"War record 1-2-3-4.75"

"War Records 1-2-3-4.75" by the late journalist and writer Tran Mai Hanh, published by the National Political Publishing House, has just been released for the sixth time in both Vietnamese and English versions to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025). This historical documentary novel is a special work, not only because of its historical value but also because of the way it realistically and emotionally recreates the final days of the war.

Having served as a war correspondent for the Vietnam News Agency (now the Vietnam News Agency) in the South, in early 1975, Tran Mai Hanh was assigned to the Ho Chi Minh Campaign as a special correspondent for the Vietnam News Agency, part of a delegation led by the then Director General of the Vietnam News Agency. Closely following the main army units, the author accompanied the troops as they liberated most cities and towns from Hue to Saigon and was fortunate enough to witness the historic moment on the afternoon of April 30, 1975, at the Independence Palace. The original documents obtained, the notes taken during the campaign and in the first days of liberated Saigon, along with valuable materials from the Saigon regime that the author had the opportunity to access and utilize, helped him write this book.

Based on confidential documents, internal records and reports, and interviews with historical witnesses, the book paints a vivid picture of the irreversible collapse of the Saigon puppet regime in the spring of 1975. The novel, comprising 19 chapters and an appendix containing 31 original references printed in full, vividly portrays the downfall and the fates of most of the puppet generals and leaders of the Saigon regime during the final four months of the liberation struggle (January to April 1975), highlighting the great victory of the resistance war against the US, fought by our army and people under the wise and skillful leadership of the Party.

In a turbulent world rife with conflict and shifts in power, “War Records 1-2-3-4.75” is not just a story of the past, but also offers valuable lessons about war, diplomacy, and the fate of political institutions in the face of change. The work raises profound questions about historical truth, how parties in a conflict record and interpret the past, and the lasting impacts of war on individuals and societies.

As the pages are turned, readers not only witness the brutal battles but also recognize the subtle shifts in politics, diplomacy, and military strategy—elements that remain relevant when considering contemporary conflicts. This makes the book not just a historical document but also a reminder that humanity's future requires lasting peace.

Whether readers are historians, journalists, or simply want to learn about one of the pivotal moments of the 20th century, "War Records 1-2-3-4.75" is sure to offer insightful and emotionally resonant perspectives. The English version of the book helps to disseminate these valuable documents to international readers, contributing to the clarification of events that shaped Vietnam and Southeast Asia.

The book "War Records 1-2-3-4.75" was first published by the National Political Publishing House in April 2014 and has been continuously reprinted in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2020 (with the 2020 reprint including 10 new documents). The work won the 2014 Literature Prize of the Vietnam Writers Association and the 2015 ASEAN Literature Prize. In 2017, it was translated into English for international readers, in 2018 into Lao, and in 2022 into Spanish, becoming one of the books serving the foreign affairs work of the Vietnamese Party and State in recent years.

According to qdndn.vn

Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/van-hoa/202505/bien-ban-chien-tranh-1-2-3-475-5544eb3/