Ham Rong Bridge - "Emerging from the flames of war, yet rising again"

Mentioning the place name Ham Rong, people not only remember a land rich in cultural heritage, but also the event where the army and people of Ham Rong - Nam Ngan defeated the American air force, a victory that shook the world in the early days of April 1965.

Ham Rong Bridge - a symbol of Thanh Hoa . Photo: KIEU HUYEN

Sacred land

“Nine peaks have crossed the river / Why won't one peak return?” or “Ninety-nine peaks on the east / But the Nit mountain peak by the river hasn't returned yet” are folk songs about the land located on the southern bank of the Ma River with 99 mountains and hills shaped like a winding dragon's body, stretching from Vom village (Thieu Khanh) to the foot of Ham Rong bridge, creating a region of “magnificent mountains and beautiful waters”.

Numerous archaeological documents indicate that, from the time of the Hung Kings who founded the Van Lang Kingdom, Dong Son was already an agricultural village that had formed, developed, and held a significant position in the region. The discovery of the ancient Dong Son village site, dating back over 2,500 years, opened a new chapter in the study of ancient Vietnamese civilization during the early period of nation-building. After the glorious period of the Dong Son culture, throughout the thousand years of Chinese rule, the ancient Dong Son village remained an important area in the Cuu Chan region. Traces of settlements and burial sites show the continuous development of this land during the period of cultural exchange between Vietnam and China and subsequent stages of development... During the feudal period, the Dong Son area was an important region marked by evidence of activities of the Ly, Tran, Le, and Tay Son dynasties. Even during the Nguyen dynasty, the court built a Confucian temple in Dong Son village. On the chronological axis from the time of the Hung Kings' founding of the nation to the modern era, the Dong Son culture and Dong Son village have always held a unique position. But, as writer Tu Nguyen Tinh wrote: Ham Rong is a scenic spot, because of its picturesque mountains and rivers. It captivates countless poets, scholars, and emperors who visit, shedding their anxieties and questioning the ways of the world, merging with the spirit of the rivers and mountains. If that were all, Ham Rong would still only be a scenic spot. But within the earth lie countless secrets, the imprints of history, and the accumulated history of an entire human civilization. And countless stories have woven together the "sacred spot" of Ham Rong. Ham Rong only truly became a symbol when it rose up with rudimentary weapons to fight back against the powerful air force of the United States... (Ham Rong, a symbol of the people of Thanh Hoa).

The opening battle against the American war of destruction.

On that land, since the beginning of the 20th century, the Ham Rong bridge has witnessed countless ups and downs, losses and also the glory of the people of Dong Son in particular, and the army and people of Thanh Hoa in general.

At the time of expanding the bombing campaign, the US military believed that there were 60 choke points along the Ho Chi Minh Trail from Hanoi, and Ham Rong was an "ideal choke point," the key junction of the "panhandle" area. Therefore, attacking Ham Rong would effectively prevent the North from providing support to the South. From the White House, US President B. Johnson declared: "It is time for America to crush the will of the white-haired men of Hanoi and break the backbone of the Vietnamese Army by striking the steel bridge named Ham Rong, 75 miles south of Hanoi." Thus, the attack on Ham Rong was chosen by the White House and the Pentagon as the most important target in the first bombing campaign against North Vietnam.

With the aim of cutting off North-South support, isolating Ham Rong, and concentrating on decisively attacking Ham Rong, at 8:45 AM on April 3, 1965, the first 16 American planes bombed Thanh Hoa province, targeting a series of locations such as Do Len Bridge (Ha Trung), Cun Bridge (Nong Cong), Van Trai railway station (Tinh Gia, now Nghi Son town)...

In just two days, April 3rd and 4th, 1965, the US military used 174 sorties and 454 aircraft sorties, dropping bombs on Thanh Hoa province. In the Ham Rong - Nam Ngan - Yen Vuc area alone, the enemy conducted 85 dive bombing raids, 80 bombing raids, dropped 350 bombs, and fired 149 rockets. It can be affirmed that this was the first time since launching the air war of destruction against North Vietnam that the US imperialists organized an attack of such scale and ferocity; they wanted to send us "back to the Stone Age."

However, the soldiers and people of Nam Ngạn - Hàm Rồng bravely fought against the brutal air raids of the American enemy aircraft, protecting the Hàm Rồng bridge - a vital national transportation artery, ensuring supplies for the Southern battlefield; with the slogans "All for our beloved South," and "Determined to defeat the American invaders." In just two days, April 3rd and 4th, 1965, the soldiers and people of our province shot down 47 American enemy aircraft and captured two enemy pilots. In Hàm Rồng alone, in those two days, they shot down 31 American aircraft, setting a record for the number of American planes destroyed in the skies of North Vietnam. Amidst the fierce fighting, many examples of courageous and heroic combat emerged. One such example was the female hero Ngô Thị Tuyển, who braved bombs and bullets to carry 98 kg of ammunition, twice her own weight, to supply the troops; Six girls from the Lo Cao medical team, the Yen Vuc militia, and Hac Oa braved enemy fire to reach artillery batteries, bandaging wounded soldiers and supplying ammunition to anti-aircraft positions at Hill 75, C4, Quyet Thang, and Khong Ten. Hundreds of mothers and sisters in Dong Son village cooked meals and delivered them to the battlefield for the soldiers... This story, like a legend, caused a stir in American public opinion and earned the admiration of friends who cherish justice and peace around the world.

Ham Rong became a terror for the US Air Force. Through two wars of destruction waged by the American imperialists, the people and soldiers of Ham Rong alone shot down 117 aircraft, killed and captured many American pilots, protected the bridge, ensured smooth traffic flow, and boosted production, making a worthy contribution alongside the people and army of the whole country to bringing the resistance war against the US to complete victory. At that time, Western news agencies reported and commented on the story of the "American Thunderbolt" being "slaughtered" by North Vietnamese MIG-17s, calling April 4, 1965, "the dark day for the US Air Force." Furthermore, the world news agencies used phrases such as "an extraordinary legend," "Victory Monument," and "the most beautiful bridge" for the Ham Rong Bridge. Above all, after countless bombings and shelling, the Ham Rong Bridge still stands tall over the Ma Giang River.

And Ham Rong shines brightly.

These heroic deeds have brought glory to the heroic and indomitable traditions of the people of Thanh Hoa, becoming a symbol of the strength of Vietnamese righteousness.

Ham Rong Bridge - The historic Ham Rong Bridge and the new Hoang Long Bridge span the Ma River.

Over the years, the Ham Rong Bridge, with its two words "Victory" majestically carved into the mountainside, has become a shining symbol of Vietnamese patriotism and revolutionary heroism. It's worth remembering that in 1901, the French began construction of the Ham Rong Bridge, and after three years (1904), a semi-circular arch bridge, like a "swan," the most modern in Indochina, spanning the Ma River, was completed. The second time was in 1962 – after the scorched-earth resistance – the Ham Rong Bridge was rebuilt, and in 1964, this "miraculous pillar bridge" was inaugurated. The third time, after 69 days and nights of construction, the Ham Rong Bridge opened to traffic on May 19, 1973. To this day, alongside the historic Ham Rong Bridge, the Hoang Long Bridge and the Nguyet Vien Bridge play a significant role in the construction and development of Thanh Hoa City's infrastructure.

Fifty-eight years have passed since the war ended, and the old bomb craters are now flourishing with fruit trees. Today, Ham Rong has become a highlight of tourism in Thanh Hoa province. Along the Ma River, there are many industrial zones, bustling urban areas, expanded roads, and the lives of the local people are changing day by day.

Ms. Le Thi Thanh, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairwoman of the People's Committee of Ham Rong Ward, said: The Party Committee and people of Ham Rong Ward are striving to achieve the goal of "Improving the leadership capacity of the Party Committee; promoting heroic traditions, maximizing potential and advantages, building a friendly tourism environment; and striving to become a model ward by 2025" as set forth in the Resolution of the Ward Party Congress for the 2020-2025 term.

In 2022, despite the continued severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, thanks to the decisive leadership and direction of the Thanh Hoa City Party Committee, People's Council, and People's Committee, along with the determination and efforts of the entire political system of Ham Rong ward and the people in the area, the socio-economic situation remained basically stable. Out of a total of 23 targets, the ward exceeded 3 targets and achieved 100% completion for 18 targets. Specifically, the value of trade, services, and tourism reached VND 361.9 billion, an increase of 11.8% compared to the same period in 2021; small-scale handicraft production reached VND 306.2 billion, an increase of 11.5%; and agricultural production reached VND 15.9 billion, an increase of 11.2%. Notably, in the first three months of 2023, the ward exceeded almost all of its set targets.

“As a Thanh Hoa native, surely everyone remembers Ham Rong, not just me. Ham Rong is in the hearts of tens of millions of people” (Nostalgia for Ham Rong - Kieu Vuong). This further reminds us of the glorious history of our nation and also serves as motivation for us to work together to build a modern and civilized Thanh Hoa City.

KIEU HUYEN

This article uses material from the books "Thanh Hoa City Past and Present" (Thanh Hoa Publishing House, 2010) and "Ham Rong - A Symbol of Thanh Hoa People" (by Tu Nguyen Tinh, Thanh Hoa Publishing House, 2021).

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