(VOVworld) - Hien Luong Bridge and the Ben Hai River in central Quang Tri province forever symbolizes an enduring symbol of the everlasting desire for peace, national independence and reunification.

The Geneva Agreements on Vietnam signed in 1954 divided Vietnam into North and South with the 17th Parallel where the Ben Hai River runs through the central province of Quang Tri as a borderline. The temporary division was only expected to last two years, but it then remained for 21 years along with the great struggle for national reunification. Throughout this prolonged period, the Hien Luong Bridge in Vinh Thanh village in Vinh Linh district of Quang Tri province symbolized the division, expectations and the pain of loss and separation.The bridge represents the desire for national reunification. The soldiers and people of Quang Tri have been side by side with soldiers and people nationwide demonstrate their ingenuity, bravery, and great loyalty for the nation to win the prolonged struggle, creating glorious pages in the history. Hien Luong bridge is also the witness of victory, that led to the national reunification in Spring 1975.Hien Luong Brigde was a political, diplomatic and military front. War ended long time ago and Hien Luong Bridge stood the test of time to remind people about the country’s tragic but ultimately victorious past.

 

Hien Luong Bridge in 1961

 

 

An overview of the banks of Ben Hai River

 

Hien Luong Bridge was built by the French in 1952 and destroyed by American bombs in 1967. It was restored in 2002 and opened to public as a historical relic in 2003

 

The statue symbolyzing the “Desire for National Reunification”  on the southern bank

 

Guardtower of the Southern Vietnamese army on the sourthern bank

 

Hien Luong Bridge and the northern end looking from the south

 

The new Hien Luong Bridge was built in 1996

 

A gate built on the northern end

 

A system of loud speakers installed on the southern bank for communication and art performances during the war against American invaders

 

A traditional house to display all historical objects and evidences relating to Hien Luong Bridge and Ben Hai River from 1954-1975

 

A loud speaker with the capacity of 500W, is now placed in front of the traditional house

 

An image of a woman sewing national flag. The flag is 9x12m, hung by the Ben Hai river from 1957 to 1962

 

Bronze Star on top of the flag poll on northern bank from 1955-1956

 

Image of the Liberation Army and Guerilla in Northern Quang Tri province

 

An overview of today's Hien Luong Bridge looking from the Parallel flag poll

 

Ceramic painting at the foot of the flag poll

 

Flag Poll on the northern bank

 

A coral stone symbolizing  Vietnam's sovereignty over Truong Sa placed at the foot of the flag poll

 

A close-up of the Truong Sa coral stone

VOVonline/VOV5