Touching memories of the moment when tanks entered the Independence Palace

Witness the moment the liberation flag flutters on the roof of the Independence Palace

The war has receded, the country has no more gunfire, but in the memories of those who once lived and died on the battlefield, the memories still seem fresh. Maybe that’s why when sharing with Vietnamese people About the atmosphere of the Saigon launch 47 years ago, two veteran war journalists Tran Mai Hanh and Tran Mai Huong still recounted each event.

Journalist Tran Mai Hanh is the former General Director of the Voice of Vietnam and journalist Tran Mai Huong is the former General Director of the Vietnam News Agency. Both were fortunate to be present at the moment when the liberation flag flew on the roof of the Independence Palace, officially marking the victory of the Ho Chi Minh Campaign, the North – South connecting a strip on the historic day of April 30, 174. .

Journalist Tran Mai Hanh said, in the middle of March 1975, a few days after the victory over Buon Ma Thuot, he was sent to join a delegation of reporters – editors of the Vietnam News Agency led by Editor-in-Chief Dao Tung. join the campaign. The delegation entered Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Pleiku, Buon Ma Thuot and Tay Ninh.

At noon on April 30, 1975, a dusty Honda car brought me and Van Bao – a photojournalist – to the Independence Palace when the victory flag had just been planted on the roof of the palace and historical events had just happened a little while ago. minutes The key reporters of the Vietnam News Agency, including journalist Tran Mai Huong – my younger brother who followed the 304th Division and the 203rd Tank Brigade arrived a few minutes before and took historical photos. That moment was extremely happy, hugged each other and cried tears of joy because the war has really ended, peace has been restored. come true.

With that emotion, I set out to write the report. Having identified the basic elements of the narrative, I immediately went to the port of Saigon. On the day of liberation, it was impossible not to go to Uncle Ho’s place to find a way to save the country.

I arrived at Saigon port at the right time when military convoys carrying soldiers entered and took over Saigon port in a very majestic atmosphere. Under the Saigon River at that time, the naval ship of the Saigon puppet government was burned and smoked; On the wharf, people rushed out to greet the soldiers, holding a red flag with a yellow star and a portrait of President Ho Chi Minh.

Witnessing the air covered with star flags, my heart also rejoiced. I returned to write the report. When I put pen to write, the image of Saigon harbor appeared in front of my eyes, the picture of Uncle Ho in the middle of the red flag with yellow stars flying, very majestic. At that moment, suddenly the words “Ho Chi Minh City is brilliant with golden stars” popped up in my head and I used that name as the title of the report. That afternoon, fortunately, the telegraphers were able to telegraph that report from Saigon to the Vietnam News Agency base in Tay Ninh forest and from there using a higher capacity machine to go out of Hanoi. At that time, things were very different from now.

Electric machines each letter “A…B…C”, tach tach, pee… very time consuming. That article was posted on the bulletin board “Fight for reunification” of the Vietnam News Agency on the evening of April 30, 1975. And at noon on May 1, 1975, in a special radio program of the Voice of Vietnam, read the full text of this article. Then on May 2, 1975, in the special issue of Nhan Dan, this article was also republished with the same title”, journalist Tran Mai Hanh recounted emotionally.

47 years, still want to find comrades on the 846 tank entering the Independence Palace

Journalist Tran Mai Huong also could not forget the memories of the historic moment of April 30, 1947, even though the war had been 47 years back. He considered the photo he took of the tank number 846 entering the Independence Palace at noon on April 30, 1975 as a beautiful memory of his life as a journalist.

“At that time, we were a special group of reporters that followed the Eastern Army. The Eastern Army was the first army that entered Saigon on April 30, 1975. The reporters followed this army. Only then can they be here at the earliest.In that group were journalists Vu Tao, Lam Hong Long, Hung Kiem, Dinh Quang Thanh, Hoang Khiem, Ngoc Dan and Tran Mai Huong and a number of other journalists.

It must be added that we followed the 2nd Army Corps from the fierce battle at Nuoc Trong base, then entered Saigon on the morning of April 30, 1975. For us, it was a great moment professionally. The reporters in the delegation took many pictures, from the moment they walked along the road to hand over the flags of “Determination to Victory” in the rubber forest of Bien Hoa (Dong Nai) to going up here.

Along the way, we captured many scenes of people standing along the road to welcome the liberation army. When I arrived at the Independence Palace, I had just stepped out of the suit when I saw the tanks coming in and I immediately turned around and took a picture of the tank number 846 entering the gate. Journalist Vu Tao also took a similar photo, but the other photo of the tank was a little deeper inside.

This is a very special photo for me. Later, when you step back, you can see the very iconic photo. In terms of space, the tank has just stepped through the gate of the Independence Palace; in terms of time is the sun shining down on the firecrackers divided into two, the light side and the dark side… that’s noon. In terms of content, in that photo, in addition to the tank of the 203rd Brigade, there are also infantry soldiers of the 304th Division. These are two deep-penetrating forces of the 2nd Army Corps entering Ho Chi Minh City. Bright.

I think, visually, this is a nice one. That means our military has matured over the years and has great military synergies. In the Dien Bien Phu victory, we only had infantry waving flags on the roof of General De-Cat’s bunker, but now we have come a long way. So that picture is very symbolic of the great 30/4 victory.”

According to journalist Tran Mai Huong, at the time of taking that photo, she did not think that the photo would be “popular” later. Just know that it is a beautiful photo that I took, you also took many other photos. In his nest at that time, many journalists also captured photos of Duong Van Minh’s cabinet alive, tank soldiers planting flags on the roof of the Independence Palace and scenes of Saigon courtyard people pouring into the streets to celebrate. There are many other pictures but over time his photo fortunately stands the test of time because it is symbolic of victory.

“The tank number 846 was the 4th out of 7 cars that entered the Independence Palace at noon on 30/40/1975. On the vehicle at that time was the head of the tank, Mr. Nguyen Quang Hoa – Vice Captain of the Company. 4 of the tank command unit entered the Independence Palace whose hometown was La Khe, Ha Dong.

There were 3 more soldiers, driver Tran Binh Yen and two gunners Nguyen Ngoc Quy and Nguyen Ba Tu. And in addition, there were 2 infantry comrades of the 304th Division on board at that time. I have searched many times to find the other two teammates but still can’t find them. No one knows who these two comrades are, where and how they are living. That’s what I really want to do.

After the war, I still often see 4 soldiers on the 846 tank at that time. I’ve been to Hai Phong to visit Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Quy, back to Ha Nam to visit gunner Tran Binh Yen… We consider each other friends because we’re all the same age and every year on April 30, we still see each other.”, Journalist Tran Mai Huong added.