President Truong Tan Sang has said the combat spirit and sacrifice of revolutionary soldiers who were once held at Hoa Lo Prison in Hanoi are everlasting examples in the cause of national construction and defence.

The State leader made the remarks on July 23 while visiting the Hoa Lo relic site and meeting with revolutionary soldiers who were imprisoned by the French colonists from 1930 to 1954.

Hoa Lo Prison was built in 1896 to incarcerate those who fought against the French colonial rule in Vietnam. Many of them lost their lives here due to severe torture.

However, this was also the place where revolutionaries nurtured their fighting spirit and experience, expanded their forces, and led uprisings.

Five of the former prisoners became the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, namely Nguyen Van Cu, Truong Chinh, Le Duan, Nguyen Van Linh and Do Muoi. Hundreds of others also held important positions during Vietnam’s struggles for the national independence and reunification.

The revolutionaries’ service contributed to the success of the August Revolution in 1945, which led to the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam the same year, and the Dien Bien Phu campaign ending the French colonial rule in Indochina in 1954.

Talking to the former inmates, President Sang asked them to continue playing as role models for young generations, encouraging their patriotism and national self-reliance.

He also requested authorised agencies to well implement the Party and the State’s social policies designed for those who rendered services for the nation.-VNA