Among the visitors to the exhibition are those who can be considered to be “live witnesses” who quietly contemplate objects once attached to them while recalling the historic moments of 40 years ago.

Former squad chief Nguyen Ngoc Son from Division No 320 relates his time at the Khe Sanh battlefield in 1968, “At that time, young people ardently went to the front under the “three readies” motto. As a secretary of the Youth Union, I joined Division No 320 and fought on the Khe Sanh battlefield with the target of liberating southern Vietnam for national independence. The 1968 Tet victory terrified the enemy but regrettably, I missed the first battle as I was one month late in joining.”

Mr Nguyen Ngoc Van from Division No 5 also recalls, “That time, it was a great honour for us to go to the South for the fight. We, together with the people in western Nam Bo fought with great mettle to gain national independence and freedom. Finally, we fulfilled the mission of the 1968 Tet Offensive, which added impetus to the 1975 Spring General Offensive and uprising for national independence and liberation of Southern Vietnam.”

“Being a 70 year-old war veteran, I feel very proud when looking at the former items such as guns, hats and rubber sandals. I hope that the younger generations of today can understand what we experienced in the war so that they will do their best for national construction.”

Many objects related to the 1968 Spring Offensive are depicted through poems, music and paintings such as “Truong Son” sticks of Hoa Xa youth, a false bottomed bucket, a pedicab and a rubber latex block which contained documents, explosives and ammunition.

Hundreds of items at the exhibition highlights citizens’ patriotism. This also demonstrates the amazingly undauntable power that helped the nation overcome the aftermaths of war.

In particularly, visitors have a chance to read a “battlefield diary” written by former Secretary General Le Kha Phieu who was a former political commissar of regiment 9 – the unit directly participated in the Tet Offensive of Spring 1968. A poem was composed before the meeting, which decided to launched the offensive.

Spring is welcomed before New Year’s Eve

Yet, opportunities have come too early still

Could it stay, playing for time

Until lovers meet in the countryside

The Tet Offensive of Spring 1968 in Hue City, which lasted 25 days and nights was considered the most successful as it upset the enemy. The exhibition also showcases books about the offensive and uprising and memoirs of the US generals who were engaged in the event such as Robert McNamara, former Secretary of Defence and General West Moreland. All the books features similar questions “Why Vietnam?” and “Why did we stay in Vietnam?”. Over the past 40 years, these questions are still left open.

Ending the Tet Offensive and Uprising of Spring 1968, the US President at that time Lyndon B Johnson announced that the US had unilaterally halted its destructive war against Northern Vietnam, recognised the position of the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam and started negotiating in Paris and that he would not run for the Presidency in the second term.

Major-general Le Ma Luong says that our generation went to the front with a firm resolve to fight for the sake of the homeland.

Forty years have passed and today through valuable documents and historical items visitors can see the great meaning of the victory of Spring 1968. Mr Luong says he hopes that the exhibition will help promote the spirit of patriotism in every Vietnamese person.