Two lives, one memory of Dien Bien Phu

During those historic days of May, in their home in Dat Tien 2 village, Thang Loi commune, a couple in their 90s still care for and encourage each other in every moment of their lives. In particular, they often sit together reminiscing about their youthful years, enthusiastically serving in the heroic yet fierce and arduous Dien Bien Phu campaign. They are not only a testament to the beautiful values ​​of fidelity and marital devotion, but also an example of bravery, resilience, and selfless dedication to national independence and freedom. This is the story of Mr. Le Van Du (born in 1937) and Mrs. Vu Thi Nien (born in 1933).

The contented smiles of Mr. Du and Mrs. Nien, now over 90 years old.

Mr. Du and Mrs. Nien were from the same village. They met during youth activities in the village and commune. The young man, Le Van Du, was healthy, agile, and enthusiastic in community activities. The young woman, Vu Thi Nien, with her pretty appearance and gentle, amiable personality, captivated many young men in the village. “My wife and I even acted in plays together. But at that time, we didn’t think about love or romance,” Mr. Du happily recounted. Beside him, Mrs. Nien’s lips curved into a contented smile.

The years of resistance against French colonialism were intense. Faced with the increasing strength and strategic position of the French army at Dien Bien Phu, on December 6, 1953, the Politburo Conference, chaired by President Ho Chi Minh, approved the General Staff's operational plan and decided to launch the Dien Bien Phu campaign.

Thanh Hoa was a remote area far from the battlefield, with extremely difficult roads, yet it was one of the localities that mobilized the most resources to support the campaign, while also deploying forces to ensure that the main army and local troops thwarted enemy offensives into northern Thanh Hoa and southwestern Ninh Binh .

History has placed special missions on the shoulders of the Vietnamese people in general, and the land of Thanh Hoa in particular. Like generations of young people at that time, Mr. Du and Mrs. Nien grew up with the call of the nation. When the Dien Bien Phu campaign entered its crucial phase, Mr. Du joined the Youth Volunteer Force (TNXP), and Mrs. Nien became a civilian worker on the front lines. “From all over Thanh Hoa, we gathered in Tho Xuan (formerly) and then marched in droves towards the Northwest, resting during the day and traveling at night to avoid enemy aircraft searching and bombing,” Mr. Du recounted.

True to its name, the Youth Volunteer Force embodied a high level of willpower and determination, overcoming any difficulties and hardships with the ultimate goal of serving the resistance until its success. Mr. Du and his comrades endured shivering bouts of malaria. They braved the rain and wind, hastily eating their meals and sleeping under tarpaulins by the roadside. Yet, their spirits remained high, their will unwavering, and their steps steady as they moved forward.

As the road to Dien Bien Phu drew closer, many key points such as Co Noi Junction (Son La) and Pha Din Pass (Dien Bien) were bombarded day and night by the enemy, but this could not stop our troops from advancing with the will and determination: "All for the front line, all for victory." The Youth Volunteer Force at that time was the "road-mending force," immediately appearing to fill bomb craters and clear the road for vehicles to pass as soon as the bombing stopped.

While Mr. Du and the Youth Volunteer Force persevered in filling bomb craters and opening roads, amidst the vast mountains of Northwest Vietnam, Mrs. Nien enthusiastically joined the civilian labor force in promptly supplying provisions and ammunition to the battlefield. “At that time, we didn’t think much about anything other than the hope of quickly supplying food, provisions, and ammunition so that the soldiers could fight the enemy with peace of mind. The wartime circumstances were dire, the work arduous, and life and death uncertain, but everyone held onto their faith in the day of victory, so the work was done with great enthusiasm,” Mrs. Nien confided.

Looking back at a photo from their youth, Mr. Le Van Du and Mrs. Vu Thi Nien (Dat Tien 2 village, Thang Loi commune) were moved as they recalled the days when they both participated in serving in the Dien Bien Phu campaign (1954).

Among those who marched up the mountain, Mr. Du and Mrs. Nien lived and served in the fighting under the skies of Dien Bien Phu, both hearing the sound of artillery fire echoing from the Muong Thanh basin. However, due to the nature of their work and different tasks, they never met. Yet, it was they, along with the army and people of Thanh Hoa, who contributed to the glorious victory of Dien Bien Phu, a victory that "shook the world and resonated across continents."

After the victory at Dien Bien Phu, Mr. Du continued his unit's mission to build a road from Lai Chau province to Yunnan province in China. In that distant place, he never imagined that a woman would be waiting for him. But Mrs. Nien was different; she had unknowingly fallen for this kind, simple young man from her village. After returning from the Dien Bien Phu battlefield, Mrs. Nien regularly visited Mr. Du's house, helping with farm work and daily chores. From this simple, sincere affection, in 1957, the two married and built their own home.

Life after that remained difficult. Also in 1957, Mr. Du returned to the army and held various jobs and positions in the local area. In 1965, he took on the position of Youth Volunteer Corps leader participating in the construction of Sao Vang Airport (now Tho Xuan Airport). He also worked in civilian affairs during the 1979 border war in the North... But amidst all the changes, Mr. Du and Mrs. Nien always relied on each other, trusting and encouraging each other to move forward. Mrs. Nien diligently managed the family, taking care of her elderly mother and growing children. Mr. Du choked up as he said, "Throughout her life, she has excellently fulfilled her duties and role as the home front."

And to repay the hard work and sacrifices of the "great rear support," Mr. Du continuously strived on the economic front. With his quick wit and fearless spirit, he boldly opened a carpentry workshop, at one point creating jobs for 6-7 workers, then switched to a brick factory, providing agricultural services... all achieving remarkable results. For many years, he was recognized as an exemplary elderly producer in the commune and the (former) district, and in some years he was commended at the provincial level...

Now, in their homeland, Mr. Du and Mrs. Nien are enjoying their old age surrounded by their children and grandchildren. Their memories may not be entirely intact, but whenever they talk about Dien Bien Phu, their eyes light up as if returning to their youthful, passionate, and resilient selves. Perhaps the secret to their happiness is not simply the unwavering loyalty of their love, but also the harmony of their souls – an undying spirit of Dien Bien Phu.

Text and photos: Thao Linh

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/hai-cuoc-doi-mot-ky-uc-dien-bien-phu-288077.htm