Phuoc Long Victory Monument

The spacious area at the intersection of Dak Lung Bridge, in front of the Highway 14 - Phuoc Long Museum (Phuoc Long Ward, Dong Nai Province), is where the Phuoc Long Victory Monument of January 6, 1975, is located. More than just a symbol of historical value, for every resident of the former Phuoc Long town, this is also a place deeply connected to their souls, evoking memories of their beloved Phuoc Long region.

For those born in the 1980s and later, and those who have chosen this land as their second home, the Phuoc Long Victory Monument of January 6, 1975, exists as a matter of course. Few know the story behind the creation of this sacred symbol.

HISTORICAL SYMBOL

The victory at Phuoc Long on January 6, 1975, was part of the Highway 14 - Phuoc Long Campaign, carried out from December 13, 1974, to January 6, 1975, completely liberating Phuoc Long province. This victory was of significant importance, serving as a "strategic reconnaissance strike" that affirmed the liberation army's ability to capture a province and reinforced their determination to completely liberate South Vietnam in 1975.

The Phước Long Victory Monument, commemorating the victory of January 6, 1975, stands today.

Given its special historical significance, after 1975, local leaders decided to build a victory monument to commemorate history and educate future generations about the tradition. Sculptor Dinh Ru (of the Cham ethnic group, from the former Ninh Thuan province, now Khanh Hoa province) was the person who created this historical work.

Accordingly, the Phuoc Long Victory Monument of January 6, 1975, is over 5 meters tall, from the base to the top of the statue. The main part of the monument consists of three interconnected figures: two men and one woman. These depict liberation fighters, shoulder to shoulder, charging forward in a majestic pose. Below these three symbolic figures is a nearly 1-meter-high stone block bearing the inscription "Phuoc Long Victory January 6, 1975". At the very bottom is a 1.68-meter-high stone base with embossed, gold-plated images of several figures – soldiers and ethnic minority women – symbolizing the solidarity between the army and the people. The entire monument rests on a circular, brick-paved pedestal approximately 5 meters in diameter, with steps leading up to the base.

During the construction period, due to challenging conditions, the project took a long time, and most documents regarding the sculpting process and the monument's inauguration have been lost. Even officials and residents who lived in Phuoc Long during the 1980s do not have clear memories of this process.

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of Phuoc Long, journalist Phan Van Thao (pen name Le Thao), former Deputy Director and Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Binh Phuoc Radio, Television and Newspaper, wrote a series of articles titled "Dinh Ru - The Mark of a Victory Monument". The process of creating this series was also a process of tracing the milestones, determining the time of construction and inauguration of the monument. Through this, it was determined that the Phuoc Long Victory Monument of January 6, 1975, began construction in 1980 and was completed in 1985, exactly 10 years after the liberation of Phuoc Long.

Scenes from the 10th anniversary celebration of Phuoc Long's liberation (January 6, 1975 - January 6, 1985). Photo: Le Ly Trinh

In recognition of the contributions of sculptor Dinh Ru in designing and constructing this significant work, the People's Committee of Binh Phuoc province (formerly) posthumously awarded him a certificate of merit.

PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF THE PHUOC LONG VICTORY

Following a recommendation from locals, we visited the home of veteran Le Ly Trinh (residing in Phuoc Long ward). Mr. Trinh fought in the Phuoc Long battlefield from 1967 and has remained connected to this land ever since. With his intense love for Phuoc Long, his passion for photography, and due to the nature of his work (he was formerly the Deputy Head of the Standing Office of the Culture and Information Department of Phuoc Long district), Mr. Trinh has captured many images of Phuoc Long, including the 10th anniversary celebration of Phuoc Long's liberation (January 6, 1975 - January 6, 1985), which also marked the completion of the Phuoc Long Victory Monument on January 6, 1975.

Mr. Le Ly Trinh and reporters review the photo album commemorating the 10th anniversary of Phuoc Long's liberation (January 6, 1975 - January 6, 1985). Photo: Anh Ngoc

Flipping through old, faded photographs, Mr. Trinh recalled the moment of the 10th anniversary celebration of the Phuoc Long Victory. He emotionally recounted: “At that moment, not only I but everyone felt overjoyed to be able to attend the rally. Personally, I was extremely happy to be the one holding the camera to record this historic moment on this great day, because from a land devastated by war, Phuoc Long had truly been reborn after 10 years. That year's celebration included a parade of military and police units; a procession of President Ho Chi Minh's portrait; propaganda floats; and the participation of various sectors: agriculture , forestry, health, education…”

According to Mr. Le Ly Trinh's account, in 1985, the population of Phuoc Long was still sparse, but a large number of people gathered to attend this event with excitement and enthusiasm. The ceremony was held in the Phuoc Long stadium area, but the delegation also gathered at the foot of the Phuoc Long Victory Monument on January 6, 1975, to take commemorative photos.

Mr. Trinh shared: “The Phuoc Long Victory Monument is located in the central area, next to the Highway 14 - Phuoc Long Museum, overlooking Ba Ra Mountain and beside the majestic Be River. Not far from there is the Phuoc Long Governor's Residence, where our troops planted their flag when they entered to liberate the area. Today, this is a bustling and imposing central area, but when it was first liberated, it was still very wild and undeveloped.”

Looking back 50 years, Mr. Trinh expressed pride, saying, "Phuoc Long has changed a lot compared to before." Previously, Dinh Tien Hoang Street (the main road of Phuoc Long ward) was still a dense bamboo forest. Now, houses and roads are clean and beautiful, schools are modern, and the urban area is developing.

The Phuoc Long Victory Monument of January 6, 1975, is also a cultural meeting point for the people of Phuoc Long. It is the venue for the annual opening ceremony of the National Mountain Climbing and Cross-Country Race "Conquering Ba Ra Peak".

“Phuoc Long is now a ward of Dong Nai province. I hope the Party Committee and the provincial government will always pay attention to further developing Phuoc Long; building more modern and beautiful infrastructure; and improving the people's education and living standards. In particular, I hope the province will invest in developing tourism and services in Phuoc Long because it has beautiful scenery and great potential for tourism development,” Mr. Le Ly Trinh expressed.

Rose

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/dong-nai-cuoi-tuan/202510/tuong-dai-phuoc-longchien-thang-4fb1471/