Viet Nam News
HCM CITY — The HCM City Television (HTV) on Sunday organised a live broadcast to celebrate the 88th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (Feb 3, 1930) and the 50th anniversary of the Mau Than General Offensive and Uprising in Spring 1968.
The broadcast, titled Ban hung ca mua xuan: Chan Tran – Chi Thep (The Spring Saga: Bare Feet – Iron Will), was held at three locations significant to the historic event, including Thong Nhat (Reunification) Conference Hall in HCM City’s District 1, Tan Nhut Ward in Binh Chanh District, and Binh My Ward in Cu Chi District.
Politburo member and Secretary of the HCM City’s Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan, together with former leaders, seniors, and officials from the HCM City People’s Council, People’s Committee and Viet Nam Fatherland Front Committee, among other agencies, attended the event.
Other participants included Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, veterans and representatives of forces that took part in the offensive, as well as locals.
The event comprised three sections, including “Chan Tran” (Bare Feet), “Chi Thep” (Iron Will), and “Khat vong hoa binh” (The Desire for Peace).
Speakers during the broadcast praised the significant contributions, strong will and commitment to peace of the soldiers who took part in the historical offensive in Spring 1968, one of the largest military campaigns launched by the northern People’s Army of Viet Nam and the southern National Liberation Front during the Vietnam war.
Among other people interviewed during the live broadcast were: Do Thi Kim Lien, Do Manh Hung, Do Anh Chien, Do Thi Thom and Do Thanh Cong, who are the children of Do Van Can, builder of an armoury in 183/4 Tran Quoc Toan Street in District 3 (now 3/2 Street, District 10); Tran Kien Xuong, a son of Tran Van Lai, builder of an armoury in 287/70 Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street in District 3; and Phan Van Hon, former member of Unit 5 under the Sai Gon – Gia Dinh Liberation Army Commandos.
Though 50 years have passed, the General Offensive and Uprising in Spring 1968 remains a significant milestone that emphasised revolutionary heroism, providing valuable historical lessons for today’s society. — VNS