Historically, Sam Son was the first place to welcome ships docking at Hoi port, carrying tens of thousands of people, cadres, soldiers, and students from the South who relocated to the North following the humane and correct policy of the Party and President Ho Chi Minh. Today, 70 years after that historic event, a memorial site for the people, cadres, soldiers, and students from the South who relocated to the North has been built on the beautiful coastal land of Sam Son, with the image of the ship that transported them to the North as a highlight.
As autumn arrives by the sea, we hear the sound of waves crashing against the shore, as if for millennia the sea has continued its fervent song of loyalty and affection. Joyfully carried on the October breeze, the red flag with a yellow star flutters proudly atop the ship that gathered at the memorial site for the people, cadres, soldiers, and students from the South who relocated to the North. The memorial site has only recently been completed, but its historical significance spans 70 years.
Seventy years have passed since that historic troop movement, yet the memories of the warmth, hospitality, and thoughtful welcome of the people and land of Sam Son remain deeply etched in the hearts of the cadres, soldiers, and students from the South who were on those ships that docked at the port. Even after countless ups and downs and the vicissitudes of life, this sacred bond continues to urge and beckon them to return to their old haunts. Each return is filled with profound emotion. During these visits, former cadres, soldiers, and students from the South who relocated to the North have expressed their desire to build a symbolic monument in the coastal city of Sam Son, commemorating this important and meaningful historical event; a place that connects generations, educates about traditions, and upholds the spirit of great unity – the source of strength and enduring motivation in the cause of building and defending the homeland.
Deeply aware of the value and significance of this historical event, and in response to the aspirations and sentiments of the cadres, soldiers, and students from the South, in 2014, the Thanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee and People's Committee agreed to allocate land to Sam Son City for the construction of a memorial project for the people, cadres, soldiers, and students from the South who relocated to the North. After a period of preparation, the project's planning was approved by the Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee in October 2014, and the investment policy for construction was approved in June 2015. In September 2020, the Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Council issued a Resolution on the project's construction. In August 2022, construction of the memorial began at a location right next to Lach Hoi Port, Quang Tien Ward, Sam Son City.
The project's investment scale comprises two areas. Area A, covering 13,580 m² , includes: a monument depicting the ship that gathered in the North, an exhibition hall for artifacts, a reception area, a documentary film screening area, a large arch-shaped relief, and auxiliary facilities. Area B, covering 1,985 m² , includes three campsites, landscaped green spaces, and auxiliary facilities, simulating the living quarters of people, cadres, soldiers, and students from the South. In addition, there is a 1.1 km long "Road of Memories," a 665 m long branch of the Nam Song Ma Boulevard to Area B, and a themed park covering 23,865 m² ...
The monument depicting the ship regrouping north, located in section A of the project, is considered a valuable highlight in terms of both artistic appeal and emotional impact. According to the design, the ship is made of reinforced concrete, with a floor area of 3,200 m² and a highest point at the bow, reaching 12 meters in height. Large stone blocks are sculpted at the base of the ship, depicting waves crashing against its hull. A staircase is designed inside the ship's hull. The area within the monument will be designed as a miniature museum displaying artifacts and replicas of the interior of ships from Poland and the former Soviet Union. A railing system is installed on the ship's deck for visitors and locals to stand and admire the view.
Walking around the memorial area is like entering a "journey of memories", a "journey of emotions".
The delicate, realistic, and vivid carvings on the reliefs; the large statues sculpted from stone have recreated countless cherished and touching memories of solidarity, sharing, and mutual support between the people of the North and South, between the cadres, soldiers, and students of the South and the army and people of Sam Son in particular, and Thanh Hoa in general, during the turbulent moments of history. People greeted each other warmly, shaking hands and waving as if they had known each other since the hundred eggs of Mother Au Co, as if there had never been a dividing line. Leaving was also returning, returning to the embrace of great unity. The people, cadres, soldiers, and students, following the policies of the Party and State, accepted temporarily leaving their birthplace, their families, loved ones, and friends, but the land and people of Sam Son, the heroic and resilient land of Thanh Hoa, will be their relatives, their home, their "second homeland," ready to welcome, care for, and protect them.
The assembly ship stands tall and proud in the sun and wind. Interestingly, from any angle, it seems as if the ship is in motion, reaching forward. The ship is a historical symbol; at the same time, it is a driving force for the future. In the heart of the ship, an exhibition space displays documents and artifacts related to that assembly event. Many of these documents and artifacts were respectfully sent back by the people, cadres, soldiers, and students from the South.
Mr. Huynh Van Thon, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Loc Troi Group, Hero of Labor during the đổi mới (renovation) period, and Deputy Head of the Central Liaison Committee for Southern Students, sincerely expressed: "...Every contribution from each person in the community of Southern students in the North, whether material or a letter, a school record book, a photograph, or an old scarf preserved throughout the journey from the 1954 regrouping to the present, can be an artifact of the regrouping museum. It is a thread of emotion connecting the present with our memorable and proud past. The greatest value of each artifact is the rational and emotional commitment we have to the tradition of patriotism and love for our people, which I believe each of us wants to preserve and pass on to future generations." ("Stories of Southern Students - I Followed the Regrouping Army," Scientific Conference "Thanh Hoa with the People, Cadres, Soldiers and Southern Students Regrouping in the North - 70 Years of Deep Affection").
Soon, the memorial site for the compatriots, cadres, soldiers, and students from the South who relocated to the North will truly become an attractive destination for people in the country and international friends, a significant site for educating future generations of Vietnamese about revolutionary traditions and patriotism whenever they visit the beautiful coastal city of Sam Son, and the courageous, resilient land of Thanh Hoa, rich in revolutionary traditions and profound cultural layers...
Text and photos: Nguyen Linh
Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/con-tau-cua-ky-uc-hien-tai-va-tuong-lai-228373.htm
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