(VOVworld) - More than 70 photographs are currently on display in Hanoi, giving an insight into children’s lives during wartime, when North Vietnam suffered from heavy US bombing from 1964 to 1972. The exhibition entitled ‘Children in Wartime’ aims to help the domestic public and international friends to get a better understand of life during the wartime 40 years ago. VOV’s Lan Anh and Bui Hang today take you to the exhibition which marks the 40^th anniversary of ‘Hanoi-Dien Bien Phu Victory in the Air’.

Nguyen Cong Hung talked to his 8-year-old son about the photos that portray the hardships that children had to experience during the war. The boy gazed passionately at the photos of pupils studying or a mother taking a child to school.  Hung hopes that in time his son will understand this period and make the most of his life. Hung himself feels moved at the photos that depict the children who tried to go to school throughout the bombing campaign. The photo of the first school day, by the bomb shelters, when the pupils wore straw hats and walked barefoot to the opening ceremony of the new academic year is still inspiring. The powerful picture of two kids in front of an A-shaped bomb shelter smiling despite the suffering caused by the war all around them, gives visitors the impression that the war didn’t happen there. Nguyen Cong Hung says ‘I come about this exhibition by chance and brought my son here in the hope that he will understand how hard life had been for his parents and therefore make the most of his life. I’m very impressed by the photo of the children who were doing their lessons by the A-shaped bomb shelter. They simply didn’t think about the war they just paid attention to their studies.’

A “mobile” class by a communal house yard

The biggest photo, hung in the center of the exhibition hall, is of two child girls wearing straw hats preparing to go to school. Their innocent little faces tell you that the war and horrific bombing couldn’t take away their innocence and thirst for knowledge. Many wartime children dug trenches and bomb shelters without any adult help, or learnt how to do first aid or make bread. Nguyen Xuan Lien, now aged over 70, said that the photos on display make him recall the time when he and his family were evacuated and they had to dig bomb shelters. Lien says ‘At that time, it was difficult to find any sign of fear on children’s faces. When the airplanes flew overhead, their parents would make them to go to the bomb shelters. Everything took place normally, except at these moments.’ 

Lien said he’s also impressed by and wants to know more about straw hats which children in the war often made in various different forms to help protect themselves from being wounded by bomb blasts. He further explains ‘Straw hats were a good idea and although not compulsory, everybody wore them to protect themselves. Straw hats were also different depending on where you lived.’

The wartime children with permanent smiles on their faces regardless of danger and deprivation are an iconic symbol of the Vietnamese people's strong will and vitality.