On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Southern Liberation and National Reunification Day (April 30, 1975 - 2025), Điện Biên province has five delegates participating in the commemorative ceremony and military parade in Hồ Chí Minh City. During these historic April days, many sacred and emotional memories of their “fiery youth” are rekindled among veterans who fought in the war. Major General Lưu Trọng Lư, Chairman of the provincial Veterans’ Association, is one of the five delegates attending the event. He joined the army in September 1973 at the age of 18, filled with youthful enthusiasm and a burning desire to contribute to the cause of liberating the South and unifying the nation. Having participated in two major campaigns - Tây Nguyên (Central Highlands) and Hồ Chí Minh campaigns - the memories of his arduous days of combat remain deeply etched in his mind.

Major General Lư shared: “Despite the difficult conditions at that time, our fighting spirit was always passionate. Everyone was prepared to face danger, even death, but the hatred for the enemy and the longing for peace gave us the strength to overcome everything.”

After completing training, he was assigned to Regiment 148, Division 316. At the beginning of 1975, his unit participated in the Central Highlands campaign, marking the start of the great spring offensive. In Buôn Ma Thuột, his unit performed reconnaissance, maintained communications, and guided Regiment 148 in the attack against the headquarters of Regiment 53 of the South Vietnamese army. With exceptional bravery, he was honored with the title “Hero of American Defeat” at just 20 years old.

Following their victory in the Central Highlands, his unit rapidly marched to participate in the Hồ Chí Minh Campaign with the task of blocking enemy retreats toward Saigon. Recalling those historic moments, Major General Lư emotionally said: “Despite fierce battles, our soldiers fought resolutely with iron will, patriotism, and unwavering confidence in victory, determined to complete the historic campaign and unify the nation.”

In the days of smoke and fire across the South, he and his comrades experienced immense hardships and losses but were ultimately rewarded with the glorious victory of the Hồ Chí Minh Campaign. Reflecting on the atmosphere of liberation day, Major General Lư remains moved: “At noon on April 30, 1975, when the political commissar announced that our troops had entered Independence Palace and the South was completely liberated, our unit stationed in Củ Chi was overwhelmed with joy. Soldiers embraced one another; many wept not only from the joy of victory but also mourning fallen comrades who had just missed witnessing the moment of reunification. At that sacred moment of victory, joy and sorrow mingled together, imprinting deeply in the hearts of soldiers for a lifetime.”

Leaving Major General Lư, we visited veteran Nguyễn Quang Bích of Tân Thanh ward (Điện Biên Phủ city), who also had the honor of attending the anniversary ceremony and parade in Hồ Chí Minh City. In his neat house filled with prestigious medals and awards, Mr. Bích emphasized that today’s peaceful life came at the price of immense sacrifices from compatriots and comrades. His story vividly illustrated the hardships and brutality that soldiers and civilians endured to regain independence and freedom.

Bích recounted: “During the fiercest period of the war, American imperialists ruthlessly massacred our compatriots. Deeply angered by their crimes, in 1974 I volunteered for military service. The Southern battlefield was like a burning inferno, with life and death separated by only a thin line. With determination to defeat the invaders, in 1975, my comrades and I directly participated in combat during the Huế - Đà Nẵng Campaign and later the Hồ Chí Minh Campaign, serving as a reconnaissance soldier in Brigade 219, Army Corps 2.”

Despite the 50 years of life’s turbulence, Mr. Bích never forgets the memories of battles and comrades from the liberation of the South. Remarkably, amid the joyous atmosphere of victory, Bích was reunited with his relatives. “The battle was fierce, and I never imagined I would meet my uncle and cousin on the battlefield. At that time, I was in the Reconnaissance Company, my cousin Thuyết was in the Communications Company, and my uncle Trình was a military supplies officer. When we met during the liberation celebrations, all three of us hugged each other joyfully. It was a rare and sacred reunion in the midst of immense danger, giving us additional strength to fulfill our duties,” Bích said emotionally.

The stories told by these veterans enable our generation, those born in peacetime, to grasp the depth of suffering and sacrifice caused by war, and to appreciate that today’s peace was exchanged with the blood, youth, and unfinished dreams of countless soldiers.

According to the provincial Veterans’ Association, Điện Biên currently has over 17,500 members, including more than 4,330 who participated directly in the resistance war against the U.S.. Alongside veterans from across the country, they volunteered for military service, fought valiantly against American invaders, and contributed significantly to the victory of the historic Spring Offensive of 1975, climaxing in the legendary Hồ Chí Minh Campaign. These heroic achievements have become golden pages in Vietnam’s anti-invasion history, forever engraved in the memories of Điện Biên veterans who contributed to the national reunification. Regardless of their hometown, whether Điện Biên, Lai Châu, or elsewhere, they shared the same noble ideals. Today, in times of peace, they continue their dedication, contributing to the growth and prosperity of heroic Điện Biên, honoring the proud traditions of their homeland.