In a solemn atmosphere, the delegation reverently laid wreaths and offered incense at Hàng Keo Cemetery, the first cemetery of Côn Đảo. This is the resting place of more than 10,000 patriotic political prisoners who sacrificed their lives at Côn Đảo Prison from the beginning of the 20th century to the white terror period of 1940-1941. The site marks the immense losses of revolutionary soldiers, remembered through the historically passed-down saying: “Going to Côn Lôn is easy, returning is hard; alive, one relies on Chúa Mountain, deceased, one rests at Hàng Keo.”

At Côn Đảo Temple and Hàng Dương Cemetery, the resting place of thousands of revolutionary soldiers, the delegation respectfully offered flowers and incense to remember President Hồ Chí Minh, heroic martyrs, and patriotic compatriots who sacrificed their lives for the independence and freedom of the nation.

Subsequently, the delegation offered incense at the graves of Party General Secretary Lê Hồng Phong, Hero of the People’s Armed Forces Võ Thị Sáu, patriot Nguyễn An Ninh, alongside many typical revolutionary soldiers. Hàng Dương Cemetery is currently the resting place of nearly 2,000 martyrs, among whom many graves remain unidentified.

Côn Đảo is a sacred land associated with the nation’s history of revolutionary struggle. Throughout 113 years, from 1862 to 1975, the French colonialists and US imperialists built this place into a notorious prison system, detaining tens of thousands of revolutionary soldiers and patriots. However, brutal forms of torture failed to subdue the loyal will of generations of soldiers, transforming Côn Đảo from a “hell on earth” into a shining symbol of Vietnamese revolutionary heroism.

In front of the heroic spirits of the martyrs, the delegation expressed their deep gratitude for the immense contributions and sacrifices of past generations. They vowed to continue promoting revolutionary traditions, uniting, innovating, and building an increasingly developing Điện Biên province, contributing alongside the whole country to successfully realizing the cause of constructing and firmly protecting the Fatherland.

On this occasion, on behalf of the Party Committee, the People’s Council, the People’s Committee, and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Điện Biên province, Standing Vice Chairwoman of the provincial People’s Council Cao Thị Tuyết Lan presented VND 50 million to the Côn Đảo Special Zone Gratitude Fund, contributing to caring for the lives of policy-beneficiary families and people with meritorious services to the revolution in the locality.