The pride of the victory will last forever.

Veteran Dam Ngoc Binh (Nam Binh ward, Ninh Binh city) - one of the people who directly participated in the fighting in Saigon on April 30, 1975 - could not hide his emotion mixed with pride when recalling the years he participated in the campaign named after President Ho Chi Minh - the Ho Chi Minh Campaign.

He recounted: "In early April 1975, while I was working as an instructor at the Signal Corps Non-Commissioned Officer School, I was appointed by my superiors as Squad Leader of Team 15W (Company 18, Regiment 141, Division 312) and given a special mission: to march swiftly into the Southern battlefield with other units of Division 312, reinforcing the main force attacking the enemy's nerve center in Saigon."

Receiving orders from the Central Military Commission: "Speed, even greater speed, boldness, even greater boldness, seize every hour, every minute, rush to the front, liberate the South. Fight decisively and achieve total victory," with the determination "When ordered, we go; when there is an enemy, we fight; we win decisively," Mr. Binh and his comrades marched through forests and over mountains. After 14 days and nights, the unit arrived at the Dong Xoai assembly area, ready to participate in the Ho Chi Minh Campaign. Subsequently, the unit was tasked with encircling and destroying the enemy at the Lai Khe stronghold, preventing the 5th Division of the Republic of Vietnam from withdrawing to the inner city.

On the night of April 27th and the early morning of April 28th, the 312th Division was ordered to open fire and capture the Lai Khe stronghold, annihilating the 5th Division of the Republic of Vietnam Army. After three days of fierce fighting, on the morning of April 30th, our troops had taken control of the situation and captured the entire Lai Khe stronghold. Near noon on April 30th, the enemy at the Lai Khe stronghold raised a white flag and surrendered. Brigadier General Le Nguyen Vi (Commander of the 5th Division of the South Vietnamese Army) fled to his private villa and committed suicide.

"By noon on April 30th, we received news that Saigon had been completely liberated, and the Ho Chi Minh Campaign had achieved complete victory. I remember it was raining heavily that day. Upon receiving the news that President Duong Van Minh and the Saigon government cabinet had surrendered unconditionally, we rushed outside, hugged each other, cheered, and celebrated the victory. The soldiers shouted: 'Long live Ho Chi Minh!', 'Mother, the South is liberated!', 'Homeland, it's liberated…'" - Mr. Binh recalled emotionally.

After April 30, 1975, along with other units of the main army advancing to liberate Saigon, the 312th Division was assigned the task of military administration of the city and taking over enemy military facilities. Mr. Binh and his comrades demonstrated a high sense of organizational discipline and revolutionary vigilance, simultaneously completing the takeover task and working with cadres and the people of the city to hunt down enemy remnants; recovering and managing enemy equipment and weapons; participating in building the revolutionary government and armed forces at the grassroots level, contributing to the rapid stabilization of the lives and production of the people of Saigon.

It was a great honor for veteran Dam Ngoc Binh that, just two weeks after the complete liberation of South Vietnam, he participated in the parade celebrating the great victory of the nation, held in Saigon on May 15, 1975. "During the parade, officers and soldiers of the 312th Division, in neat formation, along with representatives from all branches of the armed forces and delegations from all walks of life in Saigon, marched past the reviewing stand amidst the resounding cheers of tens of thousands of people. That magnificent parade and mass march not only demonstrated the strength of the nation but also served to unite people's hearts and dispel the reactionary propaganda previously spread by the puppet regime about the liberation army soldiers," Mr. Binh affirmed.

Forty-nine years have passed since the complete liberation of South Vietnam and the reunification of the country, but for veteran Nguyen Van Cong in Ngo Thuong village, Ninh Hoa commune (Hoa Lu district), recalling those special days brings back memories of a beautiful and passionate youth. In the mind of this old soldier, the memories and joy of the victory in the Ho Chi Minh Campaign remain vivid.

Mr. Cong said: Before entering the Ho Chi Minh Campaign, our troops, riding on victory, liberated one province after another. Therefore, the atmosphere of victory permeated all the battlefields in the South. The continuous news of victories from many places further strengthened the resolve of young soldiers, eighteen or twenty years old, like us at that time, in our determination to fight and win, to liberate the South and unify the country.

On April 30, 1975, our army launched its final offensive, advancing straight into the heart of Saigon, capturing the Independence Palace, and completely liberating the South. This was the greatest and most complete victory, ending 30 years of the longest, most arduous, and fierce but also most glorious resistance war of the Vietnamese nation. "When we received the news that the Independence Palace had been completely liberated, the soldiers cheered with joy. At that moment, we hugged each other and cried with happiness that the country had achieved peace , but we also tearfully remembered our comrades who had sacrificed their lives, especially those soldiers who fell at the gates of Saigon just before liberation. They were not fortunate enough to witness this glorious moment for the country," veteran Nguyen Van Cong confided.

According to veteran Nguyen Van Cong: On April 30th of that year, Saigon was covered in flags and flowers. People holding liberation flags crowded both sides of the street, waving to the liberation army. Everyone's face was joyful and radiant; many people shouted, "Saigon is liberated! Saigon is liberated!"

Mr. Cong shared: After the complete liberation of South Vietnam in 1976, I left the army, transferred to another sector, and was appointed as the Head of River Station No. 2 (Yen Mo). In 1978, when the Party and State decided to send civilian and military cadres and experts along with volunteer forces to perform international duties in Cambodia, I volunteered to re-enlist, serving in political training at the Political Department of the Non-Commissioned Officer School of Military Region 3 until 1987.

Returning to civilian life, upholding the qualities of "Uncle Ho's soldiers," veteran Nguyen Van Cong has always been a pioneer in patriotic emulation movements in his locality, having held many key positions in the commune such as: Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, Secretary of the Party Committee of Ninh Hoa commune. In 2010, he retired. Recalling memories from nearly 50 years ago, veteran Nguyen Van Cong shared with emotion: "I am proud and fortunate to be one of the sons of the ancient capital of Hoa Lu who contributed a small part of my efforts to the great historical moment of the nation - the liberation of the South and the reunification of the country. To achieve the peace, independence, and freedom we have today, countless compatriots and soldiers sacrificed their blood, sweat, and tears." In my hometown of Ninh Hoa commune, eight young men enlisted with me back then, but after liberation, only four returned… Therefore, I hope that today's young generation will always be proud, remember, and uphold the glorious traditions of the nation, and be determined to successfully carry out the cause of building and defending the Fatherland.

As we bid farewell to veteran Nguyen Van Cong, the lyrics echoed somewhere: "We walk amidst countless golden stars and fluttering flags/Excited and enthusiastic footsteps converge here/Saigon! We have stood firm for so many years, one joyful day of liberation…".

Forty-nine years have passed since April 30, 1975, which has gone down in the glorious and brilliant history of our nation's achievements in building and defending the country. Even today, as April arrives, millions of Vietnamese hearts are filled with special emotions, urging each person to act resolutely, build upon the achievements of the April 30th Victory, and work together to build a more prosperous and happy homeland.

Mai Lan

Source: https://baoninhbinh.org.vn/con-mai-niem-tu-hao-ngay-chien-thang/d20240426082344862.htm