The radiant faces of mothers and sisters celebrating the victory in Rach Gia town on May 15, 1975. Photo: Archival material.
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Ms. Tran Thi Hong Thu, residing in Rach Gia ward:
THE RED FLAG WITH A YELLOW STAR FLIES EVERYWHERE
The day I received the news that South Vietnam had been completely liberated, I was studying to be a medical assistant in Cambodia. At that moment, my heart felt like it was constricting, then bursting with indescribable joy. Everyone hugged each other; some cried, others laughed through their tears of overwhelming happiness.
That same day, we were taken back to Ha Tien, and the joy of victory seemed to give us renewed strength, making all our fatigue disappear. The first thing that caught my eye upon arrival was the red flag with a yellow star fluttering everywhere. Seeing the national flag, I truly believed that the war had ended and the country had been completely unified.
But amidst that overwhelming joy, my heart sank as I thought of my loved ones and comrades who had fallen. Some dedicated their youth to peace, but never lived to see the day of victory. That sacrifice made the joy even more profound and sacred than ever before.
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Mr. Tran Minh Gom - former Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, former Chairman of the People's Council of Tan An commune:
LIBERATION DAY WITHOUT GUNS
On April 30, 1975, the people and soldiers of Tan An rejoiced! The enemy strictly obeyed the orders of the liberation army, surrendered their weapons, and cooperated well to receive clemency. Thanks to effective persuasion and mobilization, enemy soldiers at local outposts understood the just cause and abandoned their intention to resist.
In Giồng Trà Dên, the takeover took place in an orderly manner, without any shooting or killing. Peace returned to the homeland in the most complete and humane way.
During the fierce years of the war against the Americans, Giồng Trà Dên, Tân An commune, was a key target that the enemy constantly sought to eliminate. At that time, I was a soldier stationed directly at the base, responsible for gathering intelligence on the enemy and participating in counter-attacks. My duties then included laying mines, throwing grenades, building fortifications, and digging trenches. All activities were directed towards the single goal of ensuring the absolute safety of the leadership at the base.
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Hero of the People's Armed Forces Dang Cong Nhan:
HAPPINESS CANNOT BE EXPRESSED IN WORDS
In April 1975, I was the Political Commissar of the Engineering Company of Rach Gia province. At that time, the unit was assigned the task of preventing enemy reinforcements from reaching Rach Gia. The unit clearly understood this to be a crucial mission, and that we had to hold our ground at all costs.
On the night of April 29th and the early morning of April 30th, 1975, an enemy security battalion, advancing from Tan Hiep towards Rach Gia, clashed directly with our unit at Quan Bridge. The enemy fired intensely from multiple directions, but thanks to our well-prepared fortifications, our unit suffered no casualties. Despite their superior numbers, the enemy did not dare to attack directly and eventually retreated to a safe distance.
At 11:30 AM on April 30, 1975, we heard the news on the radio that Saigon had been completely liberated. Everyone was overwhelmed with joy. Immediately afterward, the local enemy forces panicked, disintegrated, and abandoned their weapons, returning home. We immediately deployed post-liberation operations: mobilizing the people, bandaging those wounded by artillery fire, and calling on South Vietnamese soldiers to surrender and hand over their weapons. When our unit entered Rach Gia, a large crowd of people came out to welcome us.
A view of Rach Gia ward. Photo: Tay Ho
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Mr. Nguyen Van Quyet, residing in Vinh Hoa Hung commune:
THE SACRED WORDS "PEACE"
I still vividly remember the moment the country was unified, the land and rivers joined together as one. At that time, my comrades and I were overwhelmed with happiness, deeply feeling the sacred value of the word "peace".
Amidst the cheers of victory, my heart ached as I remembered my comrades who fought alongside me, sharing every moldy potato and burnt grain of rice in the deep jungle, guiding each other through life-or-death situations. But tragically, many of them could not live to see the final victory; they remain forever in the embrace of Mother Earth.
I was born into a family of seven siblings. Following in the footsteps of my four older brothers, in 1967, I officially enlisted in the army and participated in the resistance war against the US to save the country. For over seven years (1967-1974) fighting on fierce battlefields, I can't even remember how many times I faced death. In 1974, I was captured by the enemy and exiled to Con Dao Island. I spent a year imprisoned in this "hell on earth," enduring all kinds of suffering and beatings.
Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/ngay-giai-phong-con-trong-ky-uc-a484138.html
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