The exhibitions “Hoang Sa, Truong Sa - sacred national sea and islands” in Ba Ria - Vung Tau province and “The heroic Vietnam People’s Navy - 70 years of defending national sea” in Ho Chi Minh City recently offered visitors valuable knowledge, a profound sense of national pride, and a deepened sense of personal responsibility.
Visitors to the exhibitions stepped into a flow of time where each map, each ancient document, each painting and photo hold a story. The area featuring archival images of the Vietnam People’s Navy left a deep impression, touching the hearts of those in attendance.
The faded black-and-white photos still preserved vivid moments of the ordinary yet resolute lives of naval soldiers. Many visitors were moved to tears as docents shared the stories behind each image, especially one of a young naval soldier smiling brightly before setting off on a mission. Notably, that was not a photo taken for keepsake, but his memorial portrait, a silent preparation for a journey from which he might never return.
During the resistance war against the U.S., officers and soldiers of the Vietnam People’s Navy undertook many dangerous missions, such as transporting weapons, food, and supplies to support the Southern battlefield aboard unnumbered ships. Before each mission, a living memorial service was often held. This was a solemn ritual that no one wished for but had become customary. Some never returned, their bodies resting in the sea, contributing to the legendary maritime Ho Chi Minh Trail at sea - a miraculous feat in Vietnamese history.
Beyond capturing the resolute spirit of naval soldiers, the exhibition vividly featured the lives of troops and islanders stationed on remote island outposts, from modest classrooms for children on the island to scenes of soldiers steadfastly holding their posts and cultivating life amid harsh conditions, or solemn flag-raising ceremonies where islanders and soldiers stood under the national flag, showing deep patriotism and an unyielding spirit.
We met five cadets from the Naval Technical College looking at each photo. One young man softly said, “After going to this exhibition, I feel my responsibility is heavier than ever. What the previous generations have achieved, we must continue...”
These exhibitions are more than just displays of history, they are solemn reminders that today’s independence and sovereignty were paid for with the blood and sacrifice of many generations. In every image, every document, one does not simply witness the past but also sees oneself and one’s duty towards the national sea, islands, and sovereignty.
Translated by Minh Anh