Where time stands still
That morning, under the guidance of the tour guides, Tran Thao Ngan decided to try her hand at being a historical storyteller. Her only possession was the book "135 Stories About President Ho Chi Minh," compiled and published by the Ho Chi Minh Presidential Palace Historical Site in collaboration with the Vietnam News Agency Publishing House.
Ngan said: “This is a collection of the most touching, authentic, and profound stories recounted by those who were fortunate enough to live, work, and study closely with Uncle Ho. And in the sacred and emotionally rich space of the Quang Tri Museum, I want to tell everyone about our beloved Uncle Ho, about his teachings on the history of our country: ‘Our people must know our history/To understand the origins of our Vietnamese nation.’”
As Tran Thao Ngan shared, upon entering the space of the Quang Tri Museum's second branch, she felt as if time had stopped. The history of her homeland and country from the past resonated. The land of Quang Tri appeared not only as a place of suffering and loss, but also as a land of indomitable spirit, resilience, loyalty, and simplicity.
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| Quang Tri Museum, Branch 2, attracts many visitors who come to learn about the exhibits - Photo: Provided |
Construction began in 2000 and the second branch of the Quang Tri Museum officially opened to visitors in May 2008. It has become an ideal destination, allowing people to experience and understand the depth of the region's culture and history through real-life stories, recreated using original materials from over 10,000 documents and artifacts arranged logically across 16 themes spanning from the past to the present.
The indoor exhibition space, spanning 2,350 m² , is arranged across two floors and divided into three main sections: Nature and natural resources; the culture of ethnic groups; and the history and society of Quang Tri province through different periods. Experience the layers of historical and cultural sediment to see a resilient and generous Quang Tri, which was chosen by history three times as a "capital": firstly as the Ai Tu capital of Lord Nguyen Hoang; secondly as Tan So citadel of King Ham Nghi; and thirdly as the headquarters of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam.
During the two wars of resistance against French colonialism and American imperialism, the people and soldiers of Quang Tri bravely achieved many resounding victories, with the Vinh Linh fortress and Quang Binh becoming the front lines of the socialist North; with the Hien Luong River - a symbol of the aspiration for national reunification, 20 years of shared love and remembrance; with Gio Linh, Dong Ha, Cam Lo, Highway 9-Khe Sanh, Hai Lang, Trieu Phong - glorious victories... And there remains the ancient citadel of Quang Tri, the 81 days and nights that shook the world, "determined to die for the Fatherland, determined to live"...
When people and artifacts become one.
I met Nguyen Thi Thuy An (born in 1987), a tour guide at the Quang Tri Museum, Branch 2, during a visit to learn about artifacts related to the heroine Le Thi Tuyet from Vinh Dinh commune. In front of the portrait of heroine Le Thi Tuyet, Thuy An seemed completely absorbed in the emotions.
She said, "I've told tourists hundreds of times about the heroic sacrifice of the young woman from Vinh Dinh, but no two stories are ever the same, and each time, tears well up in my eyes."
“Heroic female guerrilla fighter Le Thi Tuyet sacrificed her life at the age of 19, right on her homeland of Duan Kinh, formerly Hai Xuan commune (now Vinh Dinh commune). Currently, the museum still preserves some artifacts collected since 1975, such as the shirt she wore when she was tortured by the enemy; the small pot that the 'Mad Buffalo' soldiers used to boil her liver and then shared it among themselves…,” Nguyen Thi Thuy An said.
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| Tour guide Nguyen Thi Thuy An introduces visitors to the story of the heroine Le Thi Tuyet - Photo: Provided. |
Nguyen Thi Thuy An led me to the base of the "Tree of Life" in the main hall. She said she loved this place and spent a lot of time creating a story about the image of the "Tree of Life." Through her explanation, I clearly pictured a vertical "Tree of Life" sprouting and reaching upwards into the void. Above, the vast blue sky symbolizes the realm of the living. The central platform descends three levels, symbolizing the realm of the dead. The "Tree of Life" daily serves as a link between heaven and earth, yin and yang, between the past and the present, hướng towards the future.
Behind the majestic "Tree of Life" stands the bas-relief "Mai Mountain, Han River"—a pair of mountains and rivers symbolizing the culture and people of Quang Tri. On the bas-relief, the images of the three mountains, Ta Linh Son, Mai Linh Son, and Linh Son, represent the cultural space of the three ethnic groups—Kinh, Bru-Van Kieu, and Ta Oi—who live in Quang Tri. From this profound cultural source, the Thach Han River meanders through countless villages, flowing towards the sea, merging into the common cultural current of the nation.
“Ten years of dedication to the Quang Tri Museum have left me with invaluable life lessons. For me, the job of a tour guide is not just a profession, but a bridge that helps me recount history with pride and responsibility. Every day, standing before visitors, telling another story, seeing their attentive eyes and empathy... that is the simple happiness and motivation for me to continue preserving and spreading historical values, helping the past not only to be remembered, but to live on in the hearts of each person,” Nguyen Thi Thuy An further shared.
Within the "Tree of Life" space, there is also the symbol of a bronze drum face, embodying the values of national cultural heritage like a rising sun, heralding a new day, a new opportunity, and a new chapter in the history of integration and development of Quang Tri province.
After graduating from the Faculty of Literature, University of Education - Da Nang University, Thuy An was recruited to work as an editor at the Film Distribution and Screening Center of the former Quang Tri Provincial Department of Culture. In 2016, following a reassignment, Thuy An transferred to the Quang Tri Provincial Museum.
“From an editor familiar with written texts, I became a tour guide, directly leading, connecting, and conveying historical information to visitors. This was no small challenge. Through my own efforts and the dedicated guidance and encouragement of my seniors, I gradually adapted and matured. When each historical story was no longer dry text but became a vivid memory, I skillfully transformed it into intimate, sincere narratives that touched the emotions of the listeners. Currently, in addition to my main job as a tour guide, I am also in charge of publicity and administration of the Quang Tri Museum website, Branch 2,” Nguyen Thi Thuy An shared about her profession.
Ngo Thanh Long
Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/van-hoa/202605/nguoi-bat-hien-vat-ke-chuyen-a551c2b/
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