The annual event is regarded as a powerful symbol of Vietnam’s enduring aspiration for national reunification.

Following the 1954 Geneva Agreements, the Ben Hai River was designated as a temporary military demarcation line at the 17th parallel, with the expectation that national elections would be held to reunify the country within two years. However, the agreements were violated, and Vietnam remained divided for 21 years.

During this period, Quang Tri became the frontline of the socialist North and a direct rear base for the southern battlefield, enduring some of the fiercest fighting of the war against American imperialism. The province suffered devastating bombardments and chemical warfare, yet stayed resilient and firmly committed to national reunification.

Despite immense hardship, the armed forces and people of Quang Tri demonstrated extraordinary determination and resilience, encapsulated in the spirit of “not moving an inch, not yielding a step.” The flag atop the Hien Luong flag tower was flying throughout the war, becoming a powerful symbol of faith in national unity.

This spirit, combined with nationwide efforts, contributed to Vietnam’s historic Spring Victory in 1975, culminating in national reunification and ushering in a new era of independence, unity and development.

The flag-raising ceremony at Hien Luong–Ben Hai is a national ritual of remembrance and tribute, honouring those who sacrificed their lives for independence and territorial integrity, while reaffirming national unity and reconciliation.

From early morning on April 29, veterans, residents, and armed forces personnel gathered at the site to attend the ceremony. In a solemn atmosphere, the national flag was raised atop the Hien Luong flag tower to the strains of the national anthem, followed by a minute of silence in honour of President Ho Chi Minh and fallen heroes.

Veteran Phan Xuan Lai, who once served in the forces protecting the demarcation line at Hien Luong Bridge, said the ceremony evokes deep emotions and pride, recalling the wartime years when soldiers defended the symbolic flag tower under extreme conditions.

Quang Tri Party Secretary Nguyen Van Phuong noted that after 1954, the Ben Hai River was expected to serve only as a temporary boundary, but historical circumstances led to decades of national division.

He highlighted Quang Tri’s role as a strategic battlefield where local forces and the broader Vietnamese military resisted major military campaigns and maintained the symbolic presence of the national flag at Hien Luong.

Despite the war’s devastation, Quang Tri is now emerging as a dynamic province with strong development potential, while the Hien Luong–Ben Hai site is a sacred symbol of peace, unity and national aspiration, he said.

Top leader honours General Vo Nguyen Giap, fallen soldiers in Quang Tri

VOV.VN - Party General Secretary and State President To Lam on April 29 led a high-ranking delegation to offer incense and flowers in tribute to General Vo Nguyen Giap and fallen soldiers in Quang Tri province, marking the 51st anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30).