On the evening of May 3, at Hang Duong Cemetery, Con Dao District, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission directed, Vietnam Television and Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province to jointly organize the political art program "Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Con Dao Liberation (May 1, 1975 - May 1, 2025)" with the theme "Con Dao - Heroic Song of Vietnam's Will."

Attending and speaking at the event, Politburo member and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Con Dao contributes to arousing patriotism and clearly seeing the responsibility of each person towards the country and homeland, determined to create new miracles.

Also attending the program were comrades: Politburo member, Head of the Central Propaganda and Education Commission Nguyen Trong Nghia; Politburo member, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen; former Secretary of the Party Central Committee, former Vice President Truong My Hoa; Party Central Committee members: Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Quang Phuong; leaders of departments, ministries, branches, central agencies, provinces and centrally run cities.

In particular, the Program had the presence of more than 700 former political prisoners and relatives of former political prisoners from all regions of the country.

The program is a tribute to the previous generation, those who fell and became shining symbols of patriotism, indomitable will, and aspiration for freedom. (Photo: Duong Giang/VNA)

Con Dao - a sacred land in the middle of the Fatherland's ocean, once known as "hell on earth", has now risen to become a bright spot for tourism, development and the desire for peace.

Half a century has passed since Con Dao was completely liberated, but the tragic memories, indomitable spirit and resilient will of the elite people here still endure with time.

The program to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Con Dao Liberation Day "Con Dao - Epic of Vietnamese Will" includes 3 chapters: "The epic of the sacred land;" "The spirit of the prison;" "Lighting up the aspiration for the future."

With a combination of live forms, television reports, stories told by historical witnesses, animations interspersed with artistic performances, live exchanges...

The program is not only to commemorate those who have fallen and pay tribute to previous generations, but also to affirm the immortal heroic spirit so that the flame of patriotism and steadfast will continue to light the way for today and tomorrow.

In particular, chapter 1 “The Tragedy of the Sacred Land” with the scenes “In the Middle of Con Lon’s Sky and Earth,” the songs “The Heroic Red Land Daughter,” “Grateful to Sister Vo Thi Sau,” “The Storm Rises,” “Liberating the South,” and the report “Heroic Youth”… depicted Con Dao - a sacred land, once known as “hell on earth,” a place where countless patriotic soldiers were imprisoned, people with great ideals in their hearts, ready to sacrifice for freedom. In particular, the image of Ms. Vo Thi Sau - the first death row prisoner here, the heroine going to the execution ground with a proud smile, has become a shining symbol of the spirit of Con Dao.

The program is divided into 3 chapters: Chapter 1: "The epic sacred land"; Chapter 2: "The spirit of prison"; Chapter 3: "Lighting up the aspiration for the future". (Photo: Duong Giang/VNA)

Chapter 2 “The Spirit in Prison” with the songs “Praise to President Ho,” “The Party Flag,” “The Song of Hope, Mother Loves Her Child,” the reports “Con Dao, the Revolutionary School, the Beloved Home,” “Songs of Hope,” “His Name Carved into the Mountain Stone,” the scenes “Liberation Day - Unforgettable Moments,” “Hello Freedom”… show that Con Dao is not only a dark prison but also a great revolutionary school, where the steadfast will of the communists is fostered.

In the harshness of chains, political prisoners turned this place into a common home, a place to share every bowl of rice, every drop of water and every hope. In the midst of prison, love still blossoms, life still grows - children born in hardship have become symbols of aspiration and belief in tomorrow.

On the day Con Dao was liberated, the loyal children of the past burst into happiness. But amidst that joy, we cannot forget those who fell, forever remaining with the motherland of Con Dao, but their spirit and ideals live forever with their homeland and people. All have become an immortal epic of patriotism and the desire for freedom.

In chapter 3 “Brightening the aspiration for the future,” with the reports “Green pearl - shining the future” and the songs “Flying over the East Sea,” “Vietnam towards the future”… it is shown that Con Dao today is a symbol of strong revival; rising to become a green pearl in the East Sea, a fertile land, rich in potential with beautiful natural scenery and sacred historical values.

The indomitable spirit of the past is still flowing in every source of development, bringing Con Dao into a new journey - a journey of peace, prosperity and aspirations to reach far.

Revolutionary soldiers imprisoned by the enemy participate in the special political and artistic program "Con Dao - Heroic Song of Vietnam's Will". (Photo: Duong Giang/VNA)

Speaking at the program, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed his emotion attending the 50th Anniversary of Con Dao Liberation Day, a heroic historical milestone that ended so much pain and loss, but was also very proud of the spirit, indomitability, and bravery of Con Dao over 113 years.

On behalf of the Party and State leaders, General Secretary To Lam and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sent to the Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, Heroes of the People's Armed Forces, veteran revolutionaries, leaders and former leaders of the Central and local governments; compatriots and comrades their respectful greetings, sincere greetings and best wishes; at the same time respectfully commemorated the great contributions and expressed deep and infinite gratitude to the great President Ho Chi Minh, revolutionary predecessors, heroic martyrs, wounded and sick soldiers, revolutionary soldiers, comrades and compatriots who were imprisoned and tortured with a noble and indomitable fighting and sacrificing spirit for the independence, freedom, peace and national reunification of the nation, for the happiness and prosperity of the people.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that for more than a century, colonialists and imperialists turned Con Dao from a peaceful island with beautiful nature into a hell on earth to detain and brutally torture Vietnamese patriots and revolutionaries.

Despite all the vicious tricks, the most extreme torture and brutal forced labor, the revolutionary soldiers and patriotic compatriots still shine with the spirit of wholehearted devotion to the country, fighting indomitably for the independence and freedom of the Vietnamese people.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and delegates attend the special art program "Con Dao - Heroic Song of Vietnam's Will". (Photo: Duong Giang/VNA)

Con Dao has become a sacred historical site, a beautiful symbol of the fighting spirit, revolutionary heroism and ardent patriotism of the Vietnamese people and a "great, special revolutionary school" that has contributed to training and educating many leaders of our Party and State in the resistance wars to save the country, build and develop the country today.

After 50 days of liberation, promoting the steadfast and indomitable revolutionary tradition of generations of fathers and brothers, the Party Committee, government, army and people of Con Dao have always been united, joining hands to overcome difficulties and challenges; concretizing the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws; determined, proactively seizing opportunities, finding suitable ways to develop and achieving many outstanding results, creating a solid foundation for the new development stage.

The Prime Minister said that Con Dao today is a peaceful, quiet and vibrant land, considered by the world as a "tourist paradise" to explore and experience history, spirituality and marine ecology.

“The development of Con Dao not only dramatically changes the appearance of historical sites but also positively contributes to the overall achievements of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, affirming its position as the leading economic province of the Southeast region and playing an increasingly important role in the development of the whole country,” the Prime Minister emphasized.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that the role and development potential of Con Dao is enormous, clearly defined in the development orientations and strategies of the country and Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, promising to contribute more to the development of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, the Southeast region, as well as important sectors and fields of the whole country, especially in marine economy, logistics, cultural tourism, history, spirituality, and national marine and island ecology at regional and international levels.

According to the Prime Minister, the vision for the future is a vision of rapid, sustainable, bright, green, clean, beautiful, modern development of international stature on the basis of rational and effective exploitation of strengths in terms of marine and island resources and ecology, the value of special historical relics, noble human values, and the indomitable values ​​of revolutionary soldiers to become a national tourist area of ​​regional and international stature. Con Dao needs to focus on forming a synchronous and modern strategic infrastructure, strengthening connections with the mainland, developing smart urban areas, promoting the application of science, technology and digital transformation, associated with improving the quality of the education, training, healthcare systems and high-quality human resources.

The Prime Minister pointed out that the heroic history of Con Dao is not only to be kept in memory but also a noble responsibility, heroic pride and must become an endogenous strength, creating motivation and inspiration to continue to develop the homeland and country stronger, faster and more sustainably.

The Party and State always pay attention to and create all conditions for the comprehensive and inclusive development of places with historical significance and special spiritual and material values ​​such as Con Dao to be worthy of the merits and noble sacrifices of our predecessors and loyal, indomitable, brave and resilient soldiers.

The Prime Minister noted that the requirements and tasks of building and defending the Fatherland in the new period, in a context of more difficulties and challenges than opportunities and advantages, require us to make greater efforts and determination.

First of all, it is necessary to complete all the targets set by the 13th National Party Congress; successfully carry out the revolution in organization and apparatus; strongly develop science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation; promote the private economy to become the most important driving force of the national economy; build an independent, autonomous but proactive economy, actively integrate deeply, widely, substantially, and effectively into the international community; promote growth to over 8% in 2025 and double digits in the following years; successfully organize party congresses at all levels; not sacrifice fairness, social progress, and the environment for pure growth, leaving no one behind.

According to the Prime Minister, the 50th anniversary of Con Dao Liberation Day is an event of special significance, strongly arousing the spirit of ardent patriotism, determination to fight and win, pride in the heroic history, gratitude for the contributions of previous generations, to clearly see the responsibility towards the country and homeland, determined to create new miracles; successfully implement the goals set by 2030 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam and 2045 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the country, bringing the country to develop in a new era, rich, strong, civilized, prosperous, standing shoulder to shoulder with the world powers as beloved Uncle Ho always wished.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and delegates pay tribute to heroic martyrs at Hang Duong Cemetery. (Photo: Duong Giang/VNA)

During the program, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and delegates lit candles and offered incense at the tombs of late General Secretary Le Hong Phong, revolutionary Nguyen An Ninh, People's Armed Forces Heroes Vo Thi Sau, Tran Van Thoi and heroic martyrs and patriots who heroically sacrificed for the cause of national liberation./.

(Vietnam News Agency/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/xuc-dong-tu-hao-ve-khi-phach-quat-cuong-anh-dung-cua-con-dao-post1036432.vnp