Swiss friends and the Vietnamese flag on top of Notre Dame Cathedral

In 1969, when the whole world was focused on the Paris Conference, three young Swiss men quietly hung the flag of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam on the top of the Notre Dame Cathedral. More than 50 years later, two of them - Olivier Parriaux and Bernard Bachelard - set foot in Vietnam for the first time. They came not to be honored, but to affirm: the journey with Vietnam has never stopped.

Silent action in the heart of Paris

On November 15, 2024, Mr. Olivier Parriaux and Mr. Bernard Bachelard landed at Tan Son Nhat Airport, starting a 5-day visit to Ho Chi Minh City. Both were over 80 years old. Mr. Olivier carried a faded canvas backpack, Mr. Bernard pulled a lightweight suitcase.

At the first meeting with representatives of Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. Olivier wore an old, thin yellow shirt with the sleeves accidentally torn, and a dark T-shirt underneath. When offered a new shirt and tie, he smiled and declined: "We want to meet everyone, including the city leaders, in a simple form."

That simplicity reflects their spirit more than half a century ago: acting without declaration, leaving no trace, unknown to anyone.

From left to right: Mr. Olivier Parriaux and Mr. Bernard Bachelard, two of the three people who hung the flag of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam on top of the tower of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris (France) in 1969. (Photo: Dan Tri Newspaper)

On January 19, 1969, just before the first plenary session of the Paris Conference on ending the war in Vietnam, the flag of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam suddenly flew on the 94m high tower of Notre Dame Cathedral - a 700-year-old building, a symbol of France. It took the police hours to approach, and finally had to use a helicopter to remove the flag. The news spread throughout the French and international media, but the identity of the group that raised the flag remained a mystery until 2023, when the book "Le Viet Cong au sommet de Notre-Dame" was published, and three new names were announced: Olivier Parriaux, Bernard Bachelard and Noé Graff.

During a meeting with Ho Chi Minh City youth on November 15, 2024, Mr. Olivier recalled: at that time, the wave of protests calling for an end to the war in Vietnam that took place around the world urged them to take action. They chose Notre Dame Cathedral because it was a global symbol. Having never climbed the tower, the group studied the structure of the cathedral through books, especially a detailed atlas, to find a way to approach the top of the tower.

Mr. Bernard's wife sewed the 17.5 m2 flag from silk - light, durable and flying best. The flag was tied and arranged so that it was secure throughout the climbing process, but only needed a slight pull to loosen the rope and make the flag unfurl.

The flag of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam flies on the top of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on January 19, 1969. (Photo: AFP)

On the morning of November 18, 1969, from Lausanne (Switzerland), three young men Olivier Parriaux, Bernard Bachelard and Noé Graff arrived in Paris, joining the crowd of tourists climbing the bell tower of Notre Dame Cathedral, carrying a blue and red silk flag. Being used to climbing mountains, Bernard was assigned to hang the flag, Olivier assisted, Noé kept watch. They overcame the slippery slope, the apostle statues and the nearly 3 meter gap between the roofs at a height of 36 meters, almost falling but still pulling each other up. Amidst the cold wind and hundreds of years of rust, Bernard attached a fixed hook, pulled the flag flying; Olivier cut 10 meters of iron steps to prevent the flag from being removed, then the group left Paris safely. The police discovered it at 4:00 a.m. on November 19, and it took a helicopter 11 hours to remove the flag from the top of the tower.

No one outside the group knew of the plan, and there were no police records of their names. Olivier said they did not want their identities to overshadow the message. It was important for the world to know that the Vietnamese people were not alone.

In 2019, the fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris that destroyed the spire made them realize that if they didn’t tell the story, it would be lost forever. The book, published in 2023, is a reminder that this action was motivated by international solidarity.

After that, Mr. Olivier and Mr. Bernard decided to go to Vietnam, hand-deliver the books, and witness the changes in the country they once looked forward to.

Footsteps of international friendship

During 5 days in Ho Chi Minh City (November 15-19, 2024), Mr. Olivier Parriaux and Mr. Bernard Bachelard visited many places: Cu Chi tunnels, War Remnants Museum, met with families of policy beneficiaries and Agent Orange victims in Cu Chi district, and visited Hoa Binh Village - Tu Du Hospital.

In Cu Chi, when hearing about the damage caused by bombs, Mr. Bernard choked up: "We have read, but cannot imagine the extent of the destruction. And even more so, cannot understand how this place has been revived."

Mr. Olivier Parriaux and Mr. Bernard Bachelard visit the exhibition on the consequences of Agent Orange/dioxin at the War Remnants Museum, November 2024. (Photo: War Remnants Museum)

Visiting the War Remnants Museum, they stopped for a long time in the "White Dove" room, a space that sends a message of peace to children. Mr. Olivier said that in just a few days in Ho Chi Minh City, they were deeply impressed with the development of the city - a dynamic, modern metropolis that is hard to imagine having endured such a fierce war.

At Peace Village, which cares for more than 30 children affected by Agent Orange, Mr. Olivier shared: the war with Vietnam has not ended, because the consequences continue to destroy both people and the environment. According to Mr. Bernard, in the past he climbed the tower to get the world's attention to Vietnam, but today he came to listen.

On November 18, 2024, Mr. Olivier announced that he would join the lawsuit against chemical corporations related to Agent Orange by Ms. Tran To Nga, a French citizen of Vietnamese origin: “We decided to complete the lawsuit with Ms. Tran To Nga and French volunteer lawyers. This is a fight for justice, not just for Vietnam.”

On this occasion, he presented the book "Le Viet Cong au sommet de Notre-Dame" to Ms. Nguyen Thi Binh, former Vice President, former Head of the delegation of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam at the Paris Conference. "When we climbed to the top of the tower, of course our awareness was very clear and transparent about the struggle of the Vietnamese people. And another reason is because our idol, Ms. Nguyen Thi Binh is a very meaningful symbol to us," he said.

On November 17, 2024, Ho Chi Minh City Party Secretary Nguyen Van Nen awarded the Ho Chi Minh City Badge to the two men, recognizing their symbolic actions. “It was a silent but very meaningful contribution. It helped stir up world public opinion, encouraged the anti-war movement, and encouraged the Vietnamese people on the path to signing the Paris Agreement and unifying the country,” he said.

During a friendly farewell with friends and representatives of the City, Mr. Olivier said: “We did not come to be honored. We came because we still continue.” His days in Ho Chi Minh City, he said, will be told to his family, friends and especially to today’s Swiss youth, who he hopes will continue the spirit of international solidarity as the young people of 1969 did.

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/nhung-nguoi-ban-thuy-si-va-la-co-viet-nam-tren-dinh-nha-tho-duc-ba-paris-215566.html