Ho Chi Minh Trail at sea - stature and historical significance

Editor 's note : The 60th anniversary of Vung Ro Port receiving large - scale military shipments from the Northern rear to supply weapons , equipment , and medicine to the Phu Yen battlefield and Zone 5 ( November 1964 - November 2024 ) by the Ho Chi Minh Trail at sea , towards the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People 's Army ( December 22 , 1944 - December 22 , 2024 ) is an opportunity for us to review and​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Proud of and promoting the heroic tradition of the Vietnam People 's Army in general and the Vietnam People 's Navy in particular in the struggle for national liberation and reunification .​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ This is the source of endogenous strength , the driving force for the army and people of Phu Yen to continue in the work of firmly protecting the sovereignty of the sea , islands and continental shelf in the cause of building and defending the Socialist Republic of Vietnam .​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

 

From today ( November 4 ) , Phu Yen Newspaper respectfully presents a special section to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Vung Ro Port welcoming unnumbered ships ( November 1964 - November 2024 ) .​​​​​​​​​​​​​

 

More than 6 decades have passed but the miracle of the Ho Chi Minh trail at sea still resonates forever , carrying great scope and significance for the current cause of national construction and protection .​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visited and heard about the legend of Vung Ro during his visit to Phu Yen . Photo: TRAN QUOI

 

The magnitude of the Ho Chi Minh trail at sea​​​​​​​

 

Although the amount of weapons and goods transported by the Ho Chi Minh Trail at sea is still small compared to the amount of goods and weapons transported by the Ho Chi Minh Trail on land, it is very meaningful. Because the Ho Chi Minh Trail at sea has truly become a powerful "deep thrust, flanking" spearhead for transporting and supporting important coastal areas, where support by the strategic transport route 559 has not been able to reach and the enemy did not expect our creativity and boldness. Transporting by sea is difficult and dangerous, but has advantages in speed, time and transport efficiency.

 

Along with the task of transporting military goods, the Ho Chi Minh Sea Trail also undertook an extremely important mission, which was to transport more than 80,000 Party and military cadres and military experts to the South; from the South to the North to report to the central government and receive new instructions, promptly supplementing the leadership, direction and combat command work on the southern battlefield.

 

In particular, during the crucial moment of the resistance war against the US to save the country - the General Offensive and Uprising in the spring of 1975, the Ho Chi Minh Trail at sea rapidly transported nearly 9,000 tons of heavy weapons including 50 tanks and artillery; brought nearly 19,000 officers and soldiers over 66,000 nautical miles to join the battle in time, coordinate operations with the road army, directly contributing to the cause of liberating the South and unifying the country.

 

The stature of the Ho Chi Minh Trail at sea is extremely great, it has gathered the strength of the entire Vietnamese people with an unshakable determination and iron will, that is "dare to fight, know how to fight, know how to win and be determined to win" against the invading American imperialists. In the process of carrying out this difficult and arduous task, the forces, especially the Navy, have grasped the situation, proactively built forces, prepared means, trained thoroughly, including the forces coordinating operations, creating favorable conditions for the transportation work to achieve the highest results.

 

The miracle of the Ho Chi Minh Trail at sea was also created by generations of cadres and soldiers of the No-numbered train who were always infinitely loyal to the Party, the Fatherland and the People; always upholding their indomitable will, ingenuity and creativity, ready to fight and sacrifice to excellently complete all assigned tasks.

Hero of the People's Armed Forces, Lieutenant Colonel Ho Dac Thanh, former Captain of Ship No. C41, burned incense and released flower lanterns to pay tribute to the heroic martyrs who sacrificed their lives at Vung Ro wharf. Photo: TRAN QUOI

 

Meaning in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland​​​​​​​​​​​​

 

The Ho Chi Minh Trail at sea represents determination, will and aspiration: “Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom”. However, above all, the Ho Chi Minh Trail at sea is the route of “people’s hearts and minds”, of people’s war at sea, gathering the strength of the entire people, especially expressing the great sentiment and responsibility of the compatriots and people of the North towards the South.

 

Relying on the people, with the protection, help and wholehearted support of the people, the strategic sea transport route has overcome all difficulties, fierce challenges, overcome all enemy blockades, excellently completed its tasks, contributing to accelerating the cause of liberating the South and unifying the country. That is a lesson for today, we continue to promote propaganda and education work, raise awareness, responsibility and promote the role of the people in the struggle to protect and preserve the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland.

 

The opening of the Ho Chi Minh Trail at sea during the resistance war against the US has proven that Vietnamese patriotism always shines in the hearts of the nation in all ages. Inheriting the heroic tradition of the Ho Chi Minh Trail at sea, the task of protecting the Fatherland has been raised to a new level: Actively and proactively protecting the Fatherland early, from afar, steadfast in its goals; firmly protecting the independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of the Fatherland; protecting the Party, State, and People; protecting the cause of innovation, industrialization and modernization; protecting national and ethnic interests; protecting political security, social order and safety and culture; maintaining political stability and a peaceful environment to build and develop the country in the direction of socialism. At the same time, maintaining a peaceful and stable environment, continuing to develop the country, promoting the combined strength of the entire nation, in which the armed forces are the core.

 

Looking back at the history of the resistance war against the US to save the country (1954-1975), it can be affirmed that no combat operation was as fragile between life and death as when carrying out missions on the trains of the Ho Chi Minh Trail at sea. Only people with high determination and ready to sacrifice for the Fatherland could accept and complete such a difficult mission. The historical practice of the Ho Chi Minh Trail at sea has left an important meaning in building the determination of cadres and soldiers on the mission of protecting the sacred sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland in the current period.

 

More than ever, it is necessary to build political mettle and determination for soldiers to protect sea and island sovereignty through training, so that soldiers can truly "be good at their own position and know the position of others", master weapons and equipment, especially new and modern technical weapons and equipment.

 

Currently, the world and regional situation is always complicated and unpredictable; the task of protecting the sovereignty of the seas, islands and continental shelves of the Fatherland and maintaining a peaceful and stable environment on the seas and islands is extremely heavy, requiring the forces in the Navy to continue to promote the tradition of the No-numbered ships, build the unit towards modernization in the spirit of the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress; resolutely and persistently resolve disputes and disagreements on the seas and islands by peaceful means, on the basis of international law. Participate well in exchange activities with the navies of countries in the region and the world; closely coordinate in patrolling, practicing, searching and rescuing, fighting piracy... to maintain a peaceful, stable, orderly, secure and developing marine economy, always being the core force in firmly protecting the sacred sovereignty of the seas and islands of the Fatherland.

  

Associate Professor, Doctor, Colonel NGUYEN VAN SAU

Deputy Director of the Vietnam Military History Institute

Source: https://baophuyen.vn/76/322520/duong-ho-chi-minh-tren-bien-tam-voc-va-y-nghia-lich-su.html