Returning to Sa Lon - where time stands still in memory.

The car turned onto a smooth asphalt road, flanked by dense, verdant forests. The deeper we went, the denser the forest became, strangely silent. Those in the car were silent. Perhaps nothing needed to be said – for everyone's heart was silently calling out the name of a land they had passed through during the most turbulent years of their lives: Sa Lon.

On April 24, 2025, amidst the nationwide celebration of the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Southern Vietnam and the reunification of the country, former cadres and soldiers of the Binh Thuan Provincial Party Committee Office during the resistance against imperialism made a deeply moving return. They returned to Sa Lon – once the Provincial Party Committee's base, a place where years of hardship, bloodshed, and camaraderie were forged in the deep forests and mountains. This return was not just a geographical journey, but a journey of the heart – a return to the place where they dedicated their youth, blood, tears, and faith in independence and freedom.

"It's been fifty years since I last visited..."

Beginning with the solemn and moving welcoming remarks from Mr. Nguyen Viet Hung – Head of the Liaison Committee of the Provincial Party Committee Office during the resistance against imperialism, the atmosphere of the ceremony was further enlivened by the touching verses of a comrade who had emotionally written them upon returning to Sa Lon:

"It's been fifty years since I last visited."

The forest in the war zone remains lush and green for miles around.

The Nine-Bend Stream remains faithful through the years.

The waters of the Sa Lon River always ebb and flow."

Ms. Nguyen Thi Lua (far left) poses for a commemorative photo with her comrades.

It's hard to put into words the emotions of those with graying hair and trembling hands, yet whose eyes still shine brightly as they return to their old haunts. Amidst the white hair and faces marked by time, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Lua, a former official of the Provincial Women's Union, now 85 years old, stands out with her checkered scarf draped across her shoulder and her short, silvery hair. She is stout, her back slightly hunched with age, her steps slow, but her eyes remain bright and her voice deep and firm. "I was afraid I wouldn't have another chance to come back," she said, gently tightening her scarf. Back then, Mrs. Lua was in charge of the Women's Union in the base area, daily traversing forests and streams to mobilize people to support the revolution, organizing shelters for cadres, and transporting rice, salt, and medicine to the Provincial Party Committee. She also directly participated in digging secret tunnels, acting as a liaison, and delivering messages between revolutionary bases deep in the forest. The work was arduous and dangerous, but she never faltered. “Because I believed the revolution would win, I believed the country would one day have peace ,” Mrs. Lua said quietly, her eyes shining with unwavering faith that had lasted for more than half a century. She looked up at the forest before her, where the old agency's barracks used to be: “I remember every tree, every slope. The forest is still green, but so many of the people from the past are gone…” A fleeting smile crossed Mrs. Lua’s sun-tanned, wrinkled face. A smile not for the present, but for a time of youth that didn’t hesitate to shed blood and sacrifice, for those who have gone, and for herself – the one who still has the strength to return and tell the story.

Among the returning faces at the Sa Lon base, Mr. Nguyen Van Hien – a former bodyguard – still retains his sturdy appearance beneath his weathered, graying hair. Now 72 years old, Mr. Hien joined the revolution in 1968, originating from a grassroots base in the region. Gradually rising through the ranks, he was assigned the task of bodyguarding, directly protecting the Provincial Party Secretary during the years of fierce bombing. Beyond his important role as a bodyguard, Mr. Hien also participated in logistical support: daily preparing meals, providing water, building shelters, and supplying rice and salt to the leadership headquarters deep within the forest.

During the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign, he was deployed to participate in opening campaign routes, digging earth, building bridges, clearing mines, and transporting food supplies, working day and night, hoping for the day of complete victory. “There were nights when even the slightest sound made me hold my breath and listen. Every road, every tree I passed bore the mark of my comrades,” he recalled. Now living in Phan Rang, whenever he has the opportunity to recall the past, Mr. Nguyen Van Hien's eyes still light up with quiet pride. Amidst the green forests of Sa Lon today, his figure still stands tall, just like the indomitable years of a generation that dedicated their lives to the independence and freedom of the Fatherland.

The day of return is not just for looking back.

The former Sa Lon base – once the longest-standing headquarters of the Binh Thuan Provincial Party Committee during the arduous years of the resistance war – has now been restored and renovated, becoming a significant historical site in the journey of honoring history. Every meter of land here is steeped in the blood, bones, and sweat of countless cadres and soldiers. Many of those sitting here today once carried rice, transported radio equipment, dug tunnels, and fetched salt in enemy territory. Many others directly protected the headquarters and the Provincial Party Committee leaders – even at the cost of their own lives.

The reunion was not only an occasion for gathering, but also a tribute. Over 80 comrades sacrificed their lives in the resistance war. And since the reunification of the country, more than 55 others have quietly passed away. Many, like Luong Minh Chau and Mai Hoang Dai, contributed to rediscovering this very Sa Lon base, but did not live to return. The moment of silence in the sacred forest brought the entire meeting to a standstill. The sound of the stream and the forest wind suddenly seemed to transform into the calls of those who have passed away – calling out the names of their comrades, calling back to a time of youth that did not flinch in the face of bombs and bullets.

The return home was not just for reminiscing. It was also an opportunity to witness the transformation of our homeland. From a land that was once a revolutionary base in the southernmost part of Central Vietnam, Binh Thuan has today become a southern growth hub, with coastal tourism, a modern economy, and developed infrastructure. The atmosphere at the gathering was solemn as Comrade Dang Hong Sy – Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee – spoke on behalf of the provincial leadership to express gratitude. He emphasized that their sacrifices and dedication played a crucial role in the victory of the resistance war, contributing to the liberation of our homeland exactly half a century ago. And today, many of them – even after retirement – continue to contribute their efforts and intellect to the development of their homeland. This is a source of pride not only for the veterans and their families, but also an honor for the entire Party Committee and the people of the province.

Comrade Dang Hong Sy also shared about the encouraging changes in Binh Thuan province after 50 years of liberation: stable economic growth, GRDP in 2024 increased by 7.25%, budget revenue exceeded the forecast; administrative reform index and people's satisfaction have both increased significantly. These achievements – he said – bear the mark and contributions of previous generations. In his concluding remarks, he expressed his belief in the continuation of tradition: “I hope that the former cadres and soldiers of the Provincial Party Committee Office will continue to uphold the tradition, set a good example, encourage their children and the community, and together build an increasingly prosperous and beautiful homeland.” Applause rang out, not only as appreciation for the speech, but also as a silent thank you, a source of pride, and an echo of history sent to the present day.

The reunion ended with firm handshakes, tearful eyes, and hugs that were reluctant to let go. The bus rolled away from Sa Lon, leaving behind the green forest and the whispers of the past. But in the hearts of each person, time seemed to stand still there – where Sa Lon was not just a place name, but a part of the soldier's soul, an indelible memory of a time of revolution.

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