A place that preserves the glorious memories of the nation.

Nestled against the slopes of Ong Dong Hill (Phan Dinh Phung Ward, Thai Nguyen Province), the Museum of the Armed Forces of Viet Bac - Military Region 1 stands silently as a historical witness in the heart of the city. For over 40 years, it has become a sacred site preserving the spirit of the former Viet Bac war zone, where the heroic past and present intertwine, creating an endless epic of patriotism.

Former Dien Bien Phu veteran Nguyen Ngoc Tang shared historical stories from the past with students at Nguyen Viet Xuan Primary School in Phan Dinh Phung ward, Thai Nguyen province.

"The home" of gratitude

Located about 2km from the provincial administrative center, but upon stepping through the gate, all the hustle and bustle of the city seems to fade away, giving way to solemnity and the heroic historical stories of the army and people of the six provinces in the Viet Bac base area.

From the moment they step onto the grounds, visitors are overwhelmed by the outdoor exhibition space with its majestic, massive artifacts.

Standing out amidst the expansive landscape is the 75mm mountain gun of the 675th Regiment, the gun that fired the first shot at the Dong Khe outpost, marking the beginning of the 1950 Border Campaign.

Not far away, the 100mm cannon of the 210th Brigade proudly pointed its barrel towards the sky. Few knew that this cannon, along with the people and soldiers of Bac Thai, had shot down the 1,000th American imperialist aircraft over the skies of North Vietnam.

In particular, the image of MIG-21 aircraft number 4320 evokes memories of fierce air battles. This "silver swallow" was once piloted by People's Armed Forces Hero Pham Thanh Ngan - an outstanding son of Thai Nguyen province. Together with his comrades, he shot down 8 American aircraft, and personally shot down 2.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Thi Ngan, a tour guide at the museum, led us deep into the indoor exhibition space, which spans over 1,500 square meters, and shared: "This museum houses nearly 10,000 artifacts, including more than 2,500 representative items on display. Each artifact, whether a primitive or modern weapon, carries within it a destiny, a story intertwined with the blood and sacrifices of generations of our ancestors."

The memorial monument to the heroic martyrs is located within the grounds of the Viet Bac Armed Forces Museum - Military Region 1.

A highlight of the tour is the electronic diorama depicting the Border Campaign - Autumn-Winter 1950. The combination of sound, light, and art installations has transformed the diorama into a "living history book," realistically recreating the ferocity and strategic brilliance of our army.

While the exhibition area exudes a sense of heroism, the memorial monument dedicated to the fallen heroes, located in the center, evokes profound and moving emotions. At the heart of the monument is a meticulously crafted monolithic stone stele, inscribed with the names of thousands of officers and soldiers of the Armed Forces of Military Region 1 who perished.

Also at this location, veteran Bui Tri Vinh (born in 1954, from Lang Son ) considers the memorial not simply an architectural structure, but a sacred bridge between the past and the present.

With trembling hands, Mr. Bui Tri Vinh lit an incense stick at the memorial, reminiscing: "Seeing the names of our heroes solemnly engraved on the stone monument, I am truly moved. From now on, they have a warm and welcoming home for their comrades, relatives, and the people to visit regularly. Their sacrifice has been rightfully recognized by the Fatherland and the people."

Colonel Dinh Van Giam, Director of the Museum, said that caring for and preserving the memorial monument is an important political task, reflecting the principle of "drinking water, remembering the source." We always pay meticulous attention to everything from maintaining the stone monument, updating records, adding the names of newly verified martyrs, to caring for every tree and blade of grass around the grounds. This is a profound expression of gratitude from the Party Committee and the Military Command of the Military Region to the outstanding sons and daughters who dedicated their youth to the independence and freedom of the Fatherland.

A visually engaging school

The museum's value extends far beyond its function of preserving artifacts; it has become a vibrant visual school, nurturing patriotism in the younger generation.

Within the museum grounds, we encountered a group of students from Phu Luong Ethnic Boarding Junior High School (Thai Nguyen province) participating in an extracurricular activity. Unlike their usual boisterous behavior, the children were orderly, their eyes wide with attentive listening to every word of the tour guide's explanation.

This is the opening artillery shot in the Battle of Dien Bien Phu.

Pham Thanh Hai, a student at Phu Luong Ethnic Boarding Junior High School, shared proudly: "I greatly admire our ancestors. With only rudimentary weapons, they defeated a powerful enemy. Coming here, I understand more about the history lessons in my textbooks."

Sharing the same sentiment, Trinh Ha Tuan said: "What impressed me most was how bravely the soldiers fought to protect the country. I promise myself I will study hard to be worthy of the sacrifices of previous generations."

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Thi Ngan, a tour guide at the museum, said: "The museum regularly welcomes groups of students, youth union members, and young people to visit and learn. Each exhibit and each story told here evokes genuine emotions, helping them to understand more deeply the value of peace."

The solemn atmosphere of the memorial monument or the grandeur of the military equipment makes history lessons easier to understand, remember, and create a stronger impression than any theoretical lecture...

The Viet Bac region, the cradle of the revolution, the "Capital of the Thousand Winds" of yesteryear, has produced generations of heroes, and the museum is the place that preserves those glorious memories.

More than just a tourist destination, the Viet Bac Armed Forces Museum - Military Region 1 is a significant site for traditional education, a symbol of gratitude and the aspiration for peace. The stories of courage, sacrifice, and unwavering will preserved here will continue to be a valuable asset, empowering present and future generations in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/van-hoa/202512/noi-luu-giu-ky-uc-hao-hung-cua-dan-toc-ae60923/