“Song of Peace” exhibition pays tribute to sacrifice for reunification

THE HANOI TIMES — In a deeply moving tribute to the generations who gave their all for the nation’s independence and reunification, the exhibition “Song of Peace” opened on April 23 at the Hoa Lo Prison Relic Site, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.

The event is held in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Vietnam’s Reunification Day, and will run until May 31.

According to Hoa Lo Prison Relic, the exhibition is a journey through the memories, hardships, and indomitable spirit of the Vietnamese people during the resistance war against the US that lasted from 1954 to 1975.

A living memory of Truong Son

One of the highlights of the exhibition is a lifelike recreation of the Truong Son Trail, a symbol of resilience, sacrifice, and unbreakable national unity. This area vividly depicts the arduous lives of soldiers, medics, youth volunteers, and logisticians who braved dangerous terrain and constant bombardment to ensure the uninterrupted flow of supplies and reinforcements between the North and South.

Cao Thi Hanh Kiem, a former youth volunteer from Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi, visited the exhibition in emotions. She shared: "My comrades and I experienced those hard days on Truong Son Mountain. Many of them fell and never came back. These pictures help me see their faces and remember their laughter and the songs we sang to stay strong. None of them came home whole, but all of them carried the dream of peace for this land."

She also recalled the historic moment of April 30, 1975: "When we heard the news of victory at noon that day, it was like waking up from a long nightmare. I cried tears of joy and sorrow for our peace and freedom, and for those who didn't survive to see it.

Honoring the past, inspiring the future

The exhibition is divided into three thematic sections: "All for the Frontline," "The Road to Reunification," and "The Joyful Day of the Fatherland."

"All for the Frontline" reflects the determination of the North to mobilize its entire population and efforts to support the battlefield in the south. In response to patriotic movements such as "Three Ready" and "Five Volunteers," millions of young people put aside their personal dreams to join the frontline, exemplifying the collective will to defend national sovereignty at any cost.

"Road to Reunification recounts key military campaigns that tipped the balance of the war, including the 1968 Mau Than Offensive, the Route 9 - South Laos Campaign, and the Binh Tri Thien Campaign. These victories laid the groundwork for the signing of the Paris Peace Accords in 1973, which affirmed Vietnam's independence and territorial integrity on the international stage.

"The Joyful Day of the Fatherland" commemorates the historic final phase of the resistance of the Central Highlands Campaign, the liberation of Hue-Danang, and finally the triumphant Ho Chi Minh Campaign. The exhibition concludes with the iconic victory of April 30, 1975, a date that marked the end of decades of conflict and the beginning of a unified, peaceful Vietnam.

Featuring hundreds of artifacts, photographs, and personal accounts, the "Song of Peace" serves as a memorial and a message. It honors the indomitable spirit of Vietnamese soldiers, youth volunteers, and ordinary citizens who stood together for a greater cause and reminds future generations of the price of peace and the importance of preserving national unity.

The exhibition also to instill pride and responsibility in today's youth as it delivers a message: "Let those who walk in peace remember those who walked through fire."