More than 50 international and Vietnamese war correspondents, writers, directors, photographers, friends of Vietnam - historical witnesses who have captured priceless moments of Vietnam through their authentic lenses and pens - met, exchanged, and talked about the topic of war and the value of peace .
There are familiar names such as Nick Ut, the Associated Press (AP) photojournalist who took the shocking photo "Napalm Girl" or Edith M. Lederer - the first female AP reporter sent to Vietnam to report on the war... Nakamura Goro (Japan) is famous for his series of photos about the consequences of Agent Orange in Vietnam...
Breakfast with the liberation army soldiers
Together they shared unforgettable stories and memories of the war that ended 50 years ago but is still fresh in their memories. Writer and journalist Xuan Phuong of Vietnam Television, one of the first reporters to enter the Independence Palace with the tank regiment on April 30, 1975, wished to receive written versions of the stories about what the war correspondents present at the meeting had experienced and unforgettable emotions in Vietnam, to compile into a book as valuable documents, helping Vietnamese youth "remember the sweet and bitter times". "You have shared with us the most difficult times, so today, please help our young people understand your sacrifices and contributions", she said emotionally.
Former international and Vietnamese war correspondents at the exchange. Photo: NGUYEN HONG |
Indian reporter Nayan Chanda, resident correspondent of the Far Eastern Economic Review (FEER) in Indochina, shared his memories of having breakfast with a liberation soldier at his home. Being in Saigon in the early days after liberation, he happened to cook breakfast for this soldier and had breakfast together after overcoming his tension and suspicion. This soldier entered his house to find out if there were any soldiers of the old government hiding. After he brought out an article about Lenin that he had written, the two happily had breakfast together. He was one of the reporters who ignored warnings to leave Saigon at that time to record the historic moments that ended the war 50 years ago. Instead of evacuating like most international reporters at that time, he decided to stay in Saigon after April 30 to observe life under the new government, thanks to which he captured a true picture of the "unusually quiet" atmosphere on the streets of Saigon on the morning of May 1, 1975.
Impressed with the "openness"
As the first female AP reporter sent to Vietnam to cover the war, Ms. Lederer said she witnessed many important historical milestones, including the time when the US military withdrew from South Vietnam in 1973. She shared that she was fortunate to participate in many occasions to celebrate Vietnam's victory, 35 years, 40 years and now 50 years. But what surprised her most was that in 1993, 20 years after her first return to Saigon and to Hanoi , she was welcomed everywhere. Ho Chi Minh City is increasingly developed, with many high-rise buildings and shops, but what impressed her most was the "openness", no longer the hatred as she initially feared. "Traveling the length of Vietnam to feel the beauty of Vietnam, the beauty of peace. Before, I only reported on the war and this time I returned, I want to exploit the beauty of peace in your country," Ms. Lederer emotionally shared.
Thomas Charles is a special case. He became a war correspondent after a period of volunteering in Vietnam to teach English in Tuy Hoa, Phu Yen to people who had fled the war and left their homes. That was in 1966, after graduating from university, he refused to join the US army and asked to go to Vietnam to do social work. Thanks to self-studying Vietnamese, when he became a reporter, he was able to deeply penetrate the lives of the people, interviewed many Vietnamese people and wrote articles condemning the injustice and brutality of the war. It was during that period that he learned to eat Vietnamese fish sauce and now, every meal cannot be without this dish. He shared that when he came to Vietnam and integrated with the people, he realized that what was still spread in the US that the US was helping the Vietnamese people was not true. The war brought suffering. He said that with the small amount of money, he could not help the people much at that time.
Now, returning to Vietnam at a time when the North and South are unified, brothers from three regions "reunited as one family", uniting together to help Vietnam overcome the devastation of war and develop more and more is what makes him happy.
Thomas Charles boasted that he married a woman from Can Tho and has been happily married for 55 years. Humorously reciting the poem: "Can Tho has white rice and clear water/ Whoever goes there does not want to return", he made everyone present very happy with his knowledge of Vietnam.
International war correspondents of the time spoke up together as voices of conscience about the war in Vietnam with photos and documentary films of awakening value. Ms. Xuan Phuong emotionally said: "There are those who are not so lucky to be able to sit here and attend a happy day like today. They will never have the opportunity to tell stories about Vietnam like we do here."
Ms. Xuan Phuong added that she received many letters from relatives of deceased war correspondents. They wished to have the opportunity to visit Vietnam. There was a French war correspondent whose son said in a letter that before his father died, he told his son to visit Vietnam, to visit the places he had been to, to understand why his father had chosen to voluntarily help Vietnam during those difficult years.
According to People's Army
Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/toi-muon-khai-thac-ve-dep-hoa-binh-o-viet-nam--a419793.html
Comment (0)