To mark Vietnam War Invalids and Martyrs’ Day July 27, activities are underway across Vietnam to pay gratitude to war martyrs, war invalids, social beneficiaries, and other national contributors.

 Vietnamese heroic mothers pay tribute at Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum 

Throughout July, Vietnamese leaders from central to grassroots level are visiting war martyrs‘ cemeteries, presenting gifts to social beneficiaries, and organizing several programs to mark Vietnam War Invalids and Martyrs’ Day, July 27.

Highlights of 2020

A meeting of 300 heroic mothers representing 5,000 heroic mothers nationwide was held in Hanoi. Addressing the mothers, government and National Assembly leaders expressed their deep gratitude for their great sacrifices.

To honor the occasion, localities presented gifts to social beneficiaries and incense burning ceremonies were held in cemeteries nationwide.

Luong Thi Xuyen, a teacher at Nua Ngam Secondary School, Dien Bien province, said "Every year I come to burn incense at the cemetery on July 27. I’m moved each time I come here. Vietnam went through wars and now lives in peace. I keep reminding myself to do my utmost to fulfill my tasks, inspire the younger generation about the tradition of Vietnam, and help them understand the sacrifices of their predecessors."

Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh pay tribute
to fallen solders at Truong Son Cemetery

Vietnamese embassies have held ceremonies to honor war invalids and martyrs on this occasion. The Khmer-Vietnam Association and overseas Vietnamese held a ceremony at the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Monument in Phnom penh to pay gratitude to war martyrs who fought for the noble international cause helping Cambodian people to eliminate a genocidal regime and revive Cambodia.

Chau Van Chi, President of the Khmer-Vietnam Association in Cambodia said “This activity aims to educate younger generations of the Vietnamese community in Cambodia about the great contribution of their predecessors and contribute to the friendship between the two countries.”

Promoting humanitarian policies

97% of national contributors enjoy better than the average living condition but many war invalids still live in pain and the remains of many war martyrs are still missing or unidentified. Many war invalids and national contributors experience difficulties in their daily life. The Vietnamese Party, State, and people are working to improve their living conditions.

At a recent meeting with 300 heroic mothers, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said  “Implementing preferential policies for national contributors is a permanent task of the political system and society. We will continue to implement Party guidelines and State policies on caring for national contributors to ensure that they enjoy better than average living condition.”

Vietnamese agencies will continue to search for and repatriate the remains of soldiers, boost international cooperation in exchanging information about martyrs, and invest more in equipment and technology to search for soldiers missing in action.

The Vietnamese history of national construction and defense is inseparable from the great sacrifices of soldiers and their families. Paying gratitude to them reflects the Vietnamese tradition of drinking water, remember its source.