On March 16, 1968, a unit of the US Army murdered more than 500 civilians, mostly women and children, in My Khe village’s hamlets of My Lai and My Khe (now part of Tinh Khe commune). This unit also raped, beat, tortured or mutilated many of the victims.

As usual, Mike Boehm, a US veteran present at the massacre, attended the ceremony and played the violin. His music sounded like an apology to the souls of the dead as well as to their families.

“We are observing this ceremony, not to stir up hatred, but to educate the young generation of Vietnam and to wish for peace and happiness on the land of Vietnam,” said Pham Thanh Cong, a survivor of the massive killings.

After the liberation of South Vietnam in 1975, Tinh Khe has always received attention and assistance from the Party and State to heal the wounds of the war and rebuild itself. The commune now has good infrastructure, comprising schools, clinics, and a system of concretized irrigation channels which ensure sufficient water for nearly 600ha of rice.

Its beach, My Khe, has become a modern resort, attracting investment from many businesses.

Foreign journalists flock to Son My