Journey to visit old battlefields of former volunteer soldiers in Cambodia

The enthusiastic handshakes, the touching stories about the Vietnam-Cambodia military-civilian relationship, the reminiscences of fierce battles... revived the atmosphere of a time of hardship, sacrifice but heroism. That was the impression in the journey to revisit the old battlefield of former volunteer soldiers, former Vietnamese experts and families whose relatives died on the Cambodian battlefield.

Visit old places, old friends

On November 3, a delegation of former Vietnamese volunteer soldiers , former experts and families whose relatives died on the Cambodian battlefield performed a flower-laying ceremony at the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Monument in the capital Phnom Penh. The delegation observed a minute of silence to commemorate the heroic martyrs of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and Vietnamese experts who fought and died in Cambodia during the wars, for the pure and noble spirit of internationalism, for the independence and freedom of the two nations. This is one of the delegation's destinations on the journey to revisit the old battlefield in Cambodia. The delegation consisted of 110 members led by Mr. Trinh Vinh Pha, Deputy Head of the Standing Committee of the Liaison Committee of Former Vietnamese Experts Helping the Cambodian Revolution, Vice President of the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Association. During the visit, the delegation also laid flowers at the Memorial of the late King Norodom Sihanouk, visited the Independence Monument, Angkor Wat Temple; Visit the Royal Palace, the Cambodian Ministry of Defense... During the trip, there was also a meeting with Vice President of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP), Supreme Advisor to King Norodom Sihamoni, President of the Cambodia - Vietnam Friendship Association Samdech Men Sam An; meeting with leaders of the IV and V Military Region Commands; visiting Battambang and Siem Reap provinces in Northwestern Cambodia, where many members of the delegation were once attached to the local army and people, fighting together for the revival of the country and the Cambodian people...

Members of the delegation took a souvenir photo at the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Monument in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. (Photo: Son Xinh)

Ms. Samdech Men Sam An said: The visit contributes to consolidating and enhancing the solidarity, traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries, the people and the armies of Vietnam and Cambodia. CPP President Samdech Techo Hun Sen once stated: Cambodia is always ready to welcome delegations of former Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts, those who supported the Cambodian liberation army, helped liberate the country, and rescued the Cambodian people from the genocidal regime on January 7, 1979 and throughout the difficult period after that. "Without the support of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers, without Vietnamese mothers who brought their children to support the timely liberation, Cambodia would not be what it is today," Ms. Samdech Men Sam An quoted President Hun Sen's statement during a recent meeting with General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in Hanoi. The delegation met with generals, officers and soldiers of the Royal Cambodian Army on November 4. The firm handshakes when meeting their comrades brought the former volunteers and experts back to the days of bombs and bullets. They shared many memories of the process of participating in the fight to overthrow the genocidal regime and rebuild the country, preventing the genocidal regime from returning, especially the memories surrounding the historic event of January 7, 1979, the day Phnom Penh and Cambodia were liberated from the genocidal regime.

Continue to foster friendship

According to Colonel Trinh Vinh Pha, nearly 45 years have passed since he returned to Vietnam. But he and the Vietnamese soldiers will never forget the protection and care of the Cambodian cadres, soldiers and people for the Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts in fighting and building Cambodia. Through that, they understand more clearly the solidarity and friendship between the two peoples of Vietnam and Cambodia is extremely valuable.

Colonel Trinh Vinh Pha, Vice President of the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Association, Head of the working delegation at the meeting with President of the Cambodia - Vietnam Friendship Association Samdech Men Sam An. (Photo: Ngo Tran)

Under the banner of the Cambodian National United Front for National Salvation, Vietnamese volunteers and experts stood side by side with the Cambodian people and patriotic armed forces to overcome the consequences of the genocidal regime, revive the nation and develop the country. In particular, for more than 10 years (1978-1989), nearly 35,000 experts were mobilized by our Party and State to help the Cambodian revolution in the context of our country having just gone through 30 years of war, with an exhausted economy and countless social security issues that needed to be resolved. But above all, the Vietnamese people stood shoulder to shoulder with true patriots and the Cambodian people to share the ups and downs to overcome the most dangerous period. Talking about those years, Mr. Pha said: the first term of Vietnamese experts to help Cambodia was very difficult and deprived. Working as experts, everyone had to bring their own food, foodstuff and salary standards to ensure their lives and living. During the first Lunar New Year in Cambodia, the experts ate bo bo seeds and fish sauce. At that time, working as experts to help Cambodia meant going to the battlefield, many experts sacrificed and were injured while on duty to help their country. However, the team of Vietnamese experts overcame difficulties and shortages to complete their assigned tasks. Happy to witness the miraculous revival and rapid, comprehensive development of Cambodia, Mr. Pha emphasized: The Liaison Committee of Former Experts Helping the Cambodian Revolution and the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Association at all levels, whose core force is former experts and former volunteer soldiers, despite their retirement and old age, still have many meaningful activities, contributing to fostering good neighborly relations, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability between Vietnam and Cambodia.