantically on Hanoi. Air raid sirens sounded, and people went to bomb shelters. Along the street, many houses collapsed, and the sidewalks were filled with coffins. In an instant, the bombing raid claimed the lives of 287 innocent people, and 178 children suddenly became orphans.

The Kham Thien neighborhood was devastated after the American bombing raid.

Mr. Nguyen Van Cau still remembers those painful days vividly.

"On the night of December 18th, the enemy attacked Yen Vien Station, on the night of December 21st they attacked Hang Co Station, and on December 22nd they attacked Bach Mai Hospital. Around 11:45 PM on December 25th, the air raid siren blared, and I was ordered to go to house number 75 on Hang Bo Street, where there were two newspaper printing workshops. When I arrived, I saw gunfire all around, the area brightly lit. After the newspaper was printed, I asked permission to go home to see what had happened. When I got to the alley, I saw that the whole area had been carpet-bombed, 41 people dead, all neighbors and acquaintances. My wife and my second nephew were both gone. My older brother's family lost a son-in-law and a daughter-in-law. I also lost my younger brother. So, my family lost six people. I went to look for my wife, but only the upper half of her body remained. My son only had one leg left. I recognized him because he had a burn scar from the past. My younger brother was nowhere to be seen. At that time, I was just picking up scraps and putting them in a plastic bag," Mr. Cau said, his voice trembling. feeling sad.

Mr. Nguyen Van Cau lost five family members in the bombing raid in December 1972.

After the bombing, Kham Thien Street was devastated. All six blocks were wiped out, nearly 2,000 houses were destroyed, and bombs claimed the lives and injured hundreds of innocent people. Among them were the children of Mrs. Nguyen Thi Mao, from Sam Quan Alley, Kham Thien. When she learned that the US had stopped bombing on Christmas Day, her daughter-in-law and eldest son rushed back from Lai Xa, Hoai Duc to get food and look after the house. But the promise to bring food back for her and her siblings could never be fulfilled, Mrs. Mao choked back tears.

In Hanoi, Khâm Thiên Street now has only one memorial plaque remaining as a relic from the American B52 bombing raid on December 26, 1972. Locals often call this plaque the "monument of hatred." Every time she passes by, Mrs. Nguyen Thuy Nga, a resident of Khâm Thiên, bows her head in remembrance of the Hanoians who fell.

"Whenever we pass by a war memorial, and the Kham Thien memorial in particular, I always bow my head and remind my grandchildren to bow their heads in remembrance and respect for the souls of the martyrs and the people who sacrificed themselves, to be grateful for the contributions of ordinary people as well as the martyrs that have allowed us to live today. I think that is something the younger generation should preserve," Ms. Nga shared.

Memorial monument on Kham Thien Street.

So many peaceful Christmases have passed, the old bomb shelters have been filled in, and the ruins of the past have been rebuilt. People eagerly await Christmas Eve. Amidst this joy, the people of Hanoi do not forget the historical moments, for it was the sacrifices, the pain, and the losses of those days that led to the peace we enjoy today.

Van An