On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South, National Reunification and the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of Con Dao, on the morning of May 3, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the ceremony to pay tribute to heroic martyrs who heroically sacrificed for the cause of national liberation at Hang Duong cemetery and Hang Keo cemetery, Con Dao district, Ba Ria-Vung Tau province.

Also attending were comrades: Nguyen Van Nen, Politburo member, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee; Tran Quang Phuong, Party Central Committee member, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly; leaders of central departments, ministries, branches and agencies; leaders of centrally-run provinces and cities and delegates who are former political prisoners of Con Dao.

Con Dao - The sacred land marks the steadfast and indomitable struggle of heroic martyrs, revolutionary soldiers, and patriotic compatriots during the two resistance wars against the French colonialists and the American imperialists. In that fierce battle, many generations of fathers and brothers, following the sacred call of the Fatherland, did not spare their blood, bones, and youth to dedicate themselves to the cause of national liberation and national unification. On the sacred land of Con Dao, tens of thousands of outstanding children heroically sacrificed or left behind a part of their bodies, due to the fierce torture of the enemy. They lived and fought for the noble ideal "Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom".

50 years have passed since the country was completely liberated, Con Dao escaped from the "Hell on Earth", the fierce struggle of the past on Con Dao land is only a memory. But the steadfast examples, the noble sacrifices of many generations of fathers and brothers on the sacred land are recorded in the history of the nation as an immortal heroic epic, a bright torch, illuminating the path to the pinnacle of glory of the nation.

The Party, State and people of Vietnam are always extremely proud and infinitely grateful to the heroic martyrs, previous generations and generations of revolutionary soldiers who sacrificed themselves to gain and maintain independence for the Fatherland, bringing freedom and happiness to the people.

At Con Dao Temple located right at Hang Duong Cemetery, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the delegation offered flowers and incense to commemorate and pay tribute to the great contributions of President Ho Chi Minh and his predecessors, heroic martyrs, compatriots and comrades who sacrificed for the independence and freedom of the nation, especially those who sacrificed in the Con Dao prison system - "Hell on Earth" for 113 years.

At Hang Duong cemetery - where there are more than 1,900 graves of thousands of revolutionary soldiers and Vietnamese patriots over many generations who were imprisoned by the enemy, in a solemn and profound atmosphere, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and delegates observed a moment of silence and respectfully offered incense and flowers to express their deep gratitude to the Heroes, Martyrs, revolutionary soldiers, and patriotic compatriots who did not spare their blood, bones, and youth, dedicating their entire lives to the Fatherland. Among them were outstanding sons of the nation such as the late General Secretary Le Hong Phong, patriot Nguyen An Ninh, and the Heroes of the People's Armed Forces.

At Hang Duong cemetery - where there are more than 1,900 graves of thousands of revolutionary soldiers and Vietnamese patriots over many generations who were imprisoned by the enemy, in a solemn and profound atmosphere, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and delegates observed a moment of silence and respectfully offered incense and flowers to express deep gratitude to the heroes, martyrs, revolutionary soldiers, and patriotic compatriots who did not hesitate to sacrifice their blood, bones, and youth, dedicating their entire lives to the Fatherland.

Among them are outstanding children of the nation such as the late General Secretary Le Hong Phong, patriot Nguyen An Ninh, Heroes of the People's Armed Forces Vo Thi Sau, Tran Van Thoi, Pham Thanh Trung, Ngo Den, Luu Chi Hieu...

Previously, at the Hang Keo Cemetery - the burial place of about 10,000 prisoners killed by French colonialists at Con Dao prison from the early 20th century until the White Terror period of 1940-1941, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the delegation offered flowers, incense, and observed a moment of silence to commemorate and pay tribute to revolutionary soldiers and patriotic compatriots who heroically sacrificed for the Fatherland; vowing to unite and be determined to build Vietnam into an increasingly prosperous country, with increasingly happy and prosperous people, worthy of the great sacrifices and contributions of the previous generations.

* On the same morning, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visited and presented gifts to war invalid and former prisoner of Con Dao Nguyen Xuan Vien and the family of Ms. Vo Thi Thanh, a relative of martyr Le Nhien, both in residential area No. 7, Con Dao district.

Moved to visit former Con Dao prisoner Nguyen Xuan Vien and the family of martyr Le Nhien on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of Con Dao Liberation and also the Anniversary of On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification, the Prime Minister expressed his deep gratitude, warm greetings, deep affection and best wishes to former prisoner Nguyen Xuan Vien and the family of martyr Le Nhien.

The Prime Minister affirmed that caring for and improving the material and spiritual life of war invalids, sick soldiers, families of martyrs and people with meritorious services to the revolution is the consistent policy and viewpoint of our Party and State, and the traditional morality of our nation; requiring local Party committees and authorities, according to their assigned functions, tasks and powers, and with the highest sentiment and responsibility, to best implement policies for people with meritorious services. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hopes that families with meritorious services will continue to follow the example and educate the younger generation about the tradition of patriotism, contributing to building the homeland and the country to become more and more prosperous.

* On the same morning, the Prime Minister listened to the leaders of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province and related units report on the actual operation situation, the planned planning of Con Dao Airport for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050; the Co Ong urban area project. At the same time, he inspected the field at Con Dao airport area.