PANO – Ba Ria-Vung Tau province on April 27th solemnly celebrated the 40th anniversary of the South Liberation, National Reunification and the province liberation (April 30th) in the presence of Senior Lieutenant General Ngo Xuan Lich, Director of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People’s Army.

In Spring 1975, people and armed forces of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province actively responded to the Ho Chi Minh campaign to liberate the province, contributing to ending the Vietnam War.

Since the restoration of peace, they have upheld traditions to develop the socio-economy to become one of the spotlights of the country's Southeast region.

Senior Lieutenant General Ngo Xuan Lich (third from right) and other delegates at the ceremony

Senior Lieutenant General Ngo Xuan Lich underlined that the province should continuously boost the socio-economic development in combination with strengthening national defence and security, improve locals’ living standards, foster the implementation of the Party Central Committee’s Resolution No.4 on Party building and the Politburo’s Instruction No.3 on following the moral example set by President Ho Chi Minh, and successfully organize Party congresses at all levels towards the 12th National Party Congress.

Previously, General Ngo Xuan Lich and local leaders paid tribute and offered incense at the province Martyrs’ Cemetery.

* The same day, Lieutenant General Nguyen Trong Nghia, Deputy Director of the VPA’s General Department of Politics, visited and encouraged cadres and soldiers of the People’s Police force, who have been training for the coming parade at the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the complete liberation of the south and national reunification.

* General Tran Dai Quang, Minister of Public Security, on April 27th attended a ceremony for the same celebration in Dong Thap province.

* Marking the major national event, people in Dong Nai province reviewed Vietnamese people and soldiers’ feats of arms during the war and achievements in the national construction and defence cause.

On this occasion, the title “Hero of the People’s Armed Forces” was conferred to three former units of the province in acknowledgement of their great contributions to the resistance war for national salvation.

* Nearly 400 war veterans of Sao Vang (Golden Star) Division (or Division 3, Military Zone 5) who forty years ago bravely fought against the enemy to liberate the Ba Ria- Vung Tau province.

* On April 27th, Tuyen Quang province conferred and posthumously bestowed the State title “Vietnamese Heroic Mother” to 96 local women on the 40th anniversary of the great victory of the nation.

* Quang Tri province’s Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union started a construction of a VND 450 million memorial stele for martyrs who had laid down their lives while providing aid to troops stationed on Con Co Island, in Tan Hoa hamlet, Vinh Thai commune, Vinh Linh district.

* The War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City is running exhibitions to introduce photos on the Vietnam War taken by photographers Hoang Van Sac and Ishikawa Bunyo (Japan).

* On April 27th, the Ho Chi Minh City Journalists’ Association inaugurated a press centre and a website on activities in celebration of the 40th anniversary of South Liberation and National Reunification. The centre will operate until April 30th.

Translated by Van Hieu