After the signing of the Geneva Accords in 1954, Vietnam was divided into north and south at the Ben Hai River, and the Hien Luong Bridge became a symbol of the wounds of division and the country’s yearning for reunification.
For the nearly two decades that followed, Quang Tri became a fierce battlefield but the local residents retained their indomitable spirit despite the enemy’s efforts to destroy the region with a relentless barrage of tens of thousands of tonnes of bombs and chemical weapons.
The front-line province was finally liberated on May 1, 1972, three years before the liberation of the entirety of southern Vietnam on April 30, 1975.
In a solemn atmosphere, the national flag was raised against the backdrop of the national anthem, reflecting the national pride and invincible strength of the Vietnamese people.
The ceremony, a chance to honour those who contributed to the great victory in 1975 and for attendants to recall the memories of a heroic period, was followed by a boat race on the Ben Hai River and a performance of bai choi, a UNESCO-recognised cultural heritage.
