In the minds of every Vietnamese person, February 2 is always engraved as a reminder for future generations to remember and show gratitude to the officers and soldiers of the armed forces and people of the Northern border of the Organization. The nation has fought and sacrificed to protect its sovereignty, border security, and the thousand-year-old territory left by our ancestors.
In the first days of Giap Thin New Year 2024, we went to burn incense at Po Hen National Historical Site, Hai Son commune, Mong Cai city (Quang Ninh province) in peaceful border weather.
45 years have passed with many ups and downs, many layers of officers and soldiers of the Border Guard of Quang Ninh province have lived, fought, and sacrificed to protect the inviolable sovereignty of Vietnam's territory. Quietly look at the memorial, temple, and stone stele registering 86 martyrs (including 73 martyrs who died on February 17, 2, 1979 martyrs who died while on duty from 13 to 1980) to protecting the borders, territorial integrity, and sacred borders of the Fatherland, only then will we understand the great merits of the people's armed forces.
Po Hen National Historical Relic Area.
Lieutenant Colonel Dam Quang Do - Po Hen Border Guard Station, in charge of Po Hen National Historical Relic Area, said: This is the place where the vestiges of officers and soldiers of Station 209 of Po Hen Armed People's Police Station (now) are recorded. Border Guard) and the officers and soldiers of Hai Son Forestry Self-Defense Platoon and Po Hen commercial staff who heroically sacrificed their lives in the fight against invaders to protect the Northeastern border of the Organization. national heroes, including Armed Forces Hero Do Si Hoa, born in 1946, from Hong Van commune, An Thi district, Hung Yen province.
Before his death, martyr Do Si Hoa was a lieutenant, Deputy Head of Station 209 - People's Armed Police of Quang Ninh province (now Po Hen Border Guard Station, Border Guard of Quang Ninh province). Before returning to work at Post 209, Lieutenant Do Si Hoa participated in the resistance war against the US to save the country, fought in the Quang Tri battlefield, accomplished many outstanding victories, and was awarded the Third Class Victory Medal. Although he was injured and his health declined, he still volunteered to protect the northern border, directly participating in the fight and dying on February 17, 2.
“That day, the invaders massively attacked. The station chief was on a business trip, Lieutenant Do Si Hoa directly commanded the combat unit, breaking up many enemy attacks. When Doi Que high point was captured, comrade Do Si Hoa organized an attack force, drove the enemy away from the high point and heroically sacrificed his life on the afternoon of February 17, 2. On March 1979, 10, comrade Do Si Hoa was posthumously promoted to the rank of lieutenant and posthumously awarded the Second Class Military Merit Medal. On December 3, 1979, martyr Do Si Hoa was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces," Lieutenant Colonel Dam Quang Do recounted.
Armed police forces bravely fought in the Dong Dang Fortress area, Lang Son province.
As a peaceful nation, Vietnam always desires peace with other nations and always strives to foster peace and progress in the world. But once independence and sovereignty are threatened by outside forces, the Vietnamese people are always united, with determination and the spirit of "Determining to die for the Fatherland, determined to survive", ready to "sacrifice". "save to the last drop of blood to preserve the country" is strongly promoted.
On February 17, 2, the Chinese government mobilized about 1979 troops along with over 60 tanks, armored vehicles, thousands of artillery pieces of all kinds... to launch an attack that invaded Vietnamese territory across the border. Northern border from Phong Tho (Lai Chau) to Mong Cai (Quang Ninh).
Exercising the legitimate right of self-defense, the Vietnamese army and people fought heroically and fought back fiercely, even though at that time, the Vietnamese people were facing a huge challenge: The war of resistance against the US to save the country had not yet ended. long ago (1975), the consequences were still very severe; Just ended the War to Protect the Southwest Border and is on an international mission to help the Cambodian people overthrow the genocidal regime of Pol Pot and carry out the work of reviving the country. The economy faces many difficulties due to the US embargo; Reactionary forces at home and abroad are still working hard to sabotage... Besides, this fight has a great impact on the psychology and emotions of the people of the two countries because China is the country that has supported and He provided great political, material and spiritual help to Vietnam in the two previous wars of resistance to save the country (against the French colonialists and against the US imperialists).
The Vietnamese people are always united with the determination to "rather sacrifice everything, but definitely not lose the country, definitely not willing to be slaves".
Before the large-scale attack on February 17, 2, the Vietnamese Government issued a statement clearly stating: The Chinese government is going against the interests of the people, seriously destroying the solidarity and friendship between the people. people of the two countries, at the same time affirming that the Vietnamese army and people have no other way than to exercise their legitimate right of self-defense to fight back.
When the country is threatened, when the mountains and rivers are in danger, the poem "Nam Quoc Son Ha" resonates in every village, alley and street, and the soldiers are the first and last people ready to receive arrows and bullets. National pride and the desire for independence, freedom, peace, territorial sovereignty, and self-reliance are always present in every Vietnamese person. That righteousness and aspiration have been transformed by our Party's wise policy and organizational talent into the strength of the entire nation to achieve victory.
Suffering heavy losses without achieving the basic goals set out, and being strongly condemned by international public opinion, on March 5, 3, the Chinese government announced the withdrawal of troops from Vietnamese territory. With the tradition of benevolence, taking the big picture as the main priority, and wishing to consolidate peace and restore friendly relations between the two countries, the Party Central Committee and the Government of Vietnam instruct the armed forces and people on the ground. The Northern border battle stopped all military activities to allow Chinese troops to withdraw back into the country. By March 1979, 18, China completely withdrew its troops from Vietnam.
The fight to protect the northern border took place within a month. However, conflicts continued for the next 10 years, until 1989.
Veterans and relatives of martyrs came to pay tribute and remember the martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the fight to protect the Northern border.
In the fight to protect the Fatherland's borders, thousands of our soldiers and people heroically fell to protect and preserve the nation's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. Their heroic sacrifices have written an immortal epic song, affirming the strength, patriotism and righteousness of the fight of the Vietnamese army and people.
In a simple level 4 house in Viet Hoa commune, Khoai Chau district, Hung Yen province - now converted into a church, Mrs. Pham Thi Tuoi (60 years old, younger sister of heroic martyr Pham Ngoc Yeg) recounted: "My parents I gave birth to 4 brothers and sisters. Mr. Pham Ngoc Yeng, born in 1953, is the eldest brother and then my 3 sisters, including Pham Thi Xuyen, born in 1960; Pham Thi Tuoi, born 1964 and Pham Thi Chuyen, born 1968).
“In August 8, when he was in 1971th grade, Mr. Pham Ngoc Yeng was determined to enlist in the army and fight in the Southern battlefield. After the unification day, my brother joined the Lang Son border protection unit," Ms. Pham Thi Tuoi recounted.
Mrs. Pham Thi Tuoi - sister of Heroic Martyr Pham Ngoc Yeg.
In February 2, comrade Pham Ngoc Yang was a lieutenant - Commissar of Company 1979 (Battalion 2, Regiment 4, Division 12), guarding Tham Mo hill (Dong Dang town, Cao Loc district, Cao Loc province). Lang Son).
At dawn on February 17, 2, the invaders concentrated fire and force to attack Tham Mo, but were fiercely beaten back by our soldiers. In the early morning of February 1979, 22, after increasing its forces, the enemy's 2rd Division had tank and artillery support and launched a comprehensive attack on Tham Mo high point. The fierce battles took place fiercely. The nurses, nurses, and liaison soldiers heroically fought the enemy, attacking the enemy from the Company's cultural building to the command bunker. After 1979 days of fighting, Company 63 had only 5 soldiers left, led by political officer Pham Ngoc Yeng.
On the afternoon of February 26, 2, the enemy focused on capturing Tham Mo hill. Our soldiers fought the enemy with everything they had at hand, from guns, bullets, rocks, and bare hands. At dusk, the enemy massively organized the final attack. Lieutenant Pham Ngoc Yeng commanded the remaining 1979 soldiers of the Company. After firing all the bullets, he fought hand-to-hand with the enemy and heroically died.
Colonel Phan Van Thang, who was in the same unit as Hero and Martyr Pham Ngoc Yeng, recounted: "The enemy took over the battlefield, we ran out of bullets, retreated to Yeng's fortification, and saw him sitting with his back against the trench wall. His right hand still clutched the K54. From then on, we called Tham Mo hill Pham Ngoc Yeg hill"...
In Mrs. Pham Thi Tuoi's mind, Mr. Yeng is very tall and has to bend down to pass through the door. "At the end of 1978, he returned on leave and planned to get married, but because of the tense border situation, he had to return to his unit, and the wedding had to be postponed until after Tet," Ms. Tuoi recalled.
With tears in her eyes, Mrs. Tuoi said: "After my brother died, every night my mother went to the kitchen and cried. The unit returned to welcome the martyrs' relatives to the district to receive the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces. Only my father went. My mother missed her son and became ill, and in 1987 she passed away. Before she closed her eyes, my mother did not forget to tell my father to try to bring my brother's remains back to his hometown."
Implementing the will of Mrs. Hoang Thi Tax (martyr Pham Ngoc Yeg's mother), in 1991, the family went to Cao Loc cemetery to bring martyr Pham Ngoc Yeg back to his hometown for burial.
Veteran Nguyen Van Kim and his teammates brought the remains of martyr Dinh Van Chung (sacrificed on peak 900, Vi Xuyen front, Ha Giang) to the martyrs cemetery in Thanh Thuy commune.
45 years have passed, but the pain left behind by the war to protect the Fatherland on the Northern border is still there. This land is still full of traces of war. Up to now, there are still no accurate statistics on the human and material losses of our army and people in the war to protect the Fatherland and prevent encroachment on the Northern border. However, just statistics on one front is enough to see the severity of the war and the pain and loss. At the Vi Xuyen front (Ha Giang) alone, nearly 5.000 officers and soldiers died, of which only over 1.700 remains have been found, the remaining over 3.000 remains are still scattered somewhere in the fields. Rock holes, buried under trees on steep mountain slopes, have yet to be found and retrieved.
Our Party, State and people will never forget the merits of our compatriots, officers and soldiers who fought and sacrificed to win the battle to protect the Northern border. The sacrifices and great contributions of heroic martyrs, wounded soldiers, and families of martyrs are forever engraved in the hearts of every Vietnamese person.
Veterans burn incense to commemorate martyrs at Vi Xuyen National Martyrs Cemetery (Ha Giang).
Looking back at the fight to protect the Northern border of the Fatherland 45 years ago is to affirm the historical truth and the righteousness of that fight; appreciate and honor our compatriots and soldiers who fought and sacrificed to protect every inch of the Fatherland's border land; propagate and educate patriotic traditions, and the deep gratitude of the people, especially the youth, to the generations of ancestors who did not spare their youth, blood, and lives to protect independence and freedom. freedom, unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Fatherland.
Remember the fight to protect the Northern border in 1979 so that future generations can appreciate the value of peace and pay tribute to those who spared no blood to protect the independence and territorial integrity of the Fatherland. . From the depths of their hearts, the Vietnamese and Chinese people both desire peace, stability, cooperation and development.
After 74 years of establishing diplomatic relations (January 18, 1 - January 1950, 18), the relationship between the two Parties and countries Vietnam and China has continuously developed in a healthy and stable direction. The political trust between senior leaders of the two Parties and two countries is constantly being strengthened and deepened.
Senior leaders of the two Parties and two countries maintain close contact. Among them, a deep impression is the official visit to China at the end of 2022 by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. The visit took place immediately after the 12th Congress of the Communist Party of China had just concluded. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is the first foreign leader to be invited by Chinese leaders to visit and officially receive a visit right after the Congress. The visit had historical significance and was a great success. On December 13 - 12, 2023, General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping also made a successful state visit to Vietnam. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping had in-depth exchanges and reached an important common understanding in continuing to deepen and elevate the strategic cooperative partnership. comprehensively Vietnam - China, building a Vietnam - China Future Sharing Community has strategic significance, for the happiness of the two countries' people, for the cause of peace and progress of humanity.
For many years, China has maintained its position as Vietnam's largest trading partner, and Vietnam is also China's largest ASEAN trading partner. Chinese investment in Vietnam maintains a rapid and sustainable growth trend. In 2022, Vietnam - China import-export turnover will reach nearly 180 billion USD, of which our exports will reach about 58 billion USD and imports will reach nearly 120 billion USD.
By the end of October 10, Vietnam's total import-export turnover with China reached nearly 2023 billion USD. Of which, Vietnam's export turnover to China reaches approximately 140 billion USD, up 50% over the same period in 5,1; accounting for 2022% of Vietnam's total exports to the world. Chinese investment in Vietnam reached more than 17 billion USD with 2,5 projects, making it the 555th largest FDI investor in Vietnam...
People-to-people exchanges between the two countries maintain the trend of rapid recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic. Up to now, China has been leading the number of tourists to Vietnam for many years. At the same time, the coordination of exchange and cooperation between Vietnam and China in common regional and international affairs is constantly being strengthened...
General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong spoke at the Friendship Meeting with notables and young generations of the two countries Vietnam - China, taking place in Hanoi on the afternoon of December 13, 12.
Speaking at the Friendship Meeting with notables and young generations of the two countries Vietnam - China, taking place in Hanoi on the afternoon of December 13, 12, on the occasion of the state visit to Vietnam by the General Secretary and President Chinese President Xi Jinping and General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong expressed their joy with General Secretary and President Xi Jinping to meet again the Chinese and Vietnamese friends and comrades who have made many contributions to Vietnam - China friendship, moved to meet again with Chinese scholars, intellectuals, officials and relatives of Chinese comrades who helped Vietnam during the years of struggle for national independence. . General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong expressed his confidence when meeting the youth of the two countries with the intention of following in the footsteps of previous generations, bringing vitality and a bright future to Vietnam - China relations.
General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong emphasized that the friendship between Vietnam and China has many good traditions. The close and intimate relationship between the people of the two countries is beautifully described in the song Vietnam - China by musician Do Nhuan: "By the river bathing in the same stream, I look there, you look here/Soon Early in the morning, we can hear the rooster crowing together." The people of the two countries have given each other a lot of valuable support and assistance in the past struggle for national independence and the cause of building socialism today. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong affirmed that the Party, State and people of Vietnam always respect, remember and appreciate the strong and great support of the Party, State and people of China for Vietnam.
Sharing about one of the most basic and important directions of cooperation in Vietnam-China relations is consolidating a stronger social foundation, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong affirmed that the deep and passionate aspirations from The two peoples' longstanding commitment to friendship, peace, cooperation and development is a source of great strength and a solid basis for faith in the bright future of relations between the two countries.
On the afternoon of August 25, 8, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong visited Huu Nghi International Border Gate. Also attending was Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to Vietnam Hung Ba.
In February, the border sky is a blue color. Green has covered the hills, mountains, forests, and bullet holes on the northern border in the past. But the evidence of the fight to protect the sacred territorial sovereignty of the Fatherland still exists. Those heroic yet tragic testimonies always remind us of border sovereignty, of the territorial boundaries left by our ancestors for thousands of years; reminds every Vietnamese person about: Peace, Independence, Freedom, National Self-Strength.
Article: Viet Ton – Diep Truong – Hong Diep
Photos, videos: Viet Ton – VNA
Presented by: Nguyen Ha
17/02/2024 08:00
