Quang Tri – from red address to green aspiration

Quang Tri – from red address to green aspiration

From Truong Son Martyrs' Cemetery to Road 9 Martyrs' Cemetery, from both banks of Hien Luong - Ben Hai to Quang Tri Ancient Citadel, everywhere is filled with red flags with yellow stars on National Day.

Gratitude to live worthily

On the morning of September 2, at Quang Tri Citadel, in the light rain of early autumn, a group of police officers and soldiers walked solemnly up the stairs leading to the Memorial. On their shoulders, pure white wreaths formed the red words: "Forever grateful to the heroic martyrs". The flower offering ceremony took place in the lingering smoke of incense, the quiet sound of gongs resounding in the sacred space.

Offering flowers and incense to commemorate and pay tribute to heroic martyrs at the Quang Tri Ancient Citadel Memorial.

Right after the green uniforms, the stream of people paying their respects continued unceasingly. The silver-haired veteran, his back already bent, struggled to lean before the Memorial, his trembling hand placed on the row of names engraved in stone, as if whispering to his comrades. Next to him, the white-shirted student clasped his hands, his eyes silently following the incense smoke rising to the blue sky. The presence of many generations, from those who had been through the war to today's youth, made the atmosphere of the Citadel become deeper, connected by an invisible thread of history, woven from the aspiration for independence and freedom.

Below the Memorial, in the silent arched space, the soldier’s luggage – a faded backpack, a pair of rubber sandals, a helmet and a rusty gun – is placed in a solemn glass cabinet. These are not just artifacts, but the legacy of an entire generation that fell so that the Fatherland could rise again. And on the other side of the campus, the Citadel Museum quietly preserves films, photos and war relics, as a “living memory” for everyone to come to, to understand more deeply the great sacrifice of their fathers and brothers.

On September 2, 1945, at Ba Dinh Square, President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence, giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. That sacred voice quickly spread to every countryside, every village, including Quang Tri - a poor but indomitable land. During those historic autumn days, the people here enthusiastically rallied, hung the red flag with the yellow star, joining the flow of people across the country entering a new era.

But history also places Quang Tri in a special position: the land of the storms and winds, where the 17th parallel divided the country for 21 years. More than anyone else, the people of Quang Tri understand the value of independence and freedom. And more than anyone else, they paid the highest price for the day of national reunification. In just 81 days and nights of the fiery summer of 1972, tens of thousands of soldiers fell in the battle to protect the Citadel; many were in their twenties, their bodies merging into the Thach Han River. Quang Tri became an immortal symbol of indomitable will and the desire for peace exchanged for blood.

Every National Day, Quang Tri bustles with the grateful footsteps of compatriots from all over the country. From the Citadel to Truong Son, from Road 9 to the banks of Hien Luong - Ben Hai, the sacred spaces are covered with flags and flowers. People come here not only to burn incense in memory but also to feel more deeply the value of peace, to remind themselves to live up to what the previous generations have left behind.

The wind opens the desire

If the past has turned Quang Tri into a “red address” of war memories, today, this place is transforming into the green of aspiration. Stepping out of the ashes, Quang Tri is reborn with new colors – notably the green of peace and sustainable development.

On the hillsides that were once scorched by the Lao wind, hundreds of giant wind turbines now stand tall, their blades spinning steadily, creating a new melody of green industry. Along the coastal route from My Thuy to Le Thuy, wind and solar power projects have sprung up one after another, turning the harsh land into a promised land of renewable energy. Quang Tri people still call them “wind birds”, symbolizing the desire to reach far, the desire to build a bright future from the very land that was once drenched in blood and bullets.

In the Southeast, the Quang Tri Southeast Economic Zone and My Thuy deep-water seaport are being built to become important trade gateways. In the Southwest, the Lao Bao and La Lay international border gates – which have connected Vietnam with Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar for decades – are now increasingly busy, contributing to the vitality of the East-West Economic Corridor. Quang Tri today is no longer just a land of bombs and bullets but is emerging as a strategic transit point for trade, energy, and tourism.

War nostalgia tourism – a unique strength of Quang Tri – is increasingly being combined with eco-tourism and community tourism. Tourists come here not only to burn incense at the Citadel, to listen to the waves of Hien Luong, to watch the quiet Thach Han River, but also to stroll on Cua Tung beach, immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the “Unification of the Country” festival or the bustling Mid-Autumn Festival in every village. These experiences create a very unique attraction for the land that has “changed its skin” in the bombs and bullets.

From July 1, 2025, when Quang Tri and Quang Binh merge into a new province - Quang Tri province - the tourism space will be even richer. If Quang Tri stands out with red addresses associated with war memories, Quang Binh is strong in sightseeing, discovery and resort tourism with Phong Nha - Ke Bang, Nhat Le beach, Bang stream, Da Nhay... This merger creates a diverse group of destinations, complementing each other's strengths, opening up breakthrough opportunities for the tourism industry in the whole region. If during the war, the two banks of Ben Hai used to separate the North and the South, now, the connection of Quang Tri - Quang Binh opens up a new connection: no longer limited by administrative boundaries, the two lands that fought side by side in the resistance war now share the same aspiration for construction and development.

War nostalgia tourism – a unique strength of Quang Tri – is increasingly being enriched by ecological and community colors. Tourists come here not only to burn incense at the Citadel, listen to the sound of waves lapping at Hien Luong Bridge, and watch the quiet Thach Han River, but also to stroll on Cua Tung Beach, join in the bustling Mid-Autumn Festival, or calm their hearts before the “Unification of the Country” festival that attracts tens of thousands of participants. These experiences create a Quang Tri that is both imbued with memories and full of vitality today.

On July 1, 2025, Quang Tri and Quang Binh will merge into the new Quang Tri province - a historical milestone, expanding development space and creating momentum for the tourism industry to break through. If Quang Tri has the strength of nostalgic, ecological and community tourism, Quang Binh attracts tourists with its majestic nature and beach resorts - from Phong Nha - Ke Bang to Nhat Le, Bang stream, and Da Nhay.

Quang Tri Provincial Party Secretary Le Ngoc Quang emphasized that this merger not only resonates strengths but also creates a rich and unique range of destinations, where the past blends with discovery, where heritage goes hand in hand with aspirations, igniting new momentum for tourism in a land once drenched in bombs but now full of vitality.

Source: https://cand.com.vn/doi-song/quang-tri--tu-dia-chi-do-den-khat-vong-xanh-i780196/