“I hesitated when coming to Vietnam because I thought that the Vietnamese people would hate me and America. But I was wrong, the Vietnamese people treated me very kindly and friendly,” wrote Jay Gray, an American tourist, in his guestbook when visiting the Dong Loc T-junction Relic Site (Can Loc, Ha Tinh).

Memorial stele for national youth volunteer martyrs in the Dong Loc T-junction relic site (Can Loc).

In the first days of the new year 2024, many foreign tourists came to offer incense and visit the Dong Loc T-junction relic site (Dong Loc town, Can Loc). Many people were moved when listening to historical stories and visiting documents and artifacts at the relic site, including Mr. Jay Gray, a 79-year-old man from the United States.

Although he did not directly participate in the war in Vietnam, Mr. Jay Gray always felt ashamed of the war that America had caused, and at the same time, he always thought that the Vietnamese people hated America and the American people like him. However, on his first visit to Vietnam, he was very surprised and happy because of the friendly and kind welcome of the people here.

Mr. Jay Gray took a souvenir photo with staff of the Dong Loc T-junction Relic Management Board.

After visiting and listening to historical stories at the relic site, Mr. Jay Gray realized that the historical stories, documents, and artifacts at the Dong Loc T-junction Relic Site as well as other museums and relic sites in Vietnam are not symbols of hatred towards any people or country, but are evidence for each person who visits these places to feel the pain and loss caused by war, thereby loving peace, loving a peaceful and happy life more.

At the end of the journey, Mr. Jay Gray wrote emotional notes with deep and sincere gratitude to all the Vietnamese people for their kindness, hospitality and tolerance for the terrible crimes that America has committed.

Mr. Jay Gray recorded his feelings in the guestbook for visitors at the Dong Loc T-junction Relic Site.

I am a 79 year old American citizen. My generation started the war in Vietnam. Fortunately, I did not go to Vietnam during that war. Today is January 7, 2024, and this is my first time in Vietnam.

Most Americans my age feel ashamed that America started this terrible war in Vietnam. I am also very ashamed of this. I hesitated to go to Vietnam because I thought that the Vietnamese people would hate me and America. But I was wrong, the Vietnamese people treated me very kindly and friendly.

I am very happy to see that Vietnam has completely recovered from the war, becoming a modern, clean, green, safe and advanced country.

I am deeply grateful to all the Vietnamese people for their kindness, hospitality, and tolerance for the terrible crimes committed by America.

Jay Gray

Translated by Dong Loc T-junction Relic Site Management Board

Mr. Dang Quoc Vu - in charge of the Management Board of the Dong Loc T-junction Relic Site said: Every year, the Dong Loc T-junction Relic Site welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors to offer incense and pay homage, including many international visitors. We are very happy to have done a good job of introducing and guiding visitors to visit and experience the works, documents, artifacts, and listen to historical stories, thereby bringing many emotions to international visitors, demonstrating the spirit of peace-loving and hospitable, as well as introducing the identity, culture, and people of Vietnam in general and Ha Tinh in particular. Mr. Jay Gray's guestbook has expressed all that gratitude and appreciation.

Long Vu