HÀ NỘI — Love always endures, even in the most difficult circumstances. An ongoing exhibition in Hà Nội is giving visitors a glimpse of the emotional love stories of Vietnamese soldiers during the wars.

Entitled Tình Yêu Qua Chiến Tranh (Love in the War), the event is a tribute to fallen soldiers, who devoted their blood, youth, and happiness for the nation’s freedom and independence.

The exhibition sheds light on 12 love stories of soldiers through their letters, photos and memories. The stories include one between female soldier Nguyễn Thị Bích Thảo and her comrade Đỗ Đình Sửu; between nurse Trần Thị Kính and soldier Nguyễn Văn Đạo, and the special wedding between doctor Nguyễn Thị Ngọc Toản and Lieutenant-General Cao Văn Khánh held on top of a tank.

An image displayed at the exhibition ‘Love in the War’. — Photo tuoitrethudo.com.vn

Nguyễn Thị Tuyết, director of the Vietnamese Women's Museum, which hosts the exhibition, said: “For those who participated in the two resistance wars against the French and Americans, and sacrificed their blood for independence and freedom of the country, it’s their love for country, and for their beloved, which is their enormous strength to overcome the harsh period.”

“Their undying love stories go along with the time that we, the subsequent generations, have admired and believed in love and the beautiful things in life even more,” she added.

To prepare for the exhibition, the museum staff travelled along the country to meet witnesses, aiming to collect memorabilia, photos and letters.

Visitors to the exhibition ‘Love in the War’ included veterans and invalids. — Photo dangcongsan.vn

Family members of war veterans and martyrs have given their private collections to the museum. The collections include wartime letters, poetry books, and memorabilia of their fathers and grandfathers.

Museum director Tuyết said that the donations are evidence showing the public’s appreciation of the museum’s efforts in preserving and promoting historical values to future generations.

At the exhibition’s opening last Friday, visitors had a chance to meet and talk with five women, whose love stories were presented at the event. The Trường Sơn Trail female soldier Nguyễn Thị Hồng Nhãn talked about her love for soldier and driver Nguyễn Mạnh Cường while Vũ Thị Lui recalled her undying love for martyr Trần Minh Tiến.

Also at the launch, representatives of the Soldiers’ Heart Club gave the museum two books Trái Tim Người Lính Miền Trung - Tây Nguyên (The Heart of Soldiers in the Centre and Central Highlands) – a memoir of many authors, and Những Lá Thư Tình Đi Qua Chiến Tranh (The Love Letters Going Through the War) – a collection of letters of martyr Trần Minh Tiến.

The exhibition – an activity to celebrate the 75th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs Day (27 July 1947 - 27 July 2022) – is open to the public until July 31. The Vietnamese Women's Museum is at 36 Lý Thường Kiệt Street, Hà Nội.

Former prisoners seen at the opening of ‘The July Melody of Gratitude’ exhibition. — Photo courtesy of Hỏa Lò Prison Relic

Another event dedicated to the anniversary is the exhibition Cung Trầm Tháng 7 (The July Melody of Gratitude) hosted by the Hỏa Lò Prison Relic.

The exhibition introduces to the public the touching stories about revolutionary activities and the resilient spirit of patriots and revolutionists when they were jailed at the beginning of the 20th century in Hỏa Lò prison, where they all later passed away.

The cruel torture they endured failed to overpower the revolutionists. Thousands of soldiers and revolutionists imprisoned by the French colonialists in Hỏa Lò have steadfastly maintained their loyalty and fighting spirit for the independence and freedom of the nation.

'The July Melody of Gratitude’ exhibition is to commemorate the fallen patriots and revolutionists when they were jailed at the beginning of the 20th century in Hỏa Lò prison. — Photo courtesy of Hỏa Lò Prison Relic

On the opening of the exhibition last week, several former prisoners recalled the painful yet glorious days when they were standing side by side for a common purpose – to fight for the country’s freedom.

The July Melody of Gratitude will last until October 31. — VNS