The Vietnam News Agency, in collaboration with the Vietnam Veterans’ Association, organised an award ceremony for the “Spring 1975 – Echoing Song of Victory” writing contest, held in Hanoi on April 24.

Speaking at the event, Le Hong Anh, Politburo member and standing member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat, said the Spring 1975 triumph led to the complete liberation of the south of Vietnam and put an end to the American war, reunifying the nation.

He said he was moved by all the contest entries from veterans who sent over 1,600 essays from across the nation.

Each work is a beautiful image and deep memory of the harsh battles the writers were directly involved in, he noted. Anh highlighted that the contest praises revolutionary heroism; the national tradition of bravery, resilience and creation; and the determination to liberate and reunite the country.

It also aims to encourage trust from Vietnamese people in current national construction and defence efforts, he added.

Launched in June last year, the contest received submissions of memories of “historical witnesses” who fought during the General Offensive and Uprising in the spring of 1975. Each work is a vivid and comprehensive reflection of the days spent struggling in battlefields during the historical spring.

As many as 62 pieces of writing were honoured, with the top prize coming to “Co May Bridge –Past and Present” by Colonel Nguyen Van Hong, former Deputy Head of Regiment 2, Division 3, Military Zone 5, who fought on Co May bridge and in the Vung Tau battlefields during the final Ho Chi Minh Campaign in 1975.

The work relives the fierce nature of the war and the heroic sacrifice of liberation soldiers in the gateway to Sai Gon before the city’s liberation.

In his speech at the ceremony, Anh also expressed his hope that the Vietnam Veterans’ Association would continue calling for stronger engagement of its members in the current national cause of defending the Party, State, socialism and people while promoting mutual support in economic development and poverty reduction.

Looking forward, the association should work closely with the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union to increase educating younger generations on historical traditions.

He said he hopes the nation will continue studying and following the late President Ho Chi Minh’s moral example, contributing to speeding up national renovation and economic development towards a industrialised and modern country with prosperous people, equality and civilisation.-VNA