This event commemorates the 78th anniversary of the Wounded Soldiers and Martyrs’ Day (July 27, 1947 - 2025) and celebrates the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution (August 19) and the National Day (September 2).
    |
 |
|
A view of the theatrical reenactment of comrade Pham Huong’s story during his imprisonment |
At the event, the organizers and participants offered incense in tribute to heroes, martyrs, and patriotic scholars at the Hoa Lo Prison Relic Memorial.
The exhibition is divided into three parts, namely “Behind prison walls,” “Sharp pen, pure heart,” and “Bonded by Love.”
Within the program, a theatrical reenactment gives visitors a close look on comrade Pham Huong, a Youth Union cadre responsible for Hanoi students’ resistance movement, who was captured and imprisoned at Hoa Lo Prison from 1949 to 1950. The performance depicted the emotional reunion with his old friends inside the prison, the heart-wrenching yet brief visit by family members, and finally the tearful farewell on the day he was exiled to Con Dao.
|
|
 |
|
The handkerchief sent by comrade Pham Huong to his family when he was transferred from Hoa Lo Prison to Con Dao Prison in May 1950 |
|
|
 |
|
Exhibits displayed in the “Sharp pen, pure heart” section |
The “Behind prison walls” section highlights the indomitable spirit and resilience of communist soldiers. Though the French colonialists imposed harsh restrictions to suppress cultural and spiritual life, they could imprison the body but never shackle the patriotism or the unyielding will of revolutionaries. Amid shackles and chains, with pure hearts and sharp pens, revolutionaries kept writing poetry filled with faith and vitality, and sent letters of encouragement to their families.
In the “Sharp pen, pure heart” part, the exhibition introduces 10 patriotic revolutionaries who used their pens to depict the harsh realities of prison life, the cruelty of the colonial regime, and their love for the homeland. Their writings inspired compatriots to remain steadfast and rise up in the struggle for national salvation.
|
|
 |
|
Delegates tour the exhibition. |
The “Bonded by love” section recaptures years of the fierce war during which letters and poems were not only a source of spiritual strength for imprisoned soldiers but also a testament to their optimism and indomitable will.
The thematic exhibition, which runs until August 31, is a moving story of patriotic revolutionaries who, with talent and creativity, turned letters, poems, and writings into powerful weapons that transcended chains and reached toward freedom. Their spirit and determination continue to inspire younger generations to embrace courage, overcome challenges, and triumph over all hardships in life.
Translated by Mai Huong