Hanoi, the day the capital was taken over in the memory of female students of the resistance war

Sometimes Mrs. Do Hong Phan would silently think about the torture she had to endure.

At that time, Hanoi newspapers published her story, causing a huge wave of protest in the student resistance movement. The young female student’s act of cutting her hand and committing suicide caused a stir. The Hanoi Youth Union continuously organized struggles to demand resistance against the oppression and terrorism of French colonialism.

On January 21, 1951, after her family was called many times to sign a commitment that her child would not continue to participate in the movement, she was released because she was not yet 18 years old.

During the conversation, many times I asked her to tell more stories about the struggle in Hoa Lo prison, she just smiled and said that what she had to endure and sacrifice for a few months was nothing compared to the hardships and pain that our soldiers go through every day.

Four female students sing the song “Truong Ca Song Lo” by musician Van Cao at the Opera House in 1950, Ms. Do Hong Phan stands on the far left. (Photo: VNA)

In 1952, she was secretly taken to the liberated zone by the Resistance Department's liaison system. During this time, the organization selected her as one of the members of the young delegation from the temporarily occupied zone to participate in the International Youth Conference in Romania. Having the opportunity to interact and meet international students, and listening to Vietnamese student representatives talk about the war in the colony, she became more patriotic and understood the hardships of her compatriots and soldiers.

After the Dien Bien Phu victory and the Geneva Agreement were signed, the Central Youth Union called the youth union to Dai Tu, Thai Nguyen to prepare to take over Hanoi. The students of that time were thoroughly trained in their duties and attitudes when they returned to the capital.

Two days before the day of taking over the capital, the group of students returned to Hanoi. From Dai Tu (Thai Nguyen), the convoy went around Phu Tho , crossed the Thao River, went to Hung Hoa, and then gathered in Thuong Tin.

Early October 10, Hanoi was bright with flags and flowers. Mother, siblings, and relatives were waiting for her hometown. After two years in the liberated zone, she had the chance to go to Romania to attend a conference. This time, when she returned, Mrs. Phan knew that Hanoi was very different from before. The spirit of freedom filled the student's heart with joy.

Looking into the distance, she recalled the scene at that time: “We sat in the car, waving our hands non-stop. Our convoy went to Bach Mai market, Mo market, then continued on Hang Gai, Hang Bong, Cua Nam streets, up to Cot Co. All around, the atmosphere was joyful and jubilant to the point of suffocation when seeing people carrying flags, waving flowers, and giving them to each other. The entire way from the beginning of Trang Tien to the tram stop, to the beginning of Hang Dao, students gathered together, playing music, singing together, asking each other questions, bustling the whole street corner.”

The youth group's gathering point was at the Don Thuy wharf area (now the 108 Central Military Hospital). The group leader announced that anyone who had a house in Hanoi could return. Taking advantage of the short time, she quickly ran home to Hang Bong to visit her parents and relatives for a few days, then returned to continue participating in school movements.

On the afternoon of May 7, 1954, the “Determination to Fight – Determination to Win” flag of the Vietnam People’s Army flew over the roof of General De Castries’ bunker. The historic Dien Bien Phu campaign was a complete victory. (Photo: Document/VNA)

A unit of the Capital Regiment with the "Determination to fight, determination to win" flag presented by President Ho Chi Minh attended the first flag-raising ceremony on the Capital Liberation Day, which took place at the Flagpole yard (now Doan Mon - Thang Long Imperial Citadel) at 3 p.m. on October 10, 1954. (Photo: Document/VNA)

After taking over the capital, the Central Youth Union assigned the youth union to do work related to schools. “We helped the Ministry of Education and Training to implement the school takeover, restore school operations, organize group activities, and perform arts. Youth teams were divided into neighborhoods to participate in cleaning, organize singing lessons for children, and visit families,” Ms. Phan said.

After finishing high school, she studied at the University of Science and Technology, majoring in irrigation. Later, Ms. Phan worked at the Ministry of Irrigation, before retiring she was the Director of the Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Irrigation (now the General Department of Irrigation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development). After many years of contributing a small part to the reconstruction of Hanoi with generations of young people, she has also devoted her life to the irrigation industry in Vietnam. She is an expert with many years of research on projects related to the Mekong River.

Ms. Do Hong Phan recalls the historic days 70 years ago.

Every October, students in the resistance movement at that time were always filled with deep emotions. In recent years, after the Covid-19 pandemic, Ms. Do Hong Phan rarely saw her friends because some were still alive, some were dead, some had changed their contact numbers. In a special even-numbered year commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Liberation of the Capital, at a rare age, she confided that she did not know who she would meet again to reminisce about a glorious historical period. Expressing her desire to save the image of the wound from that day, she dismissed it: "At that time, if I were anyone else, I would have done the same, there would be nothing to take a picture of."

At the age of 91, his sensitivity and determination give young people like us more life lessons about dedication and steadfastness to revolutionary ideals.