Attending the ceremony were members of the Provincial Party Standing Committee: Nguyen Thi Thu Huong - Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda Department; Vo Thi Minh Sinh - Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Nghe An province; Phan Duc Dong - Secretary of Vinh City Party Committee.
Also attending was comrade Nguyen Nhu Khoi - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council.
Also attending were representatives of the Vietnam Urban Planning Association; Architect, artist Werner Georges, former German expert in Vinh city construction; Professor Christina Schwenkel - Department of Anthropology, University of California, USA, along with members participating in the reconstruction of Vinh city, and many generations of Vinh city residents.
Glorious history
Vinh city was officially established in 1804, when King Gia Long issued an edict to move the capital of Nghe An province from Lam Thanh - Phu Thach to Vinh. Under the French colonial period, Vinh - Ben Thuy became the most bustling industrial, technical and commercial city in Central Vietnam.
However, in 1947, with the spirit of self-sacrifice for the country, implementing the scorched earth policy to fight the resistance war, the army and people of Vinh city had to destroy almost all urban, economic and civil infrastructure with their own hands, to enter a long-term resistance war.
After the peace , from 1954 to 1964, Vinh began to be rebuilt, with a number of industrial, educational, and civilian facilities. In 1963, Vinh city was re-established. However, once again, the ten-year achievements of construction under the short-lived peace were completely destroyed by the destructive war by the US imperialists' air force and navy (1964 - 1972).
If in 1954, when Vinh people returned, the whole city was a pile of rubble, then in 1973, when Vinh emerged from the destructive war, the city was nothing but endless bomb craters. There was hardly a single intact house in Vinh. Everything was just desolation and ruins.
However, once again, Vinh was revived. With the selfless, wholehearted and righteous help of the State and People of the German Democratic Republic, the city was rebuilt. On October 22, 1973, the Agreement on the Reconstruction of Vinh City was signed by the governments of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the German Democratic Republic. And, immediately money, machinery, vehicles, materials, technology and especially experts from faraway Germany came to Vinh.
Not only did they help with the overall planning of Vinh city, the Germans also helped build, upgrade, and renovate nearly 30 important projects in Vinh and Nghe An. The most important project was the construction of Quang Trung apartment complex.
On May 1, 1974, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Construction Do Muoi, together with the Ambassador of the German Democratic Republic and leaders of Nghe An province, solemnly laid the first bricks to build Quang Trung area, officially marking the beginning of the process of rebuilding Vinh city after the war.
After 50 years since the post-war reconstruction from May 1, 1974 to May 1, 2024, Vinh city today is increasingly modern, full of vitality, striving to become the economic, cultural and social center of the region.
Warm friendship
At the ceremony, representatives of the leaders of Nghe An province, Vinh city, the Vietnam - Germany Friendship Association of Nghe An province, the Association of Architects of Nghe An province, members of the Vinh Xua group and many people of Vinh city reviewed precious and emotional footage of the reconstruction of Vinh city over the past 50 years.
The delegates reviewed the post-war reconstruction of Vinh city. Mr. Bui Nam Giao, 91 years old, former officer of Nghe An Department of Construction, representative of construction staff who participated in the reconstruction of Vinh city, said: Although the post-war reconstruction process encountered many difficulties, with the companionship and enthusiastic support of German friends, Vinh city at that time gradually revived, especially in the issue of urban planning, the works still exist today.
Ms. Luong Thi Thanh Hien, representative of the residents living in Quang Trung apartment complex, shared: Decades ago in the last century, living in Quang Trung apartment complex was an honor that not every Vinh citizen had the opportunity to do. This place holds many memorable moments of Vinh city in history. Now, although the building is no longer there to make way for new constructions, the memories of Quang Trung area still remain in the hearts of Vinh people.
Talking about the reconstruction of Vinh city at that time, we must mention the expert friends from far away Germany. The German Democratic Republic sent 215 experts to Vinh city to work and accompany in the reconstruction.
Architect and artist Werner Georges, one of the members involved in the reconstruction of Vinh city, said: “When I first arrived in Vinh, the city was still desolate and ruined, however, the people of Vinh were always warm and hospitable. Although people from two different countries and different languages, they were united in the process of working and rebuilding Vinh city, helping each other. After 50 years, seeing Vinh becoming more and more modern makes me very happy and moved…”.
Professor Christina Schwenkel, Department of Anthropology, University of California, USA, author of the book “Socialist Housing”, a study on Quang Trung apartment complex, shared: Vinh city and Quang Trung area are where I worked nearly 50 years ago, this land is a part of my memory. On this occasion, I, an American citizen, would like to apologize to Vinh city in particular and the Vietnamese people for the devastation of war in the past. Now, Vinh city is increasingly modern and prosperous, we are very happy and will always accompany the city in the development process.
On behalf of Nghe An province, comrade Vo Thi Minh Sinh - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Nghe An province sincerely thanked the sentiments of international friends, especially the group of experts who participated in the reconstruction of Vinh city in history to have a Vinh city like today.
Comrade Vo Thi Minh Sinh also acknowledged and praised the Vietnam - Germany Friendship Association of Nghe An province, the Association of Architects of Nghe An province and the Vinh Xua group for their collaboration in creating a meaningful, touching, and friendly program, engraved in the memories of the people of Vinh city. This foreign activity also contributed to international friends understanding that Vinh is a city rich in affection and gratitude.
Comrade Vo Thi Minh Sinh also hopes that these events will be widely spread, especially to the young generation of Vinh city, to further enhance the love for the homeland and the city, thereby joining hands to build an increasingly prosperous Vinh city in the future./.
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