Nguyen Van Vinh, a former reporter of Reuters in Vietnam recently shared his memories related to the old trench that has just been discovered in Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi Hotel.

He said that, in 1972, as a cameraman of Vietnam Television, the agency had to cease its broadcast and moved to another place because of the ferocity of the war. This time, some reporters stayed in Hanoi.

Famous American actress, Jane Fonda, in Hanoi in 1972

In 1972, the famous American actress, Jane Fonda, came to Vietnam and stayed at Thong Nhat Hotel (present Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi Hotel). Vinh was asked to cover activities of the famous actress. During her two weeks in Vietnam, she visited many places, such as the Bach Mai Hospital, the Truong Dinh area, Kindergarten 20/10 and some gun positions.

As she was about to leave for the airport, the alarm sounded and American fighters bombed Hanoi. She and other 6 or 7 passengers were led into a secret trench under the hotel. In the dark and deep trench, the actress stayed calm and still while waiting. Ten minutes later, when American fighters flew away, she went to the airport and headed home.

Kai Speth, the Hotel’s CEO said that Joan Baez, an American folklore singer, once took refuge in a trench during the bombardment in the winter of 1972. In the shelter, she sang anti-war songs with a Vietnamese guitarist. The singer always opposed the unjust war of America in Vietnam and wanted to use her singing to support Hanoi.

Jane Fonda is one of the biggest celebrities in Hollywood in the past decades. She won Oscars twice for Best Actress in 1972 in “Klute” and in 1979 in “Coming Home”. She was listed in the list of 100 great film stars of all time in Empire, Premiere and Entertainment Weekly magazines. 

Joan Baez was seen as “the Queen of Folk Singers” or “Maria of the poor”. By her singing and a guitar, she became a well-known singer in the world.   

Source: VnExpress

Translated by Tran Hoai