The green island forever echoes the heroic song

Unlike its beautiful appearance today, Con Dao was once known as "hell on earth" - a place to imprison people determined to fight for freedom and independence of their Fatherland. At that time, on this remote island, the flame of struggle never went out...

Miniature scene depicting the joy of prisoners on the day of liberation of Con Dao at Phu Binh Prison

Con Dao Prison - more than a century of fame

In its more than a century of existence, the Con Dao prison system is a testament to the crimes of imperialism and colonialism, causing more than 20,000 people to be imprisoned, tortured and sacrificed, including many patriots and revolutionary soldiers.

Until now, the prison system is still there, silently in the middle of the green island, a "witness" to the pain and suffering of the past. Right on the stone wall in Phu Hai Prison, the poem Breaking Rocks in Con Lon by patriot Phan Chau Trinh (1872-1926) highlights the spirit of the steadfast soldiers: As a man standing in the middle of Con Lon land / Famously causing the mountains to collapse / Using a hammer to destroy five or seven piles / Using his hands to break hundreds of rocks / Months and days of preserving the body of porcelain / Rain and sun make the heart more steadfast and loyal / Those who mend the sky when they make a mistake / Hardship is just a small matter.

With their indomitable spirit, the prisoners of Con Dao persevered in their struggle and heroically died for freedom and peace for their country and people. Hang Duong Cemetery is the resting place of the Vietnamese people in these struggles, with nearly 2,000 graves, both named and anonymous. All of them have added to the glorious achievements of a period in Vietnamese history.

There, revolutionary Nguyen An Ninh - a patriotic activist in the early period of the struggle against French colonialism - also heroically died. He was a son of Long Thuong village, Can Giuoc district, Cho Lon province (old, before July 1, 2025, Long An province). On the stone stele in the cemetery are lines of writing recounting the process of keeping and building a grave for him - a person who was always respected by his fellow prisoners.

This is also the resting place of the member of the Communist International Executive Committee, General Secretary Le Hong Phong - an excellent student of President Ho Chi Minh . In Area B is the tomb of the Heroine of the People's Armed Forces Vo Thi Sau - whose death is immortal with stories of her "sacred soul" passed down through many generations.

And there are many other names of the Heroes of the Vietnam People's Armed Forces such as "The Old Man of the Tiger Cage" Cao Van Ngoc; revolutionary Luu Chi Hieu famous for his "anti-separatist" war; commando soldier Le Van Viet with his famous prison break in 1966; one of the leaders of the 1940 Southern Uprising Tran Van Thoi;...

50 years have passed since the day the country was reunified, North and South reunited, Hang Duong Cemetery silently guards the peaceful sleep of the children of the Fatherland day and night in the sound of the waves rustling among the green poplar rows.

Where memories are never forgotten

Mr. Phan Van Qui (residing in Suoi Ong Dinh hamlet, Tra Vong commune) visited the grave of People's Armed Forces Hero Vo Thi Sau at Hang Duong Cemetery.

In May 2025, Con Dao witnessed the bustling joy of former prisoners returning to celebrate the happy day of national peace and reunification. They chattered together, telling old stories...

At the age of 77, former prisoner of Con Dao Phan Van Qui (residing in Suoi Ong Dinh hamlet, Tra Vong commune) still remembers his feelings on the day he left the island: "Having heard that Con Lon is easy to enter but difficult to return, when I arrived on the island, I did not hope to return."

Originally from Can Tho, at the age of 17, Mr. Phan Van Qui joined the guerrilla force, then transferred to the main force unit and was arrested while on duty in the locality. He was sentenced to 5 years in prison and exiled to Con Dao in 1966. It was not until 1971 that he completed his prison term and was able to return to his hometown. In the memory of the former prisoner with the ID card number "18.977", there were many beatings and other forms of torture, which he still sometimes recalls with surprise. No words can describe all the hardships of prison life here, but for him, being alive and being able to return was a blessing. Even more fortunate was that during his time here, he was protected by older inmates and heard thrilling stories.

Mr. Phan Van No (residing in Hamlet 4, Truong Mit Commune), a former prisoner of Con Dao

Mr. Phan Van No, 85 years old, residing in Hamlet 4, Truong Mit Commune, Tay Ninh Province, is also a former prisoner of Con Dao. During his youth, living and fighting for his ideals, Mr. No was imprisoned by the enemy for more than 7 years, of which 3 years were spent in the "hell on earth" of Con Dao.

While participating in the guerrillas in Bau Don (a place in Go Dau district, former Tay Ninh province), Mr. No was arrested and sentenced to 5 years of hard labor. After 3 years in Con Dao, due to health reasons, he was sent back to the mainland and continued to be imprisoned in Chi Hoa Prison until his prison term ended in 1971. While in Con Dao, Mr. Phan Van No persistently fought with his fellow prisoners. He said: "In my youth, I tried to do my duty well, as long as I was alive, I had to fight for independence and freedom."

After the liberation day, Mr. Qui and Mr. No both returned to Con Dao several times. Looking back at the place where they spent their youth and the unforgettable days of their lives made them both feel sad and emotional.

After 50 years since the liberation of the South and the reunification of the country, Con Dao has changed a lot. Mr. Phan Van No happily said: “Back then, I lived in exile and did not know anything. Later, every time I returned to Con Dao, I watched the vehicles passing by old landmarks such as Ben Dam and Co Ong airport with great emotion. Life here is increasingly prosperous and changing, I am very happy!”

As for Mr. Phan Van Qui, every time he comes to Con Dao, he feels the joy and happiness of change. “Thinking back on the ups and downs of prison life, I still feel nostalgic, sometimes moved to tears. But now, putting the past behind me, all I have left is joy for the constant development of this land and its people,” Mr. Qui confided./.

Vi Xuan

Source: https://baolongan.vn/dao-xanh-vang-mai-khuc-hat-anh-hung-a199269.html