Quang Tri - a sacred land yearning for peace.

Few places are quite like Quang Tri – a province covering just over 4,700 square kilometers, yet boasting 72 cemeteries where nearly 60,000 martyrs rest. Having endured the heroic war to defend the homeland, the hearts of every citizen here burn with the fervent desire to preserve and cultivate national peace.

The immortal song will continue to lull you to sleep forever...

In late August, the reeds unfurl, dyeing the ancient citadel of Quang Tri in Quang Tri town white. Many tourist groups arrive here, seemingly falling silent amidst the chirping of cicadas. Each person's footsteps are light, like the verses whispered at the entrance to the Ancient Citadel Memorial – the common grave of the heroic martyrs: "Walk softly and speak quietly / So that my comrades may rest peacefully beneath the grass / The sky of Quang Tri is clear and windy / Forever singing the immortal song to eternity" (Pham Dinh Lan).

The Hien Luong - Ben Hai National Special Historical Site is located in Vinh Linh district, Quang Tri province.

To achieve the peace we have today, countless lives and blood of our ancestors and heroic martyrs were sacrificed. Consider Quang Tri town, with its "heart" being the Quang Tri Citadel, during the 81 days and nights of the "red summer" of 1972. At that time, this area of ​​less than 4 square kilometers endured over 300,000 tons of bombs and ammunition, equivalent to the destructive power of 7 atomic bombs.

Military scientists estimated that, on average, each Liberation Army soldier at Quang Tri Citadel endured over 100 bombs and 200 artillery shells. However, the bombs and bullets could not deter the determination of the officers and soldiers. They fought bravely to their last breath, tenaciously holding their ground, battling the enemy for every trench and every pile of rubble at Quang Tri Citadel.

After 81 days and nights (from June 28 to September 16, 1972) of heroic and tenacious fighting, the liberation army soldiers completed their assigned strategic mission, thwarting the enemy's attempt to retake Quang Tri Citadel. This decisively contributed to the victory in the diplomatic struggle, forcing the US to sign the Paris Agreement, paving the way for the Great Victory of Spring 1975 and the reunification of the country.

The Truong Son National Martyrs Cemetery in Gio Linh district, Quang Tri province, is the resting place of more than 10,200 heroic martyrs.

During the battle to defend Quang Tri Citadel, more than 4,000 heroic martyrs sacrificed their lives and blood for the cause of peace and national reunification. The People's Army Newspaper at the time wrote: "Every square meter of land our soldiers gained at Quang Tri Citadel was truly a square meter of blood." Many years after the battle to defend Quang Tri Citadel, veteran Pham Dinh Lan wrote a poem as a message to those who visit: "Walk softly and speak quietly / So that my comrades may rest peacefully beneath the grass…"

Nearly half a century after the reunification of the country, it is remarkable that in Quang Tri town, almost every household has a shrine dedicated to fallen soldiers. Every 15th day of the lunar month, people respectfully offer incense and pay tribute to the heroic martyrs who sacrificed their lives.

It's unclear when it started, but after the sacred moment of New Year's Eve, the people of Quang Tri town choose Quang Tri Ancient Citadel as their first outing of the year. At the Ancient Citadel Memorial, there is never a shortage of people respectfully offering incense to express their gratitude to the heroic martyrs who fell for the peace we enjoy today.

Ms. Cap Thi Thien Trang, Head of the Management Board of the Quang Tri Ancient Citadel National Special Historical Relic Site, said that not only in July - the month of honoring heroic martyrs - but all months of the year see many tourists visiting and commemorating the site. From the beginning of 2023 to the present, the Quang Tri Ancient Citadel has welcomed approximately 264,000 visitors, including many foreign tourist groups.

Along with the ancient citadel, the sacred land of Quang Tri is considered a living museum of Vietnam's revolutionary war with a system of over 500 historical relics. Many of these relics are closely associated with the great war to defend the Fatherland, such as: Hien Luong - Ben Hai riverbanks, the Ho Chi Minh Trail, Vinh Moc Tunnels... and other famous landmarks: Doc Mieu, Highway 9, Khe Sanh, Lang Vay, Ta Con…

A heartfelt wish, a burning desire.

It can be said that, during the war to defend the Fatherland, Quang Tri was one of the localities that witnessed the most brutality and suffering. Therefore, peace has always been a burning aspiration, a shared desire of the people of Quang Tri as well as the entire Vietnamese people. It is also the heartfelt wish of hundreds of thousands of martyrs and war victims who lie buried in the soil of their motherland, Quang Tri.

Visiting Quang Tri today, we may no longer witness the brutal and tragic images of war, but we will deeply feel the value of peace, independence, freedom, unity, and territorial integrity. Commemorating and paying tribute to the outstanding sons and daughters who sacrificed their lives for the Fatherland and the war victims here, we will see that with its glorious history, Quang Tri is not just a locality but also a national symbol of the people's aspiration for peace.

Veterans and tourists pay tribute to and remember the heroic martyrs at the Quang Tri Ancient Citadel Memorial.

Based on that meaning, the People's Committee of Quang Tri province is developing a plan to organize the Festival for Peace. The festival aims to honor the values ​​of peace and convey the message of peace from the Vietnamese people and peace-loving nations around the world.

According to Mr. Hoang Nam, Vice Chairman of the Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee, since 2021, the Government has agreed in principle to allow the locality to organize a festival with a message for peace. The Festival for Peace is expected to be held in July, every two years, and is included in the list of major national cultural events to honor the value of peace, calling on everyone to join hands in fighting for, preserving, and building a peaceful and prosperous life for the homeland, the country, and humanity.

The Festival for Peace is scheduled to be held for the first time in July 2024, with main activities including: releasing floating lanterns, lighting candles in remembrance; cultural and tourism exchange and promotion with performances and artistic exchanges from various countries... The main venues for the festival are the Hien Luong - Ben Hai National Special Historical Site, the Quang Tri Ancient Citadel National Special Historical Site, and the Thach Han River.

The Festival for Peace is expected to create emotional highlights, bringing the world of peace to Quang Tri, and every citizen of the province will become an ambassador for peace. Visitors to Quang Tri will immerse themselves in the festival, shouldering the mission of spreading the value of peace everywhere...

"The Festival for Peace aims to honor the values ​​of peace, conveying the message of peace from the Vietnamese people and peace-loving nations around the world."

We need a national-level war relics museum.

This was a suggestion made by National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue during his visit to Quang Tri province in July 2023. The Chairman stated that Quang Tri is a land that suffered the most intense bombing during the two protracted wars of national resistance. Quang Tri is therefore a suitable place to express the aspiration for peace.

"If Quang Tri wants to attract international tourists, it needs a national-level war relics museum. This element should be included in the national target program for cultural development strategy," the National Assembly Chairman emphasized.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/van-nghe/quang-tri-dat-thieng-khat-vong-hoa-binh-20230831193829988.htm