A land with a strong desire for peace

This July, I went to Quang Tri on the occasion of the province organizing many meaningful commemorative activities. The whole group attended the opening art program of the 2024 Peace Festival at the Hien Luong - Ben Hai National Special Relic Site.

This is a unique art program, combining multiple spaces from the shore to the river, connecting the North - South axis of Hien Luong Bridge with the highlight being the performance of a large number of unmanned aerial vehicles creating a system of sound, light, and images that coordinate rhythmically and shimmer with color.

The sacred meaning of the festival, as its name suggests, is to honor the value of peace, conveying the message of peace of the people of Quang Tri, in harmony with the aspirations of the Vietnamese people and peace-loving peoples around the world.

The opening art program of the 2024 Peace Festival took place at the Hien Luong - Ben Hai National Special Relic Site.

The war has gradually receded, but the wounds caused by bombs and bullets are still present throughout Quang Tri. The province's 72 communes also have 72 martyrs' cemeteries, including two national cemeteries: Truong Son Martyrs' Cemetery and Road 9 Martyrs' Cemetery. Quang Tri is known as the most vivid museum of revolutionary war historical relics with more than 500 relics and relic clusters. Based on many criteria, Quang Tri deserves to be honored as a land with a strong desire for peace.

The series of festival activities all carry the message of aspiration for world peace.

The 2024 Peace Festival takes place on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Geneva Agreement on the ceasefire and restoration of peace in Indochina (1954-2024); the 77th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs Day (1947-2024) and towards the 50th anniversary of the national reunification (1975-2025). The festival is also an activity on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly's adoption of the Declaration and Action Program on the Culture of Peace, the International Day of Peace, in response to the year of peace and international trust 2025.

The series of festival activities all carry the message of peace such as: The Melody of Peace music exchange program; The political art program organized by Nhan Dan Newspaper in collaboration with Quang Tri province with the theme Parallel 17 - Aspiration for peace; The Peace Wish program takes place at the Flower Release Wharf on the northern bank of Thach Han River and the special national relic of Quang Tri Citadel...

Connecting bridges

In the art program with the theme Connecting Bridges, the performance of People's Artist Pham Phuong Thao with the song Cau ho ben bo Hien Luong (composer Hoang Hiep) caused strong emotions. She did not stand on the big stage of the opening ceremony but performed on a boat drifting along the Ben Hai River.

Hien Luong Bridge across Ben Hai River once became a place of “divided faces and separated hearts”, marking the love and longing of people on both sides, and a testament to the 20-year division of the country. The bridge became a symbol of the determination and aspiration for national reunification of the entire nation.

The song "Bridge connecting happy shores" (composed by Van An, poem by Phan Van Tu) touched the audience's emotions, expressing the connection between the past and the present.

Notably, for the first time in Quang Tri, nearly 1,000 drone lights were used to create a variety of images: from the image of Saint Giong taking off his armor and flying to heaven, King Le Thai To returning the sacred sword to the divine turtle, President Ho Chi Minh reading the Declaration of Independence to the image of the dove symbolizing freedom and peace.

The image of the dove represents the desire for peace.

The opening ceremony of the Festival for Peace ended with a brilliant fireworks display combined with the lively melody of the song "Joining Hands" ( composer Trinh Cong Son) bringing sacred emotions to local people and tourists. At the same time, it ignited the belief in a bright future and the aspiration for a sustainable peace for Vietnam as well as countries around the world.

A brilliant fireworks display concluded the opening ceremony of the Festival for Peace.

I would like to end this article with meaningful lyrics from the song "Quang Tri Aspiration" by musician Vo The Hung performed by singer Tung Duong: "After all, the sky is still the same blue color of Quang Tri. We come to hug each other to celebrate the day of unification, Quang Tri, oh sacred land. Blood and bones bloom into peace."

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/le-hoi-vi-hoa-binh-2024-nhung-dieu-dac-biet-va-thieng-lieng-2300073.html