A soldier's life - a loyal heart.

On a bright April morning, the sky over Tan An glowed red.

Half a century after the liberation flag was hoisted atop the Independence Palace, the city on the banks of the Vam Co Tay River once again lives in the atmosphere of those heroic years. The purple blossoms of the crape myrtle and the last clusters of kapok flowers blaze in the sun, as if suddenly bursting forth amidst the national celebration.

In Ward 5 Park, a former battlefield hotspot 50 years ago, the Tan An Victory Monument has just been inaugurated. While not large in scale, this monument holds special significance – it commemorates the heroic deeds of the soldiers of the 174th Regiment, 5th Infantry Division, who fought valiantly in the crucial battle that opened the southwestern gateway, allowing troops to swiftly advance into Saigon during the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign.

Một đời lính - một tấm lòng son - Ảnh 1. — The monument commemorating the achievements of the 174th Regiment in Tan An city, Tay Ninh (formerly Long An province) was built with funds donated by Mr. Nguyen Minh Son.

Among the crowds gathered this morning, amidst the white-haired figures, one person stood out, his eyes shining with memories. Mr. Nguyen Minh Son, a veteran of Company 4, Battalion 4, Regiment 174, stood silently gazing at the imposing granite monument in the heart of the city. For him, it was not just a monument, but a promise made half a century ago – when the blood of his comrades mingled with this soil on that historic day of April 30, 1975…

That day, Mr. Son was just 20 years old, a DKZ 75 gunner. In the opening battle of the offensive on the center of Tan An town, when enemy bullets rained down on our formation, he rushed to the mouth of the artillery bunker and calmly organized a return fire. The DKZ 75 rounds from his crew exploded, completely destroying the enemy's machine gun firing from the bridgehead, creating favorable conditions for the unit to charge and seize the objective.

"At that time, we only had one thought: we had to open the gates of Tan An so that the enemy in Saigon would have nowhere to cling to. War doesn't allow for thinking about anything else," he recalled slowly, his voice lowering as the loudspeakers played the stirring melody of the song "Marching Towards Saigon ."

Một đời lính - một tấm lòng son - Ảnh 2. — Mr. Nguyen Minh Son (left) and the author pose for a photo at the Tan An Victory Monument on its inauguration day (April 27, 2025).

Tan An is a piece of memory, but not the only one. After liberation, Mr. Son packed his backpack again and continued his march through the vast dipterocarp forests of Cambodia. Place names like Snoul, Kratie', Th'mo puok, Svaichek, Cao Melai… have become extremely familiar. The war to protect the southwestern border and help Cambodia rise from the ashes of genocide was an equally brutal journey.

He recounted that there were days when they marched under the scorching sun, their uniforms worn and tattered, they didn't have enough to eat, and their guns lacked ammunition, but not a single person retreated.

"We had to face not only bombs and bullets, but also hunger, thirst, and disease. Many comrades never returned; they lie buried in the forests of foreign lands, under palm trees, or beside the Mekong River, heavy with red silt," he said, his eyes welling up with tears.

Once, during a battle on the Thai border, he and his comrades were surrounded by the enemy, with only a few magazines of ammunition left. Amidst the gunfire and cries for help, one of his comrades – a young man from Nghe An province, only 19 years old – rushed out to draw enemy fire so his comrades could escape the encirclement. That young man never returned. "I still remember his name to this day. And I always tell myself I must live in his place." Mr. Son's voice was low, his calloused hands clenched tightly as if holding onto something very precious.

His years in the military left him with a lifelong belief: the camaraderie of fellow soldiers is the most sacred thing. He often told his children and grandchildren, "War took away my youth, but it gave me something priceless: the bond of comradeship. That is something that will never be lost."

Perhaps that's why, upon returning from years of war, Mr. Son didn't choose a life of ease. Starting from nothing, he overcame difficulties and eventually became the Chairman of the Board of Directors of a pharmaceutical company in Ho Chi Minh City. His company is among the top 1,000 largest corporate income tax payers in Vietnam. But for him, money was never the ultimate goal. His ultimate goal was to fulfill his vow from years ago – to live a life worthy of his comrades.

Một đời lính - một tấm lòng son - Ảnh 3. — Mr. Nguyen Minh Son, along with the Veterans' Liaison Committee of Regiment 174, visited and presented gifts to Hero of the People's Armed Forces La Van Cau - a soldier of the regiment (August 2024).

For over 40 years, he has tirelessly pursued a different path – a path of gratitude. He has contributed to the renovation of martyrs' cemeteries; built houses of compassion for the families of martyrs still facing difficulties; sponsored the construction of the Long Khot Martyrs' Memorial Temple (Vinh Hung, Long An); sponsored reunions of comrades; and organized and sponsored "Back to the Roots" trips so that comrades could find their way back to the birthplace of the 174th Regiment in Hoa An (Cao Bang). And today, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the reunification of the country, he, together with the Liaison Committee of the Veterans Association of the Regiment, erected the Tan An Victory Monument – so that the past is deeply etched in the present, and so that those who have fallen have a place to return to.

***

The inauguration ceremony of the Tan An Victory Monument had long since ended, but Mr. Son still sat there. A gentle breeze blew from the Vam Co Tay River, and the red flag with a yellow star on the monument fluttered in the twilight. In his eyes, 50 years seemed like only yesterday. The images of young men in their twenties falling, their blood mingling with the soil of Tan An to bring peace to the Fatherland, and the figures of his comrades lying in the Cambodian forests, where the wind constantly blew like a tragic song, never left his mind.

Một đời lính - một tấm lòng son - Ảnh 4. — Mr. Nguyen Minh Son (holding the book) and his comrades at the 5th Division reunion in Hung Yen (August 2023).

Standing before this monument in the city today, one can hear the echoes of a reminder to future generations: peace does not come naturally. It was bought with the blood, bones, and youth of countless soldiers. And there are those who, even though the war has ended, silently preserve that memory – like Mr. Nguyen Minh Son, a soldier, a businessman, and above all, a shining example of camaraderie and loyalty.

The image of Mr. Nguyen Minh Son today is not only that of a veteran, but also a symbol of resilience, unwavering will, and a compassionate heart. He weathered the years of war and faced the challenges of the business world, yet never lost the qualities of a soldier. For him, success is not about the numbers in a report, but about the memorial projects that spring up, the smiles of the families of fallen soldiers, and the joyful glances of his comrades upon their return.

The message he sent to the younger generation was clear: Whether in times of war or peace, the greatest value of a person is not status or wealth, but living with ideals, living responsibly, and never forgetting their roots. A soldier of the past may become a businessman today, but in every step, he still keeps in his heart the flame of the past – the flame of courage, camaraderie, and love for his country.

The 5th "Living Beautifully" writing contest was organized to encourage people to write about noble acts that have helped individuals or communities. This year, the contest focuses on praising individuals or groups who have performed acts of kindness, bringing hope to those in difficult circumstances.

A highlight is the new environmental award category, which honors works that inspire and encourage action for a green and clean living environment. Through this, the organizers hope to raise community awareness in protecting the planet for future generations.

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Article categories: Essays, reports, notes, or short stories, not exceeding 1,600 words for essays and 2,500 words for short stories.

Feature articles, reports, and notes:

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- 3 third prizes: 10,000,000 VND

- 5 consolation prizes: 3,000,000 VND

Short story:

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- 2 third prizes: 10,000,000 VND

- 4 consolation prizes: 5,000,000 VND

Photo category: Submit a set of at least 5 photos related to volunteer work or environmental protection, along with the title of the photo set and a short description.

- 1st prize: 10,000,000 VND

- 1 second prize: 5,000,000 VND

- 1 third prize: 3,000,000 VND

- 5 consolation prizes: 2,000,000 VND each

Prize for the Most Popular Song: 5,000,000 VND

Prize for an outstanding essay on the topic of the environment: 5,000,000 VND

Honored Person Award: 30,000,000 VND

The deadline for submitting entries is October 16, 2025. Entries will be judged in a preliminary and final round by a panel of renowned judges. The organizers will announce the winners on the "Living Beautifully" special page. See the detailed rules at thanhnien.vn .

Organizing Committee of the "Living Beautifully" Contest