The Reminiscence of Hien Luong Bridge

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Hien Luong Bridge: A Symbol of Vietnam’s Struggle for Peace and Reunification

The stories of the Hien Luong Bridge, which spans the Ben Hai River in Quang Tri Province, will forever be etched in the memories of generations of Vietnamese people. This bridge played a significant role during the resistance war against the US for national salvation.
In 1954, the Geneva Convention divided Vietnam into two regions: the North and the South, with the Ben Hai River as the temporary boundary line. This division was meant to be temporary, lasting only until national elections could reunify the country. However, this separation endured for 21 long years until the South was liberated and the nation was finally reunified in 1975.
During those two decades, the Hien Luong Bridge stood as a silent witness to the suffering and longing of those who lived through this difficult period. A thin line of white paint across the middle of the bridge marked the boundary that separated families, keeping husbands from wives, children from fathers, and siblings from each other. It became an international symbol of the Vietnamese people’s deep desire for peace and their hope for national and familial reunification.
Today, the Hien Luong Bridge, along with the historical relics on its banks, has been designated as a special national relic site. It serves as a reminder of the horrors of war and a testament to the resilience of the Vietnamese people. For many, it is a must-visit destination when traveling between the North and South of the country.
By Thanh Hoa & Hoang Ha
A panoramic view of the Hien Luong Bridge, the Ben Hai River, and the temporary military boundary line that once divided the two regions.
Today, the special national relic site attracts visitors who come to learn about the history and pay their respects.
During the “sound war,” both sides used powerful speakers to broadcast propaganda. This giant speaker, with a diameter of 1.7m and a capacity of 500W, was used by the army of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
A row of speakers used for propaganda by the northern side of the Ben Hai River.
Local people of Vinh Linh stitching the national flag to be hung on the boundary flagpole.
The flagpole on the northern side of the Ben Hai River was a constant target of attacks by the army of the Saigon authority and the US.
The Vinh Linh public security post, located at one end of the bridge.
A welcoming gate on the northern side of the bridge, expressing the Vietnamese people’s desire for peace, reunification, and their admiration for President Ho Chi Minh.
The Ben Hai River, seen from underneath the Hien Luong Bridge, was the boundary line that separated the country for 21 years.
An alarm installed at the peak of the sentry post of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam’s army on the southern side of the boundary line.
The southern side of the bridge, painted yellow, with a post and control areas of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam’s army in the distance.
For many Vietnamese, the Hien Luong Bridge symbolizes the pain and suffering caused by the national separation during the war.
The white line across the bridge marked the division between the North and the South of Vietnam.
The middle section of the Hien Luong Bridge, where the demarcation line between the North and the South was marked.
The Hien Luong Bridge, with its yellow and green colors, represented the division of the country into two regions: the North and the South.
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