Actors from Nghệ An Province Radio & Television perform in the historical play, Hoa Lửa Truông Bồn (Female Soldiers Fight in Truông Bồn), at HCM City’s Bến Thành Theatre. The play is part of the city’s cultural activities to celebrate the 44th anniversary of of Reunification Day (April 30) and Labour Day (May 1). (Photo courtesy of the producer)

HCM CITY— The historical play, Hoa Lửa Truông Bồn (Female Soldiers Fight in Truông Bồn), attracted more than 1,000 guests for two shows staged at HCM City’s Bến Thành Theatre this week.

The play is part of the city’s cultural activities to celebrate the 44^th anniversary of Reunification Day (April 30) and Labour Day (May 1).

The four-act work written by Nguyễn Thế Kỷ featured 30 veteran and young actors of the Nghệ An Radio & Television Station.

The play consists of real stories about 13 female members of the Team 317 under Việt Nam’s Youth Volunteer Brigade fighting in Truông Bồn in Nghệ An Province in 1968.

The youth volunteers worked to fill bomb craters alongside the roads and guide trucks across the danger zone. They were killed by a bomb while they were at work on the early morning of October 31.

The play highlights patriotism, bravery and love.

“Hoa Lửa Truông Bồn is different from other plays that I have seen. The work feature real stories. It is about true heroes who devoted their youth and life to the country’s independence,” said Nguyễn Thị Thanh Thảo, a fourth-year student at HCM City National University.

After watching the play’s first show on Tuesday, Thảo and her friends improved their knowledge about Vietnamese soldiers and people fighting at Truông Bồn against foreign invaders.

“We will never forget their service, sacrifice and dedication,” she said.

Nearly 3,000 bombs were dropped on the Truông Bồn Historical Site located in Mỹ Sơn Ward, Đô Lương District, between June and October,1968 during the American war. It was dangerous throughout Truông Bồn to send soldiers on the roads in the areas from the North to the South for reinforcements.

Last year, a revolutionary victory against the Americans was commemorated at a ceremony at Truông Bồn to mark 50 years of the event.

The anniversary was marked by a cultural programme,  titled Truông Bồn-Miền Đất Huyền Thoại (Truông Bồn-The Legendary Land), by the Nghệ An Province’s People’s Committee and its partners.

It featured many singers and theatre artists from professional art troupes in Nghệ An and other provinces in the region. Their art highlighted the sacrifice of soldiers and volunteers.

The last show of Hoa Lửa Truông Bồn will be held tonight at 6 Mạc Đĩnh Chi Street, District 1. — VNS