The epic of the liberation of Phu Yen

Fifty-one years ago, the army and people of Phu Yen closely coordinated with the main army units to pursue the fleeing enemy from the Central Highlands, gradually advancing and destroying the enemy, leading to the complete liberation of Phu Yen province (now eastern Dak Lak) on April 1, 1975.

Swift pursuit, creating a strategic encirclement.

Following their heavy defeat at Buon Ma Thuot on March 10, 1975, the enemy was forced to abandon the Central Highlands and retreat to the plains along Provincial Road 7 (now National Highway 25). Seizing the strategic opportunity and implementing the directives of the Politburo , the Central Military Commission, and the Campaign Command, our forces quickly deployed their troops, determined to annihilate the entire enemy force.

With a spirit of determination to fight and win, the armed forces of Phu Yen proactively coordinated closely with the main army units, especially the units of the 320th Division, to organize continuous pursuit. On the Route 5 (now National Highway 29) direction, our troops completely routed and annihilated the retreating enemy forces.

A parade of vehicles on the streets celebrating Liberation Day. (Archival photo)

On March 24, 1975, alongside the main forces pursuing the enemy, the army and people of Phu Yen liberated the town of Cung Son and the entire Son Hoa district. This victory was of special significance, opening the western gateway and creating favorable conditions for advancing towards Tuy Hoa town. From here, the overall situation throughout the province was clearly defined: the enemy was divided and disintegrated in fragments, while our forces increasingly approached strategic targets.

Recalling this pivotal moment, Colonel Tran Van Muoi, former Commander of the Provincial Military Command and Head of the Operations Department of the Phu Yen Provincial Military Command, said that after receiving orders from the Ministry of National Defense and Military Region 5, on March 26, 1975, the Forward Command Post and the Command of the 320th Division held a meeting and decided to attack Tuy Hoa town.

According to the original plan, the battle was scheduled for March 30, 1975. However, because Highway 7 had not yet been cleared, the engineering forces of the 320th Division and the province had to work day and night to repair it, only completing the work by the evening of March 31. Therefore, the plan was adjusted: the attack to liberate Tuy Hoa town and the entire Phu Yen province would begin on the morning of April 1, 1975. Immediately afterward, the forces quickly organized coordinated combat operations, ready for the decisive battle.

While we were urgently preparing, the enemy, after their defeat on Route 5, also tried to consolidate their forces, forming a defensive line from Quy Nhon to Tuy Hoa and Nha Trang. In Tuy Hoa town, they concentrated 11 infantry battalions, 3 security companies, 1 armored detachment, along with many police forces and ruthless thugs, under the direct command of Brigadier General Tran Van Cam and Colonel Vi Van Binh.

Key positions such as Hieu Xuong, Dong Tac airfield, Phu Khe, Phuoc Binh, Mount Mot, Hao Son… were all garrisoned by enemy forces. However, under the intense offensive pressure and the increasingly tight encirclement by our troops, this defense system gradually fell into a passive position.

The Liberation Front flag flies atop the Thap Nhan Tower on April 1, 1975. (Archival photo)

On March 31, 1975, our units simultaneously deployed their formations. Battalion 9 of Regiment 64 attacked the Hon Mot stronghold; Battalion 8 captured the section of National Highway 1 from Phu Khe to Hoa Xuan wooden bridge. In the north, local forces captured Ngan Son bridge, cutting off National Highway 1 south of Tuy An, preventing the enemy from retreating to the town.

Simultaneously, the 48th and 9th Regiments urgently deployed forces to attack the enemy in Tuy Hoa town. In the south, the 8th Battalion ambushed enemy traffic in the Song Van mountain area, destroying three enemy vehicles; the 9th Battalion, in coordination with the 24th Naval Special Forces Company, infiltrated deep into Ba Lo (Hoa Hiep), blocking the enemy's retreat route to the sea. The 3rd Regiment (320th Division) moved to Ca Pass, completely blocking the enemy's retreat route into Khanh Hoa.

On the main front, the units assembled at Da Ban stream, consolidating their forces and awaiting the moment to open fire. A tight encirclement, division, and isolation of the enemy was formed, creating favorable conditions for the decisive attack.

General offensive, liberate the entire province.

At exactly 5:00 AM on April 1, 1975, the offensive to liberate Tuy Hoa town officially began. Our 105mm artillery and 120mm mortars from positions in Hoa Thang simultaneously shelled enemy artillery positions on Nhan Mountain, quickly paralyzing the enemy's firepower.

Immediately afterwards, the assault units launched a simultaneous charge. Tanks advanced along Route 7 to support the 4th Battalion, 2nd Regiment, in capturing key targets such as Ong Chu Bridge, Da Rang Bridge, and Nhan Thap.

By 5:45 AM, the units had taken control of Dao hamlet and the airport, advancing along Highway 6 and Le Loi Street, capturing the Treasury Department and the civil servant area. In the north, Regiment 64 captured the provincial road, the Police Department, Regiment 47 headquarters, Go Da, Chop Mountain, and Chai Mountain.

Other units such as the 96th Battalion, the 25th Company, along with artillery forces, attacked the areas of Nui Sam, Long Tuong, Xom Lam, Quy Hau, Phuoc Khanh, Phuoc Hau… creating an overwhelming advantage across the entire battlefield.

Rally celebrating Liberation Day at Tuy Hoa town stadium. (Archival photo)

Faced with the powerful, continuous, and well-coordinated offensive of our forces, the enemy quickly fell into a passive position and disintegrated. Some units tried to resist, but could not hold their positions; many fled by helicopter or boat to the sea.

By 8:00 AM that same day, the main army units and local forces had completely taken control of Tuy Hoa town. Building on the momentum of the rapid offensive, immediately after securing the town, our troops continued to coordinate with local forces to liberate the remaining districts such as Tuy An, Song Cau, and Dong Xuan. By noon on April 1, 1975, the entire province of Phu Yen was officially liberated.

In that historic moment, the Front flag flew atop Thap Nhan Tower - a sacred symbol of the eastern region of Dak Lak.

The person who directly planted the flag was Nguyen Si Ky, Deputy Commander of the 22nd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company of the Phu Yen Provincial Military Command. According to Nguyen Si Ky's account, after Tuy Hoa town was liberated, his unit quickly moved to Nhan Mountain to build an anti-aircraft position, ready to retaliate against enemy aircraft.

Amidst the lingering smell of gunpowder, he climbed to the top of Nhan Tower to hoist the flag of victory. That image became a proud symbol for the army and people of Phu Yen, marking the triumph of the resistance war against the US, saving the nation in the homeland of Nhan Mountain and Da River.

The victory on April 1, 1975, was not only a military triumph, but also the culmination of willpower, courage, and close coordination between the main forces and the local army and people. That victory has gone down in history as a glorious milestone, contributing to the great victory of Spring 1975, unifying the country and ushering in a new era for the Vietnamese nation.

Le Hao

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/chinh-polit/202603/ban-hung-ca-giai-phong-phu-yen-ca14fc2/