Quang Tri inaugurated the restoration and embellishment project and received the certificate of ranking as a national historical relic of Long Dai Ferry Terminal II.

(Chinhphu.vn) - On the morning of September 19, the People's Committee of Quang Tri province held the inauguration ceremony of the project to restore and embellish the historical relic "Long Dai Ferry Terminal II - The place where 16 youth volunteers sacrificed their lives (September 1972)" in Truong Ninh commune.

Inauguration of the project to restore and embellish the historical relic Long Dai Ferry Terminal II - Photo: VGP/LH

The event aims to pay tribute to heroic martyrs, honor the contributions of families with revolutionary contributions and demonstrate the determination of the Party Committee, government and people of Quang Tri in preserving and promoting the value of revolutionary relics.

Speaking at the ceremony, Permanent Vice Chairman of Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee Hoang Nam emphasized that this is an important cultural-historical event, aiming to express deep gratitude to those who sacrificed for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland, and at the same time affirm the determination to preserve, honor and promote the value of revolutionary relics.

The Standing Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Tri province said that Long Dai ferry, along with Quang Tri Citadel, Hien Luong - Ben Hai banks, Truong Son National Martyrs' Cemetery, Highway 9... have become immortal symbols. If the Citadel marked 81 days and nights of fire, Hien Luong - Ben Hai is a painful testament to separation, then Long Dai is an epic about the indomitable will of Vietnamese youth, ready to "die for the Fatherland, live for the Fatherland" to maintain the bloodline to support the South.

Delegates burn incense and pay tribute to heroes and martyrs - Photo: VGP/LH

Since the Memorial House of 16 Youth Volunteers was built in 2012, with the support of the political system and many organizations and individuals, the project of comprehensive restoration and embellishment of the relic site has been completed.

The highlight of the relic site is the Memorial with the image of 16 rice plants - a symbol of flesh and blood, sacrifice and immortal vitality of the soldiers. The system of the ceremony house, exhibition hall, boat dock, ceremonial yard, parking lot... creates a spacious, solemn and intimate cultural-historical space.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism awards the certificate of National Monument of Long Dai Ferry Terminal II to Quang Tri province - Photo: VGP/LH

Previously, on the evening of September 18, at the historical site of Ferry Wharf II on the Long Dai River, Truong Ninh Commune, Quang Tri Province, the art and political program "Gratitude - The River of Fire and Flowers" was held and the Certificate of National Historical Site "Ferry Wharf II Long Dai - the place where 16 Youth Volunteers sacrificed their lives in September 1972" was received.

At the program, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung awarded the National Historical Relic Ranking Certificate “Long Dai Ferry Terminal II - the place where 16 youth volunteers sacrificed their lives in September 1972” to the leaders of Quang Tri province. This is an affirmation of the great value of this place in history; at the same time, it creates a foundation for the relic to become a “red address” for educating traditions, honoring martyrs, and developing cultural-historical-spiritual tourism in the future.

Along with the Ceremony to receive the National Historical Relic Ranking Certificate, the political art program "Gratitude - The River of Fire and Flowers" sends gratitude to the army forces, youth volunteers, and militia who heroically sacrificed their lives at Long Dai II ferry during the years of resistance war, protecting the Fatherland and unifying the country. The program recreates the tragic past along the Long Dai River - one of the rivers that struggled under bombs and bullets to maintain the traffic artery connecting the South and the North.

"Fire Flowers" evokes the image of brave, enthusiastic soldiers, radiating a strong will, shining brightly amidst bullets and fire. The fire of enemy bombs and bullets created a fire in the heart and spirit of each soldier, crystallizing into brilliant fire flowers. The image of "Fire Flowers" in peacetime is likened to an immortal flower, commemorating the martyrs who sacrificed their lives.

In the sacred space of the program, the songs "Footsteps on the Truong Son range", "Fire and smoke of Binh Tri Thien", "Eastern Truong Son - Western Truong Son" resounded like immortal epics.

Art program "Gratitude - River of Fire and Flowers" - Photo: VGP/LH

Long Dai Ferry Terminal II, in Truong Ninh Commune, during the years of resistance war against America to save the country, was considered "the enemy's bomb fragments were thicker than gravel", one of the most fierce coordinates on the legendary Truong Son road.

The ferry terminal is located on Highway 15, a traffic bridge, a strategic "throat" position that determines the survival of the supply line from the Northern rear to the Southern front, Laos and Cambodia. It was here that the enemy dropped hundreds of tons of bombs and bullets, turning Long Dai into a fierce "fire pan", aiming to cut off the traffic bloodline.

This place witnessed the shedding of blood and bones, especially the tragic sacrifice of 16 youth volunteers of Company C130 from Thai Binh (now Hung Yen) in September 1972, while on duty to clear the road, transport across the river, and maintain the traffic flow. In the fierce bombings on September 19 and 23, 1972, 16 soldiers (7 women, 9 men) fell while on duty, becoming immortal symbols of the spirit of "Determination to die for the Fatherland, determination to live".

Today, Long Dai Ferry Terminal II is not only a historical relic but also a living testament to the brutality of war, marking the indomitable will of the Vietnamese people.

On September 9, 2025, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism officially recognized Long Dai Ferry Terminal II as a National Historical Relic, affirming the historical value of the site, and at the same time creating a foundation for the site to become a "red address" for traditional education, gratitude to martyrs, and development of cultural, historical and spiritual tourism.

Liu Xiang

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/quang-tri-don-nhan-bang-xep-hang-di-tich-lich-su-quoc-gia-ben-pha-ii-long-dai-102250918232903169.htm