Young people excitedly take souvenir photos with Mr. Trinh Ngoc's bicycle on display at Thanh Hoa Provincial Museum.

Mentioning the Dien Bien Phu Campaign reminds us of the image of bicycle-carrying convoys - the "armed army" of the Thanh Hoa frontline laborers, regardless of danger and hardship, constantly carrying food and ammunition day and night to supply the fierce Dien Bien Phu battlefield, drawing a glorious historical journey: "On Pha Din slope, some women carry their loads, some carry them/ On Lung Lo pass, some sing and some sing/ Even though bombs and bullets break bones and flesh/ They do not lose heart, do not regret their youth" (To Huu).

The great contributions and sacrifices of that “army” were vividly, authentically, and heroically recorded through many photos, recorded in many historical documents, and recreated through many films. But perhaps, anyone who came to Thanh Hoa Provincial Museum (Thanh Hoa City) in these historic days of May, when seeing with their own eyes and touching with their own hands the artifacts such as the bicycle, the basket or the wheelbarrow that had followed the Thanh people to participate in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, could not help but be moved and admired by the will, determination, and determination of the generation of fathers and grandfathers at that time for national independence and peace.

These days, Thanh Hoa Provincial Museum is bustling with visitors. The museum grounds are resplendent with red flags and yellow stars fluttering in the wind. Blending in with the flags are the eyes and joyful smiles of veterans, children, students, etc.

Arranged in the most solemn position in the space displaying documents and artifacts from the anti-French resistance war at Thanh Hoa Provincial Museum, the bicycle of Mr. Trinh Ngoc, a bicycle porter of Thanh Hoa town, once set a record of transporting 345.5kg/trip to serve the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. From a bicycle porter - a rudimentary item, closely associated with the hard-working life of farmers, our ancestors created and improved it into "war horses" capable of carrying hundreds of kilograms of food and ammunition over high passes, through enemy bombs and bullets to promptly supply the battlefield.

That miracle was built with blood and tears, with passionate patriotism and a shining revolutionary fighting spirit: “Although tons of bombs were dropped on the traffic routes, the Viet Minh supply line never ended. It was not because of Chinese aid that helped the Viet Minh defeat General Navarre, but rather because of the Peugeot brand bicycles that could carry 200 to 300kg of goods, driven by laborers who were not fed enough, sleeping right on the ground, under plastic sheets. General Navarre was defeated not by the means of war but by the intelligence and determination to win of the enemy” (Confession of former French Air Force Colonel Gi-Uyn-roa, excerpted from the book “The Battle of Dien Bien Phu, Gul-lia Publishing House, Paris, 1964”).

56 days and nights of "digging mountains, sleeping in tunnels, pouring rain, rice balls; blood mixed with mud; unwavering courage; unwavering will" are the pride of the army and people of Thanh Hoa. That was when the bamboo basket of the people in the upper Thanh region also enthusiastically set out to follow the sacred call of the Fatherland; it was the moment when Mr. Trinh Dinh Bam (born in 1928 in Yen Dinh district) tearfully lit a stick of incense to inform his ancestors and then dismantled the family altar to use the wood to make a wheelbarrow to transport food for the Dien Bien Phu Campaign... The people of Thanh for generations have always cherished in their hearts such a burning love for the country and homeland; always living and fighting with the precious historical and cultural source, extending the glorious revolutionary tradition.

Le Thi Khanh Huyen (16 years old, student of Quang Xuong I High School) shared: “This is the first time I have come to Thanh Hoa Provincial Museum, but the documents and artifacts associated with Thanh Hoa's contributions to the two long-term resistance wars of the nation displayed here make me feel really moved. I respect and am grateful for the sacrifices of our ancestors so that we can enjoy independence and peace like today. As a student, I will always strive to study and practice to be worthy of the traditions of my homeland.”

In times of peace, in today's life, the documents and artifacts displayed at the Provincial Museum continue to "sing" the heroic and glorious song about those who fought bravely, sacrificed their youth and blood for the country to rise up. Looking at the instrument used by the Vinh Loc Information and Propaganda Team during the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, the triumphant melodies suddenly resound in my mind: Liberating Dien Bien, our troops marched back/ In the middle of this season, flowers bloomed, the Northwest was jubilant/ The old village had newly planted rice fields/ Look at the children in the field holding hands and spreading flowers. Familiar objects such as combs, bowls... remind us of our fathers and brothers who lived and fought in such a fierce war. The medals, certificates of merit, commendations, and awards of Thanh Hoa soldiers who participated in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign make us feel moved, as if recreating the moment when those who leave say goodbye to those who stay behind: "I am going on this trip, either the grass is green or my chest is red when I return to my mother"...

During the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, Thanh Hoa mobilized 30% of the working-age population to join the frontline laborers, with a total of nearly 179,000 people, 27 million working days, along with tens of thousands of bicycles... transporting 50% of the food volume serving the campaign. Besides, tens of thousands of young people joined the army, many of whom have remained forever in the land of Dien Bien. The price of peace is very expensive, but infinitely beautiful. Generations of Vietnamese children today and tomorrow will be the ones joining hands and contributing to continue writing the story of peace. Therefore, each of us needs to uphold our spirit, responsibility, and make efforts to contribute, bringing the country to innovation - integration - development.

Article and photos: Hoang Linh

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/tinh-than-khi-phach-nguoi-xu-thanh-qua-tu-lieu-hien-vat-ve-dien-bien-phu-247559.htm