
Quang Tri (VNA) – A flag-raising ceremony was held atthe Hien Luong-Ben Hai historical relic site in Vinh Linh district, the centralprovince of Quang Tri, on April 30 to mark the 44th anniversary of the Liberationof South Vietnam and National Reunification Day (April 30).
As part of the national reunification festival co-organised byNhan dan (People’s) daily, the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) and the provincialParty Committee and People’s Committee, the event also aims to celebrate the65th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu victory which ended French colonial rule inVietnam (1954-2019) and the 47th anniversary of the liberation of Quang Tri(May 1, 1972).
The event was attended by Politburo member and Deputy PrimeMinister Truong Hoa Binh, Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam CentralCommittee (CPVCC) and Head of the CPVCC’s Commission for Internal Affairs PhanDinh Trac, Nhan Dan Editor-in-Chief and Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists’Association Thuan Huu, and VNA General Director Nguyen Duc Loi, among others.
Hien Luong Bridge across Ben Hai River, which divided North andSouth Vietnam during war, is 178 m long but it took 21 years for Vietnamese peoplefrom the North and the South to be united. The bridge is the witness to theVietnamese people's fierce but glorious struggle and a reflection of theirdesire for and belief in victory. Historical relic sites located on both banksof the river have been recognised as special national historical relics.
Quang Tri was one of the most devastated localities during the warby thousands of tonnes of bombs and shells. The province was also well knownfor the fierce 81-day-and-night battle at the ancient Quang Tri Citadel.
In his opening remarks, Secretary of the provincial PartyCommittee Nguyen Van Hung highlighted major achievements Quang Tri has recordedover the past years across spheres, from economy to social affairs and nationaldefence and security.
The flag-raising ceremony was followed by a Bai Choi singingperformance at the southern bank of of the Hien Luong-Ben Hai special nationalhistorical relic site, a boat race on Ben Hai River and an inaugural ceremonyof the project on upgrading the southern bank of the site.
Delegates paid tribute to fallen soldiers at the National Road 9Martyrs' Cemetery, Truong Son Martyrs' Cemetery.

On April 29 night, an art programme entitled “Aspiration for Unification” was held at thehistorical relic site.
On this occasion, VNA General Director Nguyen Duc Loi presented1.8 billion VND (77,400 USD) to Quang Tri to build three classrooms at thekindergarten in Trieu Tai commune, Trieu Phong district.

Nhan Dan newspaper and the Electricity of Vietnam also presented 1billion VND (43,000 USD) to local social policy beneficiaries.
Addressing the event, Thuan Huu, who is also deputy head of the CPVPCC’sCommunication and Education Commission, said that the Geneva Agreement definedthe Ben Hai River on the 17th Parallel to be the temporary military line 65years ago and Quang Tri was an extremely fierce battlefield.
The Quang Tri people had to endure many sacrifices and hardships.Forty seven years after the Liberation Day, people in Quang Tri have promotedtheir resilient tradition to build a more prosperous province with remarkableachievements in economics, society, and security and defence, he noted.
The art programme featured songs and dances to honour the fighting spirit ofthe Vietnamese army and people and the aspiration for national unification.-VNA
VNA