BHG - During the days when the country joyfully celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification Day (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025), we had the opportunity to meet again with Mr. Hoang Thiem, residing in Chang village, Xuan Giang commune, Quang Binh district, who once wore the liberation army uniform, to continue listening to him reminisce about the moment when the country was filled with joy on the afternoon of April 30, 1975.

We have met and written about Uncle Hoang Thiem a few times with his memories of the Ho Chi Minh Campaign and battlefield memories, each time with special emotions. During the years of the resistance war against the US, Uncle Thiem worked as a reporter at the Propaganda Department, General Department of Politics, Vietnam People's Army, and was present at many special events, such as participating in the coverage of the visit of Cuban leader Fidel Castro to the liberated area of ​​Quang Tri province in 1973. Especially, he had the honor of being present at the moment of victory at noon on April 30, 1975 at the Independence Palace.

Journalist Hoang Thiem (far left) and colleagues who were present in the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign. Photo by Contributor

Uncle Hoang Thiem confided that the historical mission placed me and Mr. Dau Ngoc Dan, a reporter in the same unit, at the moment of victory of the Ho Chi Minh Campaign at noon on April 30, 1975. On the way to the main attack force entering the Independence Palace, we were arranged to go together on a tank belonging to the famous Brigade 203 of the 2nd Corps. Luckily, we were the first force to enter the center of Saigon. It was a very urgent time so none of us had time to ask for information about the tank crew that day, all of us were looking forward to the historic moment of the nation. At that time, I thought about my hometown Ha Giang with my family and relatives who I would soon see again. Later, I learned that the tank we were in was the 4th in the group of tanks of Captain Bui Quang Than, the one who planted the liberation flag on the roof of the Independence Palace at noon on April 30, 1975.

Continuing the story, Uncle Thiem emotionally said that the speed of the Ho Chi Minh Campaign brought us to the Independence Palace, where Bui Quang Than's tank had arrived earlier. At around 11:30 a.m. on April 30, 1975, Dau Ngoc Dan and I jumped off the tank and ran straight into the Independence Palace. Seeing that we were the first reporters of the liberation army to arrive, some reporters from foreign news agencies rushed over to ask about the situation. I greeted them and then left, following our cadres and soldiers into the Palace, climbing to the upper floors. Here, we saw the puppet President Duong Van Minh, Prime Minister Vu Van Mau in the flesh and the puppet cabinet sitting silently waiting to surrender. That was the moment we witnessed the last images of the Saigon puppet government. As soldiers on the ideological and cultural front, we tried our best with the most urgent spirit to serve the propaganda mission.

April always evokes proud and special memories for veteran Hoang Thiem. Photo courtesy of CTV

Turning 78, returning to his hometown Xuan Giang to enjoy the countryside, Uncle Hoang Thiem emotionally shared with us that being present at the Independence Palace on the afternoon of April 30, 1975 was the most beautiful moment of his life. Every year in April, I remember this special memory. I was a liberation soldier, one of the first two reporters, and also the only son of Ha Giang to witness the moment of victory at the Independence Palace. Over the past 50 years, my friends and colleagues often talked and reminded me of this historic event. Back home, relatives and brothers who knew about my entry into the Independence Palace on the afternoon of April 30, 1975 were all proud. The black and white film and photos we took of the Ho Chi Minh Campaign at the Independence Palace will be preserved forever.

Remembering the anniversary of the victory on the afternoon of April 30, 1975, Uncle Thiem said that every time the Vietnam News Agency held a meeting of generations of reporters to review this event, it remembered and invited us to attend. This year, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South, together with the Vietnam News Agency, the Military Radio and Television Center also invited me and many other frontline reporters to the reunion and will organize a trip to Quang Tri to make a film about the memories of the old battlefield days. I am very proud and moved.

It is known that Mr. Hoang Thiem worked at Ha Giang Newspaper for more than a year. In 1969, he was sent by the Editorial Board to study journalism at the university with comrades Hoang Dong and Nguyen Minh Quang. After that, Mr. Thiem and Mr. Nguyen Minh Quang continued to study at the frontline reporter class and were transferred to the Army to work as war correspondents.

Huy Toan

Source: https://baohagiang.vn/50-nam-giai-phong-mien-nam-thong-nhat-dat-nuoc/202504/co-mat-tai-dinh-doc-lap-trua-304-la-khoanh-khac-dep-nhat-doi-toi-2256984/