Historic highlights: A scene from TV documentary series Tro Lai Truong Son Huyen Thoai. — Photo laodong.com.vn

HCM CITY (VNS)   — The contributions of generations of soldiers who built and protected the legendary Ho Chi Minh trails during the American War are being honoured in a TV documentary series.

The 120-part series, Tro Lai Truong Son Huyen Thoai (Returning to the Legendary Truong Son Trail), helps young people understand the strategic reinforcements made on the Truong Son Trail for the front line in the great resistance war.

The film focuses on the sacrifices of young soldiers on the Truong Son Trail, the most important road for supplying and transporting weapons, goods, food, and military supplies from the north to the south.

Produced by HTV's Television Film Studio (TFS), the film's first part aired on HTV9 last year after four years of filming.

It quickly made waves among viewers, particularly students.

"Audiences can see Truong Son soldiers' love for the country and its people come alive again through the talks by veteran revolutionaries and researchers highlighted in our film," said Viet Binh, the film's director.

Binh and his three cameramen spent days travelling 5,000km and working at many of the spots where soldiers worked, including remote provinces like Gia Lai, Lam Dong, Kon Tum and Dak Lak. They also visited Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Nghe An, where fierce battles occurred.

"The use of live footage and detailed reports help the audience gain a deeper understanding of the country's greatest victories," said Binh.

The film's highlights include beautiful landscapes and scenes of daily life, including remote villages and local activities.

The film is broadcast on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 10.30pm on HTV7.

Picturing dedication

A photobook of 300 colour photos by dozens of veteran and amateur artists was issued last weekend in HCM City to mark the People's Army Day on December 22.

The book Truong Son Hom Nay (Truong Son Today) features the soldiers' families, their daily lives and difficulties.

It also includes photos of ethnic minority groups living near Truong Son Trail, and their traditional culture and lifestyle.

"Truong Son Hom Nay is our love and respect to the soldiers who dedicated their lives to the country," Nguyen Tan Phong, editor-in-chief of the Sai Gon Giai Phong (Liberated Sai Gon) newspaper, said.

The book is part of Sai Gon Giai Phong's four-year charity project launched in 2009, aiming to raise money for helping families and children of Truong Son soldiers.

The programme has collected more than VND138 billion (US$6.5 million) from organisations and individuals nationwide. The money was spent to build over 1,300 charity houses and present 2,000 scholarships. — VNS