Offshore fishing fleet of Gio Linh district fishermen returning from a long sea trip - Photo: TRAN TUYEN

The immortal epic of the land of fire

After the Geneva Accords in 1954, the Ben Hai River became a temporary military demarcation line, dividing the country into North and South. Gio Linh then became a fiery outpost, a place that endured the fierceness of bombs and bullets of war, where soldiers and civilians had to face powerful enemies equipped with modern weapons.

It was on that land that the enemy built the McNamara electronic fence - the "magic eye" of the US to control and prevent support from the great rear of the North to the front line of the South. But all the enemy's plans were defeated by the iron will, burning patriotism and desire for independence and unification of the army and people of Gio Linh. Place names such as Doc Mieu, Con Tien, Gio An, Quan Ngang... have gone down in history as living symbols of the spirit "Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom".

The peak of the revolutionary movement was in the spring of 1972, when the army and people of Gio Linh rose up together, smashing the enemy's solid defense line, completely liberating their homeland on April 2, 1972. That victory created a strategic springboard for the army and people of Quang Tri to attack, liberating the entire province, contributing decisively to the great victory in the spring of 1975, unifying the country. To achieve that heroic victory, more than 3,300 Gio Linh people fell, nearly 2,000 people suffered war injuries. Their blood and bones wrote an immortal epic on the front line.

New look

From the ruins, from the “white belt” plowed by bombs and bullets, the people of Gio Linh returned with empty hands, starting a new journey to rebuild their homeland. After 50 years of construction, Gio Linh has made spectacular changes, becoming one of the leading localities in Quang Tri province in developing the marine economy.

In 2024, Gio Linh completed 20/20 main socio-economic targets, of which 5 targets exceeded the plan. 16/18 targets of the Resolution of the 17th District Party Congress were completed. Infrastructure was invested synchronously. Site clearance for key projects, such as: Coastal road, Quang Tri airport, North-South expressway... were carried out drastically, creating momentum for the development of the Eastern economic dynamic region.

The value of agricultural, forestry and fishery production has continuously increased, many production models according to value chains and high-tech agriculture have been formed. The whole district currently has 16 OCOP products reaching 3-4 stars. The district is promoting the formation of industrial clusters, developing high-quality services associated with the urbanization of Gio Linh and Cua Viet towns. The poverty rate has decreased to 4.03%, and the material and spiritual life of the people has increasingly improved.

Marine Economy - Pillar of Development

Not only stopping at growth indicators, Gio Linh is affirming its position as a potential marine economic zone, capable of becoming a trading hub, effectively exploiting the advantages of a coastal strip of more than 20 km. In 2024, the total seafood output of the district will reach 17,946 tons, exceeding the plan by 5.5%. With more than 800 boats, with a total capacity of more than 100,000 CV, Gio Linh fishermen are constantly converting fishing boats, innovating fishing gear, and enhancing positioning technology and monitoring routes to go offshore.

In particular, the district strictly implements regulations on combating IUU fishing, and prepares conditions to remove the “yellow card” for seafood. Along with exploitation, high-tech aquaculture models are also widely deployed in coastal communes. Seafood products are purchased, processed and consumed stably, opening up prospects for building the Gio Linh marine brand in the regional market.

Cua Viet, Gio Hai, Trung Giang, the famous beaches of Gio Linh are now becoming attractive destinations for tourists from inside and outside the province. In 2024, Gio Linh welcomed more than 300,000 visitors, tourism and resort service revenue increased sharply. The district has completed the adjustment of the planning of Cua Viet town, actively promoting the image of tourism, exploiting historical and cultural values ​​associated with community ecology, creating sustainable livelihoods for coastal people.

In particular, the district planning to 2040, with a vision to 2050, has clearly identified the maritime economic development axis as the spearhead, connecting with the East-West economic corridor, the dynamic airport-seaport region, forming a synchronous and modern coastal urban-tourism-service chain.

Chairman of Gio Linh District People's Committee Vo Dac Hoa said that 2025 is the last year to implement the Resolution of the 17th District Party Congress. Gio Linh district has determined the key goal of rapidly and sustainably developing the marine economy, turning the locality into the center of the northern coastal region of Quang Tri province.

According to the plan, the district will promote fishing, aquaculture, and seafood production associated with the application of science and technology, protect aquatic resources, improve product quality, and actively build brands. Regarding tourism, the district will continue to exploit the marine ecosystem, spiritual and historical tourism, build community tourism products in Gio Hai, Trung Giang, Gio An, and strengthen connections with key tours and routes of the province.

Along with that, Gio Linh district advocates improving the quality of Cua Viet urban area - the eastern coastal center, closely connected to future seaports and airports. Creating favorable conditions for attracting investment in coastal industrial - commercial - logistics clusters, maximizing advantages in transportation, seaports, infrastructure and people.

The reunification day of April 30, 1975 is a milestone that not only closes the page of the fierce war history but also opens the journey of homeland construction full of hardships and expectations. For Gio Linh, each journey bears the mark of blood and bones, of the will to overcome difficulties, of loyalty and aspiration for peace and development. The marine economy, with its strategic position and pivotal role, will be the great sail that takes Gio Linh far, worthy of being a heroic, brave and loyal land.

Tran Tuyen

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/tu-vung-tuyen-lua-kien-cuong-den-dong-luc-phat-trien-kinh-te-bien-193312.htm