Quang Tri, deeply imbued with the meaning of peace.

Peace, that aspiration is deeply rooted in the soil of Quang Tri, bearing many traces of sacrifice and suffering that are not easily expressed. It is not a mysterious otherworld , but rather the one we hold in the minds of millions who have either experienced or been fortunate enough to never know war. Because, behind the tragic traces of the past, we clearly recognize the wake-up calls about violence and invasion, about division and separation, about conflict and hatred, further fueling the desire to preserve peace as the most beautiful value of life.

The Thach Han River shimmers beautifully - Photo: NK

The Vietnamese sea seems even more vast and surging with the arrival of Nguyen Tai Tue's "Far Away at Sea." Oh, the immense waves crash against our boat far from shore. The resounding sound of rowing echoes as we await. The boat sails far out to sea, the rhythm of the oars connecting us. The journey across the vast ocean, the oars shared by both sides...

There's a girl from Mai Xa village (Gio Mai, Gio Linh) who sings this song beautifully; her name is Tan Nhan. Her voice is high, clear, and poignant. The song seems to have been made for her. She sang it during a time of war, when the Ben Hai River became the dividing line. Knowing that the sky remains a deep blue, the color of Quang Tri , and that the clouds and mountains at the horizon are not divided, as the poet Te Hanh expressed in his poem, yet still feeling a pang of sadness, sorrow, and anxiety. "Far out at sea" is like a message of peace, sung half a century ago.

The "North by day, South by night" is now just a memory of the nation, but mentioning it still evokes a sense of melancholy in many. A profound sadness and boundless yearning. "Far from Shore" is not just a love song, but a prayer for peace with enduring vitality. It began in Quang Tri. Why do I say that, even though composer Nguyen Tai Tue began writing "Far from Shore" in Hoa Binh? Because the idea of ​​writing a song with the vastness of the sea, yet deeply imbued with love for his homeland and life, stemmed from his first trip to Vinh Linh, Quang Tri in 1958.

The river has healed. Yet it still throbs with such emotion. I remember my mother bringing the bridge from the 17th parallel to me through her melancholic songs and melodies. Like a lullaby, a folk song that stretches across the sun and wind of Central Vietnam. I heard Hoang Hiep's song "A Folk Song by the Banks of Hien Luong River" before I even started first grade. Oh... even though the river separates us, nothing can stop our love. Let the clouds part so the golden moon shines.

"Opening the river to connect the shores so she can return to him." At that time, I didn't understand the meaning of the song, nor did I fully grasp the pain of "the river separating the shores," but I seemed to be affected by my mother's singing from the creaking hammock swaying in the thatched house by the sea.

Like "Far Away at Sea," "The Song on the Banks of Hien Luong River" has added beautiful melodies to my life's journey. The more I listen, the more I understand, and I can't deny it, that the yearning for peace and reunion belongs to no one in particular, not to any of the warring sides. It is the melody of peace of the nation, rising from here, from this beloved and sorrowful land of Quang Tri.

War relics (the wall of Bodhi School, Quang Tri town - Photo: NK)

The grass has also entered spring. It seems to be trying to mend the jagged edges, brokenness, desolation, and melting away of the hottest summer. The grass is damp with dew as I walk through the Quang Tri Citadel at night. A fragrant scent wafts far and wide, and faint murmurs can be heard somewhere. So much youth still lies beneath the verdant green grass. Each youth is a life that has experienced joy and sorrow, happiness and suffering, pessimism and hope. Now they are a thing of the past, the part we are commemorating. Silently drifting beneath the grass, "The soldiers silently dissolve into the earth, life continues to flow like rivers."

Those two lines of poetry of mine were used by musician Vo The Hung as the theme for his famous song "The River of Fiery Flowers." Where the war was most fierce, the rebirth is incredibly powerful. Quang Tri town is a testament to Vietnam's resilience after the war. Hatred will destroy and burn everything. Only peace and harmony can build a new, peaceful life full of love and sharing. That message, echoing from this land – Quang Tri – is vibrant and very convincing, a testament to this great rebirth. Life is unfolding beautifully under the wings of peace.

I am still astonished to learn that Quang Tri, a small province with a relatively small population, an economy at the average level for Vietnam, a harsh climate, and frequent natural disasters, has more war cemeteries than any other province in the country. Seventy-two war cemeteries, including two nationally ranked sites: Truong Son Cemetery and Highway 9 Cemetery.

No one wished for it, and no one is proud of it. But history is history, and every land has its share of burdens. Quang Tri once bore the fierce and painful brunt of a twenty-one-year war because of its "frontline" position. Both sides recognized the importance of this narrow, scorching hot land, ravaged by the vicious monsoon winds and the persistently irritating dampness of the rainy season, as it was the border between two regimes.

The conflict ended fifty years ago, and the country is now peaceful and unified, but Quang Tri has become a war museum containing all the contrasting nuances, levels, tangible and intangible aspects. Pride and sorrow. Victories and consequences. The visible and the invisible. Something deeply hidden in every drop of blood of the soldiers and civilians alike.

The water sources and the soil still bear the scars of war. Even in the most ordinary aspects of life, there is the extraordinary. Therefore, there is no other way than to make love and tolerance the foundation of our lives.

But to achieve it, we must first know how to preserve peace, to preserve the most beautiful human values ​​of humankind and of each nation. A nation, a homeland that has suffered so much from war cannot fail to love peace.

A memorial ceremony and flower-laying on the Thach Han River were held - Photo: NK

Peace—I hear that call from thousands of war-torn graves, right here where I live and write. In the moving intermingling of two worlds, one spiritual, the other real, we clearly hear the common thread, shimmering with the light of peace.

From Truong Son Mountains, Highway 9, the Ancient Citadel, the banks of Hien Luong-Ben Hai River, Vinh Moc Tunnels, Vinh Quang Tunnels, Tan So Citadel, Lao Bao Prison, Lang Vay Village... Everywhere, the word "peace" resonates deeply. Peace is the most fitting symbol of Quang Tri province. This land, steeped in suffering, deserves to speak about peace on behalf of the Vietnamese nation in the most honest and heartfelt way.

As expressed by the Chairman of the Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee, Vo Van Hung, in his response to the Vietnam Writers Association of Quang Tri Province in the book "Aspiration for Peace" No. 1: "Humanity is living in a world where light and darkness intertwine. There is much hope, but also much anxiety. On this 'green planet' called Earth, even though humanity has entered the third decade of the 21st century, every day, every hour, we still witness much suffering, loss, and immeasurable immediate and long-term socio-economic consequences caused by wars, ethnic conflicts, and territorial disputes... Humanity has experienced many brutal wars, and more than anyone else, those who cherish peace deeply understand the pain and consequences of them, thus further valuing independence, freedom, and peace. For Vietnam in general and Quang Tri province in particular, it can be affirmed that there is no greater or more heartfelt aspiration than the aspiration for peace. This is because Vietnam and Quang Tri have suffered very heavy consequences." "The aftermath of devastating wars. In the wars of national liberation to regain independence, freedom, peace for the nation, and reunification of the country, tens of thousands of martyrs, wounded soldiers, and sick soldiers were killed. The more proud we are of these miraculous victories, the more sorrowful we are of the immeasurable losses and suffering of the nation. Therefore, the love for peace and the determination to preserve peace always burn brightly in every Vietnamese person in general and in Quang Tri in particular."

Yes, that's right, Quang Tri will forever cherish the meaning of peace! I hope that, in addition to the "For Peace" festival held every two years as a gathering of peace-loving people from Vietnam and around the world, Quang Tri will build a Peace Park (perhaps in Quang Tri town or on the banks of Hien Luong - Ben Hai). In that park, there would be a simple yet beautiful statue of Peace, reflecting the noble aspirations of the Vietnamese people and humanity.

Essays by Nguyen Huu Quy

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/quang-tri-dam-sau-hai-tieng-hoa-binh-185789.htm