Hanoi (VNA) – The 50th celebration of the liberation of the South and national reunification provides a meaningful opportunity to look back on the glorious history of the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) whose reporters, editors, and technicians engaged in the resistance wars to protect the homeland and fulfill international obligations.
The invaluable map
Photojournalist Dinh Quang Thanh, among the VNA’s veteran photographers, was assigned to join the agency’s “spearhead team” to accompany the military to liberate Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) in 1975. He captured precious historical moments during the Ho Chi Minh Campaign 50 years ago.
While visiting a map office in Da Lat, he collected detailed street maps of Saigon as he believed they could be useful for him upon arrival in the city. Later, when meeting with Regiment 66 of Division 304, Thanh noticed they were struggling with navigation, having only basic military maps lacking street details. He immediately offered one of his Saigon maps, which the commander of the regiment gratefully accepted.
Thanks to this map, Regiment 66 reached the Independence Palace first on April 30, 1975, capturing Duong Van Minh's entire cabinet and securing their unconditional surrender.
Lieutenant General Pham Xuan The of Division 304 later revealed that without Thanh's map, the soldiers would have been confused navigating downtown Saigon.
The map was transferred to Division 304 and is now preserved at Army Corps 2. The photograph showing commanders planning the attack on Saigon using this map is currently kept at both the VNA and Division 304.
Remembering the country’s glorious days
Recalling the heroic days of the country 50 years ago, journalist Ngoc Bich, former reporter and editor of the southern news bureau under the VNA’s Domestic News Department said she has been proud to have lived and witnessed the brilliant days when the Vietnamese troops and people defeated the most powerful imperialist in the world.
According to Bich, with the opening victory on March 10, 1975, liberating Buon Me Thuot, followed by Gia Lai and Kon Tum provinces, news and images of the puppet troops fleeing on the Central Highlands roads were simultaneously reported by frontline journalists from Liberation Press Agency (now the VNA), military reporters, and foreign press. During these days, the VNA reporters and editors voluntarily arrived at the office early and stayed late into the evening to process updates.
She remembered that crowds of people gathered in front of the agency headquarters, waiting for news. They cheered loudly and even burst into to tears when aware of the victory.
The VNA then focused on reports documenting the transition to peacetime across newly liberated cities across the nation, she added, stressing memories of the old days remain in her heart and she has been proud of being a VNA reporter and proud of a strong VNA today./.
