Quang Tri each page written with love

Speaking of Quang Tri, I immediately remember the song Xa Khoi by Nguyen Tai Tue and the girl from Mai Xa village (Gio Mai, Gio Linh) sang this song very well. She is Tan Nhan, a soprano, clear and passionate. That song seemed to be born for her. Singing during the days when the country was still at war, Ben Hai became a border river. Knowing that, "The sky is still the same blue color of Quang Tri/The clouds and mountains at the horizon are not divided" as poet Te Hanh confided in his poem, I still feel heartbroken, sad and worried.

Ancient Citadel Monument - Photo: TRA THIET

Far away is like a message of peace that was raised half a century ago. The pain of “Northern days and Southern nights” is now only a memory of the nation, but when mentioned, many people still feel nostalgic. The sadness is profound and the desire is immense. Far away, is not just a love song but a prayer for peace with lasting vitality.

Starting from Quang Tri . Why do I say that, even though musician Nguyen Tai Tue wrote Far Away in the North? Because, the idea of ​​writing a song with the vastness of the ocean but deep inside it is still the love for the homeland, the love for life from his actual trip to Vinh Linh, Quang Tri in 1958.

Here again, I remember, my mother brought me the bridge at the 17th parallel with its sad lyrics and melody. Like a lullaby, a song across the sun and wind of the Central region. I heard the song "Cau ho ben bo Hien Luong" by Hoang Hiep before I was in first grade. Ho o...even though the river separates the wharf, it is not easy to stop the fate between him and her.

Part the clouds to let the golden moon shine, open the river to connect the dock for her to return to him. At that time, I did not understand the meaning of the song, nor did I feel the pain of being separated by a river, but I seemed to be saddened by my mother's song from the creaking hammock swinging in the thatched house by Gianh gate ( Quang Binh ).

Like Xa Khoi, Cau Ho Ben Bo Hien Luong contributed beautiful melodies to my life's luggage. I realize more and more that, there is no other way to say it, the desire for peace and reunion does not belong to anyone, nor to any warring party. It is the peaceful melody of the nation that has arisen from here, this beloved and sorrowful land of Quang Tri.

Not now, but a long time ago when I was still very young. Through the contemplation and experience of several decades living in Quang Tri, I have understood and loved the land and people here more, and that is the raw material for my new literary and journalistic works. But I find it more necessary and important to keep up with current life to have many truthful and touching reflections on Quang Tri in the new era.

I am still surprised to know that Quang Tri, a land with not much land, not many people, an economy only at the average level of Vietnam, a harsh climate, and frequent natural disasters, is the place with more martyrs' cemeteries than anywhere else in our country. Seventy-two martyrs' cemeteries, including two nationally ranked addresses: Truong Son and Road 9. No one expects or is proud of that.

But history is still history, Quang Tri once shouldered the fierce and painful burden of a twenty-one-year war because of its “frontline” position. Both our side and the enemy were aware of the importance of this narrow piece of land, which was scorching hot due to the cruel Foehn wind season and the persistent wetness of the rainy season because it was the junction between two regimes.

The confrontation ended fifty years ago, the peaceful country was reunited, but Quang Tri has also become a war museum containing all the nuances, levels, objects and non-objects that are contradictory.

Hien Luong - Ben Hai banks - Photo: HOANG TAO

Peace, I hear that call from thousands of war graves, right where I live and write. In the touching harmony of two worlds, half spiritual, half real life, we clearly hear the common stream of flickering light of peace. From Truong Son, Road 9, the Ancient Citadel, the Hien Luong River, Vinh Moc Tunnels, Tan So Citadel, Lao Bao Prison, Lang Vay...

Everywhere, the word peace is deeply felt. Peace is the most worthy symbol of Quang Tri land. This land of many sorrows deserves to represent the Vietnamese people to speak about peace in the most honest and passionate way.

In the fall of 2024, General Secretary To Lam will visit Quang Tri. Quang Tri Ancient Citadel, Truong Son National Martyrs' Cemetery, Road 9, the memorial site of late General Secretary Le Duan, the heroic Con Co Island... are red addresses bearing the footprints of the current leader of our Party.

In the guestbook at the memorial area of ​​late General Secretary Le Duan, Comrade To Lam wrote: "We vow to continue to strive to follow the career and aspirations, and the leadership guidance of Comrade Le Duan to build a unified, independent, free and powerful Vietnam."

New faith and hope for the land bearing many traces of fierce war are brighter from here. When the East-West Economic Corridor will be expanded to the West, National Highway 15D will soon be completed connecting My Thuy seaport to La Lay international border gate and Cam Lo-Lao Bao expressway will have investment and construction plans.

Furthermore, onshore and offshore wind power projects, solar power, and LNG power will be studied, planned, and developed in Quang Tri. As a tribute to the sacred and tragic past, a national museum named “Memories of War and Aspiration for Peace” will soon be studied and built on this land.

The project to develop the steel island - pearl island of Con Co with a strong economy, solid defense and security as well as soon pilot the model of the cross-border economic and trade zone of Lao Bao (Vietnam) - Densavan (Laos) has been discussed.

Before that, as everyone knows, Quang Tri airport had started construction. Now, saying that our homeland is taking off is probably too early, but what has been mentioned is enough to outline the bright future of the narrow Central region that went through the most devastating war of the nation in the 20th century.

Perhaps from the feelings of war and peace that are in tune with today's life when Quang Tri and the whole country enter a new era, this sacred land always urges me to compose. A Quang Tri that stands up from pain and from there reaches out to the future with love, determination and new creations. So that this land is not only sacred but also a livable place in our country.

The past is not lost in the present, or in other words, the tradition of defending the country still transmits energy to the work of building and protecting the Fatherland today. However, writing about the good and the beauty of life does not mean that we ignore the bad things, the worst of which are manifestations of corruption, waste, localism, factionalism, group interests... In the journey of digital transformation, journalists must overcome themselves, approach and practice a modern, quick and careful, direct and honest, multi-dimensional and new style of journalism.

Emerging from a fierce war with much devastation and untold suffering, Quang Tri is changing day by day. The beautiful characteristics of Quang Tri people's identity are almost still intact.

Writing about Quang Tri should highlight the “Quang Tri essence” in one’s literary and journalistic works. The urge to write about Quang Tri, for Quang Tri, because of Quang Tri is still intact in me. I am sure that many writers and journalists share the same thoughts as me. For a very simple reason. We love Quang Tri.

Nguyen Huu Quy

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/quang-tri-tung-trang-viet-yeu-thuong-194398.htm