Eternal monuments dedicated to Vietnamese volunteer soldiers in Laos

Vietnam-Laos Martyrs' Monument in Xiengkhuang Province. (Photo: Quoc Khanh/via WVR)

The monument, depicting the image of two Lao-Vietnamese soldiers, standing side by side and holding guns to go ahead, exudes the meaning of the Vietnam-Laos fighting alliance, reminding us of a memorable time and great contribution of the heroes and martyrs dedicated to the two nations.

Historical memorial works

Prof. Dr. Saikhong Xayasine, Standing Vice President of the Central Committee of the Laos-Vietnam Friendship Association, Vice President of the National University of Laos, commented: “The Monument dedicated to Vietnamese volunteer soldiers in Laos is a visual symbol of life to educate generations, especially the young generation of Laos and Vietnam always to remember the history of the struggle for national liberation and reunification of the people of Vietnam and Laos, in order to constantly cultivate the Vietnam- Laos special friendship, to keep it forever green and sustainable. Generations of leaders and people of the two countries have worked so hard to nurture and strengthen such a friendship.”

The most impressive is the Martyrs Memorial and Monument dedicated to Vietnamese Volunteer Soldiers at Ban Kon (Ban Con), in Phone Hong district, Vientiane province, 70km from the Vientiane capital. Few people know that the area was the place where the French invaders buried 26 Vietnamese-Laos coalition soldiers who died in 1946.

The Martyrs Memorial has been built by the Central Committee of the Association of Lao Veterans in collaboration with the General Association of Vietnamese in Laos and the provincial authorities of Vientiane, in an area of ​​more than 3,000m2.

The focal point of the Memorial area is the Monument, which is 11m high, 9m wide, with three steps. Inside, there is a stone stele engraved with the names of 11 martyrs, including 2 Laotian martyrs, 8 Vietnamese martyrs and a Japanese volunteer.

The armed forces of Xiengkhuang province offer incense to the Vietnam Volunteer Martyrs Memorial on the occasion of Laos National Day. (Photo: Quoc Khanh/via WVR)

Ban Kon Vietnam-Laos Martyrs Memorial Area was built on a mixture of Vietnamese-Lao architecture, with a golden painted dragon on four sides, a canopy-shaped roof covering four columns. In the middle is a black stone stele engraved in yellow letters with the names of martyrs as the tradition of the Vietnamese stele, and the two national flags of Vietnam and Laos.

The memorial stele is neatly tucked under a magnificent old tree like a mother's shadow to protect the martyrs. Next to the memorial, about twenty meters away, is the well where the enemy threw the dead martyrs and buried them in a mass grave. A wall built around the well has a black stone stele engraved with Vietnamese and Lao yellow letters with the words: "The Fatherland acknowledges the deed".

According to documents kept at the exhibition, this memorial area also commemorates the victory of Ban Kon on January 1, 1946 by the Lao-Vietnamese coalition that altered the military situation of the French invaders at that time on the Lao battlefield, especially in Vientiane province and the Vientiane capital.

Mr. Tran Hanh, Chairman of the Xiengkhuang Compatriot Club in Vientiane, said that every year, on Vietnam War Invalids and Martyrs' Day July 27, overseas Vietnamese in Laos make pilgrimages here to burn incense in memory of heroic martyrs, vowing to look towards the fatherland, educate children and grandchildren to preserve the revolutionary achievements brought by heroes and martyrs, help each other in life, and well abide local laws and regulations.

Arriving in Xiengkhuang province, in the center of Phonsavanh town, from anywhere, people can see the monument dedicated to Vietnamese volunteer soldiers standing tall because the monument was built on a high hill. The brilliant monument, gilded with gold, shines even brighter when the sun rises, adding to the beauty of this highland town and reminding visitors of a memorable time.

Vietnamese veterans visit the Vietnam-Laos Martyrs Memorial at Ban Kon, in Phone Hong district, Vientiane province. (Photo: Quoc Khanh/via WVR)

Mr. Maikham, former Director of the Department of Labor and Social Welfare of Xiengkhuang province, shared: "Every time, whenever Vietnamese delegations are coming or on the occasion of Laos National Day, leaders of XiengKhuang province and surrounding localities come here to offer flowers and burn incense at the foot of the monument. Especially, twice a year, when XiengKhuang province organizes the ceremony to hand over and send off hundreds of the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in resistance wars to the motherland, at the foot of this monument, the ceremony of offering incense and flowers will be held with the most solemn ceremony according to Lao customs”.

In the northern province Oudomxay of Laos, nearly 700 kilometers from the capital Vientiane, right in the center of the provincial town Muangxay, you will see the monument to Vietnamese volunteer soldiers standing magnificently on a high hill. If you want to see the entire town of Northern Laos, then stand at the foot of the monument.

The ceremony of offering incense and flowers to the martyrs takes place here whenever there is a Vietnamese delegation coming or on the occasion of trips by the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos, the Consulate General of Vietnam in Northern Laos and the Vietnam Association in the northern provinces of Laos.

In Xaysomboun, a locality recently upgraded from a special zone to a province, located between Vientiane, Xiengkhuang and Bolikhamxay provinces, the place in the past was once known as the capital of Vang Pao forces, the Monument dedicated to Vietnamese volunteers and experts has also been inaugurated.

Inauguration of the Vietnam-Laos Martyrs' Monument in Xaysomboun province. (Photo: Quoc Khanh/via WVR)

In Paksong district, Champasak province in southern Laos on the Bolaven plateau, the Lao Government has also built a memorial commemorating Lao-Vietnamese soldiers on an area of ​​more than 4 hectares, including two towers which are 11m high and 13m in diameter, a sculpture cluster 4.5m high and 9m wide, an exhibition house, garden, electricity and water systems...

Next to the memorials, there are always statues of two Vietnamese and Lao soldiers standing side by side and holding guns, placed on a high foundation, with a large incense burner below.

Imprinted with Vietnam-Laos friendship

Monuments and memorials to Vietnamese volunteers and experts have been built in most of the provinces and cities, where they used to be fierce battlefields during the fight against a common enemy of the two countries. Monuments and memorials are prominent in the provinces of North and Central Laos, such as Udomxay, Huaphanh, Vientiane, XiengKhuang, Xaysomboun, Khammuan, Bolikhamxay and the southern provinces of Laos such as Savannakhet, Sekong, Champasak and Attapeu.

Monuments and memorials in Laos tribute the heroic martyrs and gratefully remember their sacrifice. During the years of fighting foreign invaders, there were more than half a million turns of Vietnamese volunteers and experts standing side by side with the Laotian army and people, and more than 50,000 people were injured and 40,000 martyrs died heroically.

Standing at the Ban Kon Vietnam-Laos Martyrs Memorial Area, Phone hong district, Vientiane province, Mr. Phan Anh Thuan, who is 90 years old, residing in Ho Chi Minh City, and former soldier of the 83rd Group of Vientiane, is very emotional. Although he is very aged, his memories still never fade.

He said: "I always want to return to this place, where my comrades have fallen. My comrades who died here are gratefully remembered by the Lao people. I don't know what else to say when remembering the comrades who sacrificed for Laos, for Vietnam, for the survival of the two peoples. We, despite our advanced age, always remember the merits and contribution of our comrades, follow them to serve the country of Vietnam as well as contribute to the construction of Laos more and more prosperous and to build the Vietnam-Lao special relationship increasingly blossoming and bearing fruit".

Veteran Nguyen Phi Thuong, from Hai Phong city, former soldier of the 410th unit of Division 959, a Vietnamese military expert in Laos, who returned home with a special injury, with only one leg left and a crutch, bowed in front of the memorial dedicated to his comrades. In wartime, his comrades did not mind the hardships and sacrifices. They fought against the enemy's invasion and encroachment, while defending the liberated region of Laos and strengthening the armed forces, developing guerrilla warfare throughout Laos.

Mr. Nguyen Phi Thuong recalls: "Fifty-five years later, I was deeply moved, realizing that the revolutionary achievements had paid off by the efforts of the Pathet Lao soldiers and the Vietnamese soldiers who had sacrificed their blood and lives on this land to gain independence and freedom and always wish the Vietnam-Laos friendship lasting in brotherly love."

Throughout Laos, wherever people go, they will encounter monuments which are reminiscent of a memorable time. In every Laos-Vietnam contact or exchange, General Chansamone Chanyalath, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defense of Laos, emphasized: “In every mountain, forest, river, stream, they have the footprints, sweat and blood sacrifices made by Vietnamese volunteers and experts during the war”.

The sacrifice of Vietnamese volunteers and experts is an incomparable, sacred and noble one. They have given the country and people of Laos, as well as the country and people of Vietnam, a peaceful and happy life today.

Vietnam-Laos Martyrs Memorial in Savannakhet province. (Photo: Quoc Khanh/via WVR)

People of all ethnic groups in Laos always remember and are grateful for the precious help that nothing can compare to the sacrifice of blood, sweat, material and spiritual in the cause of the struggle for national liberation, independence, freedom for the Lao people in the past, as well as in the cause of national defense, construction and development today.

General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Thongloun Sisoulith once wrote a gold book while doing the commemoration, with the writing: "We build monuments to Laotian and Vietnamese soldiers in the center of the provincial townships in order to regularly remind cadres, party members as well as people of all ethnic groups in Laos, especially the young generation, to always aware of the tradition of special friendship and solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam.”

The Party, State and people of the Lao ethnic groups vow to continue to preserve, nurture, and strengthen that special relationship, to keep it growing forever and being passed on to generations to come.

The tradition of fighting alliances and the special relationship between Vietnam and Laos is a precious historical heritage that has made an important contribution to the victory of the two countries' armies and people during the years of resistance war against a common enemy. President Ho Chi Minh, President Souphanouvong, President Caysone Phomvihane laid the foundation and generations of the two countries have always preserved and strengthened.

Keo Malain, a student at Vinh University, from Xiengkhuang province, said: “Whenever I return to my hometown, I always come to burn incense and offer flowers to the Memorial of Vietnamese volunteers and experts. I am always aware that Laos and Vietnam used to work together, sacrifice blood and lives for the development of the two countries."

It can be said that the existing memorials in Laos have carved eternal monuments into the hearts of the people of Laos and Vietnam.