Quang Tri - 50 springs revived from fire and smoke

Old wounds, new green

We returned to Hien Luong - Ben Hai on a historic April morning. The wooden bridge that once divided the country is now the connection between memories and the present. Mrs. Le Thi Hao (78 years old), residing in Hien Luong village, Hien Thanh commune, Vinh Linh district, pointed to Hien Luong bridge: "Back then, standing on this side looking to the other side, missing my loved ones but unable to cross. Bombs and bullets resounded day and night. Now... my children and grandchildren walk on the bridge every day."

National Reunification Day is held annually on April 30 on both banks of Hien Luong - Ben Hai.

Both sides of Ben Hai are now prosperous villages, high-rise buildings, schools, and spacious medical stations. The land that was once carpet-bombed is now a rapidly developing aquaculture and eco-tourism area. Tourists flock to visit and listen to the echoes from both sides of the border.

At Con Tien - Doc Mieu, which used to be the "divine eye" guarding the fire line of the US and Saigon Army, is now a historical site and memorial site with every flower and grass root taken care of. Mr. Nguyen Tien Luc, Head of Tourism Management Department of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Tri province, was moved: "Every day, this place welcomes dozens of visitors, many of whom cry when they hear stories. But what surprises them the most is the strong revival of this land."

On the legendary Route 9 - which once bore millions of tons of bombs and bullets, the blood and sweat of many generations of youth volunteers, now it is smoothly paved, guiding trucks back and forth through Lao Bao Border Gate. A whole new economic belt has formed at the border. Commercial service areas have sprung up and developed continuously, contributing to creating a new shape for the land that was once the center of fire.

In Lang Vay, the place that marked the famous battle of our troops defeating the American commandos, is now a village of the Van Kieu people filled with laughter. Village elder Ho Van Toi told us in a hearty voice: "In the past, bombs fell and bullets exploded. Now our children are learning to read and write, there is electricity, roads, and a medical station. The commune committee even has Van Kieu cadres, I am so proud!"

The land of the Citadel - where 81 days and nights of fiery summer in 1972 were immortalized - is now a green park, a solemn memorial place. People walk silently among the rows of green trees, their eyes filled with tears as they read the engraved words: "Every inch of land is an inch of blood".

The stance of the landowner

In that journey of revival, it is impossible not to mention the silent but resilient contributions of the People's Public Security force of Quang Tri province. From the early days of re-establishing the province (in 1989), when the working headquarters were temporarily borrowed, the border was chaotic, and the people were not at peace, the Public Security force was the solid support for the government and the people. Colonel Le Phuong Nam, Deputy Director of the Quang Tri Provincial Public Security, shared: "We clearly determined: to maintain peace for development. Sometimes we had to face drug crimes in border areas, sometimes we had to rescue people in historic floods, then prevent and fight the COVID-19 pandemic, it was very difficult, but we never backed down".

These silent feats are recognized through each successful project, each residential area with "3 no's": no crime, no social evils, no law violations. In remote areas, regular police in the commune not only maintain security but also act as a bridge to help people do business, eliminate illiteracy, and preserve identity. Lieutenant Colonel Ho Sy Vinh, Chief of Huong Viet Commune Police, Huong Hoa District, who was a student growing up in Van Kieu village, proudly said: "I am a son of this land, being able to study and train to return to serve my homeland. That is the greatest happiness".

In particular, right after implementing the Project on developing the application of population data, identification and electronic authentication to serve the national digital transformation in the period of 2022 - 2025, with a vision to 2030 of the Government, as well as 63 provinces and cities nationwide, in Quang Tri, the Police are the main force. From urban to rural areas, from the plains to the mountains, the image of dedicated and close police officers is not only a symbol of security but also the trust of the people...

Quang Tri today is a symbol of the will to rise from the ruins of war. 36 years after the separation of the province, from the poorest place in the country, the province has achieved a stable economic growth rate, the transport - education - health infrastructure is constantly expanding. The Lao wind still blows, but on the wind fields today are wind turbines rotating steadily, lighting up new aspirations. "We never forget the past, but we are not bound by the past. The responsibility of today's generation is to turn Quang Tri into a place worthy of living, investing, and developing", Mr. Nguyen Long Hai, Secretary of the Quang Tri Provincial Party Committee confided: That is true, that song of revival, although written with blood and tears, now resonates with the rhythm of life, faith and increasingly brilliant achievements!

Source: https://cand.com.vn/Phong-su-tu-lieu/quang-tri-50-mua-xuan-hoi-sinh-tu-khoi-lua-i764629/