Attending the ceremony were Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long, Secretary of the Quang Tri Provincial Party Committee Le Quang Tung, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army Lieutenant General Pham Truong Son, and representatives from central and local agencies, diplomatic missions, international organizations, war veterans, among others.
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An art performance at the opening of the festival |
Annually, on the occasion of Wounded Soldiers and Martyrs' Day (July 27), Colonel Bui Minh Ngoc, Head of the Vehicle Team of the Staff of the General Department of Technical Services, visits Quang Tri, where his father, martyr Bui Minh Tien, a soldier of Division 320B, died in 1970 when Ngoc was less than a year old. After more than 35 years of searching, his family found his father's remains in 2010. This year, Colonel Bui Minh Ngoc also returned to Quang Tri to visit his father’s tomb. His family's story represents many similar ones across Vietnam.
Partaking in the program, Le Phuoc Thoi, a wounded soldier from Dong Ha city, Quang Tri province, and a former member of Battalion 47, Regiment 270, Military Region 4, who had fought in the Quang Tri battlefield, was visibly moved, tears falling as he witnessed the depiction of war pain healing through art performances.
The Festival for Peace, held for the first time in Quang Tri, a place deeply affected by the war, seeks to embody Vietnam's strong desire for peace, independence, and freedom. Quang Tri, a land once devastated by war, has been revived and is continuously developing. Prior to the festival, the Quang Tri provincial authorities announced the Quang Tri Provincial Plan for the 2021-2030 period with the vision to 2050 and commenced construction of the Quang Tri Airport, a project symbolizing peace and the locals’ aspiration for growth.
As part of the festival, the special art program, themed "Connecting Bridges," was held with the participation of nearly 1,000 artists, actors, and local residents. Following the opening evening, a series of meaningful commemorative activities and various political, cultural, artistic, sports, and tourism events will take place throughout July.
In his opening remarks, Vo Van Hung, Chairman of the Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee, emphasized that the Festival for Peace aimed to pay homage to the heroic martyrs who sacrificed for the nation, commemorate war victims, and convey Vietnam's message of peace, tolerance, and humanity, contributing to global peacebuilding efforts.
Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan praised Quang Tri's initiative in organizing the Festival for Peace, highlighting the event’s role in promoting the resilient spirit of the Vietnamese people, a nation that cherishes peace and always seeks cooperation and development. She expressed hope that the Festival for Peace would increasingly receive supports and participation from organizations, individuals, and visitors both domestically and internationally, elevating its value to become a unique cultural event not only of Quang Tri province but also at the national and international levels.
A unique aspect of the 2024 Festival for Peace is the absence of a closing ceremony, signifying the perpetual aspiration for peace. During the light art performance, the image of a bell transforming into a dove holding a rice branch flying across the sky conveyed a powerful message about the resilient spirit of the Vietnamese people, who always cherish peace, tolerance, and humanity, aspiring to jointly create a peaceful, prosperous, and developed world.
Translated by Trung Thanh