Hoa Lo tells the story of the desire for peace from the fiery days of 1972.

The exhibition includes three contents: “Blazing memories”, “Anti-war wave” and “For a blue sky”. During the opening ceremony, a scene reenacting the moment when doctors and nurses at Bach Mai Hospital tried to save the injured after the carpet bombing on December 22, 1972 moved many people.

The image of Professor Do Doan Dai, Director of Bach Mai Hospital at that time, commanding the on-duty team to dig and bring colleagues and patients out of the rubble was recreated with realistic details.

In the “Fiery Memories” section, the exhibition takes viewers back to the last days of December 1972, when the skies of the North were shaken by US B52 raids during Operation Linebacker II. Under the fierce rain of bombs, the air defense force and the people of the capital fought together steadfastly, creating a lasting people’s war to protect Hanoi .

The event was attended by many historical witnesses and family representatives of those who directly participated in the war.

The content of “Anti-war Wave” emphasizes a little-known part of history: the anti-war movement right in the heart of America. People taking to the streets, young people burning their draft papers, soldiers refusing to go to war and letters sent from the battlefield expressing their desire for peace create a multi-dimensional picture of the war - where the voice of conscience overcame the sound of bombs.

In the “For a Blue Sky” section, the exhibition introduces images of American pilots returned after the Paris Agreement (January 27, 1973), as well as efforts to heal the wounds of war between Vietnam and the US. Many American veterans have returned to Vietnam, contributing to building friendly relations between the two countries.

At the opening ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Van Trung, a witness who directly participated in the “ Dien Bien Phu in the air” campaign, shared that the exhibition made him “feel like he was reliving the heroic but loss-filled years”. For him, recalling history is a way to spread patriotism and responsibility to the Fatherland to the younger generation.

Mr. Do Doan Loi, the second son of Professor Do Doan Dai, said that when he looked back at the artifacts his father used in the 1972 bombing, he clearly felt the silent sacrifice of the previous generation. “Despite the loss, pride and gratitude are things that need to be engraved in the heart,” he said.

The exhibition “Aspiration for Peace” is open until December 20, 2025, at Hoa Lo Prison Relic Site.

WING SUN

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/hoa-lo-ke-cau-chuyen-khat-vong-hoa-binh-tu-nhung-ngay-ruc-lua-nam-1972-post825354.html