Teacher Pham Thi Thuy Vinh (born in 1946) became a party member at the age of 20. On April 30, 1975, the news of the country's reunification came to her in a special way, while she was studying in Hungary. The teacher shared those unforgettable emotions with Dan Tri reporter .

Screams in the cafeteria and tears of happiness

As a special witness, although you were not in Vietnam during the historic moment of April 30, 1975, can you share your feelings when you heard the news of victory?

- It is a pity that I was not present in Vietnam at that sacred historical moment. At that time, I was studying at the Marxist University of Economics in Hungary. Before that, although I had volunteered to go to the battlefield many times, I was still assigned by the State to go to school, so I followed the organization's assignment. That historical moment is still deeply imprinted in my mind. I clearly remember that day was Wednesday, I spent the whole day in the library preparing for the graduation exam.

That evening, around 6pm in Hungary (12pm in Hanoi), as I was getting my food and sitting at the table in the school cafeteria, an Arab student suddenly ran up to hug me and shouted: "Saigon is liberated!" He was holding a small cassette player in his hand.

The BBC radio station blared, announcing the Liberation of the South. I stood up, stunned for a moment, then tears of happiness welled up in my eyes.

Teacher Pham Thi Thuy Vinh, at the age of 20, was admitted to the Party (Photo: Provided by the character).

Everyone around me, some eating, some holding plates of food, the restaurant staff preparing the food, all fell silent for a moment, then burst into a loud shout: "Long live Vietnam, long live Ho Chi Minh!" They rushed to surround me.

Some people ran to buy alcohol, and the dining hall became a party to celebrate Vietnam's victory. The people there, although I did not know them, were not in the same class, and came from many different countries such as Russia, Germany, Poland, Hungary, China, Africa, all became extremely close.

At that time, the Hungarian Marxist University of Economics had 10 Vietnamese students, but I was the only one in the cafeteria at that time.

My new friends and I had fun until late at night before returning home. When we got back to the dormitory, the security guard and a few students who were still in the hallway happily congratulated me, shook my hand, and hugged me.

After that emotional moment, what went through her mind?

- When I got back to the dormitory, I eagerly waited until 24:00 in Hungary, or 18:00 in Vietnam, to listen to the news on Voice of Vietnam Radio. When I heard Kim Cuc's voice on the radio announcing the victory on April 30, 1975, my tears fell again.

At that moment, I was filled with joy and emotion. I thought about my family back home, my sister, my uncle and my friends who were on the battlefield in the South. I wondered, in this glorious moment, were they still in Saigon or had they fallen before the day the country was liberated?

Can you share more about the international community's celebration of the victory in Hungary at that time?

Early in the morning of May 1, 1975, Ms. Tuyet, wife of Mr. Nguyen Manh Cam, Vietnamese Ambassador to Hungary, called to invite me to assist the embassy in welcoming guests at 6:00 p.m. The guests that day included representatives of embassies in Hungary, agencies, enterprises, major universities and high-ranking military officers...

The embassy mobilized students and researchers to make spring rolls to entertain guests. We were all excited to contribute a small part to the victory celebration.

The simple party had only two dishes, spring rolls and new rice wine, but it was rich in Vietnamese flavor. There were many guests. The ceremony was planned to last 2 hours but in reality it lasted 4 hours.

Teacher Pham Thi Thuy Vinh while studying at the Karl Marx University of Economics, Hungary (Photo: NVCC).

On the morning of May 2, 1975, my university also held a rally to celebrate the Liberation of the South and National Reunification Day. According to the customs of your country, participation was not mandatory, but many people came, the hall was packed with guests. Many international friends brought wine to celebrate with the Vietnamese students.

For many days after that, whenever students and teachers in the school saw Vietnamese students, they were happy and congratulated us. On the streets, trains, and buses, people who saw us as Vietnamese were happy and congratulated us on our victory.

Determined to return to contribute to the homeland

Can you share about the first days after receiving the news of victory from Vietnam?

- More than a week later, I received a letter from my younger sister named Phuc. She reported that she and her comrades had followed the tank column into the Independence Palace, occupied the radio station, and forced Duong Van Minh to declare surrender. Both my sister and my uncle had returned to the North on the first train after the liberation. What was even more surprising was that this letter took just over a week to reach me, while before that, letters often took up to 3 months, or even longer.

After that, I completed my studies and returned home in December 1975.

What prompted you to decide to return to Vietnam after the country was reunified?

- A few days later, Uncle Cam - the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the embassy at that time - met and convinced me to stay in Hungary to continue my research, and at the same time take on the role of embassy officer, managing international students - because at that time I was the Party cell secretary of the economic and technical universities.

Before that, Uncle Cam had also suggested this twice, but I refused both times. This time, I was even more determined because I longed to return to my homeland, to bring the knowledge I had learned to contribute to the country's development and to reunite with my loved ones.

After returning to Vietnam in 1975, what was your working experience like? Looking back at the country's context at that time and comparing it with the current development, what are your assessments and feelings?

- After returning in December 1975, I was assigned by the Ministry of Universities (now the Ministry of Education and Training) to work at the University of Commerce (Hanoi). Later, under the direction of the Ministry of Internal Trade, I took on many different positions. In 1996, I decided to retire to realize my passion by establishing Ngo Thoi Nhiem School.

Ms. Pham Thi Thuy Vinh, founder of Ngo Thoi Nhiem School System, former lecturer at Hanoi University of Commerce (Photo: NV CC).

Looking back at the country's context in the years after unification, we cannot forget the subsidy period with its myriad of difficulties. The country had just gone through a war, and in 1978, it had to face the southwestern border war. Our army not only protected the border but also had to support our neighbor Cambodia to escape genocide. Then, in February 1979, the northern border war broke out again. Peace had not lasted long, and the country was struggling to bear new challenges.

The lives of the people and officials at that time were truly miserable. Then, the historical turning point at the 6th Party Congress in 1986 opened up a socialist-oriented market mechanism, gradually eliminating the subsidy mechanism. Since then, the country's economy has made great strides.

Vietnam today has risen to stand shoulder to shoulder with other countries in the world and deeply integrated into the global economy. This market mechanism has created a strong driving force for production development, goods have become abundant, meeting the increasingly high and diverse consumption needs of the people, contributing to building a prosperous, strong and rich Vietnam and ensuring social security.

International friends and lasting friendship

In the years to come, what does the memory of April 30th mean to you and your international friends?

- In 2018, I led a group of teachers and their families back to visit their old school in Hungary. While chatting, some elderly people asked me if I was Vietnamese. Receiving an affirmative answer, they were very happy, gathered together and said loudly: "Vietnam is very good, the economy is developing very quickly, Vietnam is very beautiful. We really want to come to Vietnam but we are old and weak."

I happily chatted with them and recalled the years when our country was at war, Hungary had many rallies and marches to protest the war in Vietnam. Many movements supported Vietnam with the famous slogan at that time: "Vietnam! We are with you".

During the period 1973-1975, hundreds of Hungarian diplomats, soldiers and staff accepted hardships and sacrifices to go to Vietnam to participate in the International Commission to supervise the implementation of the Paris Agreement, contributing to maintaining peace in Vietnam.

Up to now, the relationship between Vietnam and Hungary has always been good for the past 75 years. I am also very honored to be a member of the Vietnam - Hungary Friendship Association in Ho Chi Minh City, contributing my small part in preserving and developing the good relationship between the two countries.

Teacher Pham Thi Thuy Vinh shares about special memories of April 30, 1975

- On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification, what message do you want to send to generations of students?

- Dear teachers and students. The victory of April 30, 1975 is an epic that will forever resonate in the hearts of peace-loving people around the world in general and generations of Vietnamese people in particular.

Generations of Vietnamese people need to deeply understand this glorious victory, affirming that the Vietnamese people are a powerful nation. This great victory was achieved thanks to the wise leadership of the Party and Uncle Ho and the strength of the entire nation.

Teacher Pham Thi Thuy Vinh with teachers and students of Ngo Thoi Nhiem School system (Photo: NVCC).

Therefore, our descendants need to be proud, cherish and deeply grateful for the sacrifices of blood, sweat and effort of our ancestors to have a peaceful and happy life today. We must continue the glorious tradition of our ancestors, build an increasingly prosperous and strong country and firmly protect the sacred territorial sovereignty of the Fatherland.

What an interesting coincidence, April 30, 1975 was Wednesday, and 50 years later, April 30, 2025 also falls on Wednesday. What a miracle!

Sincerely thank Teacher Pham Thi Thuy Vinh!

Huyen Nguyen

April 30, 2025

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/nu-nha-giao-ke-ve-khoanh-khac-vo-oa-o-troi-au-khi-nghe-tin-chien-thang-20250429162303371.htm