Belongings of soldiers from the Trường Sơn Trail made from bomb shells. VNS Photo Minh Thu

HÀ NỘI — The construction of the Hồ Chí Minh Trail over the Trường Sơn Mountain Range and its important role in the resistance war are being reflected at an exhibition which opened yesterday in Hà Nội.

Memories of Trường Sơn features hundreds of photos, documentaries and war memorabilia.

On display includes precious photos capturing the construction of the trail, the life of soldiers and volunteers serving on the Trường Sơn Trail and battlefields.

Through the exhibition, visitors can understand the cruel war, the hardships that Vietnamese soldiers and how people overcame them to protect the country.

Following the 15th Congress Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party, the Politburo and President Hồ Chí Minh and the Central Military Commission, Group 559 was set up in 1959 to build a strategic supply route named Trường Sơn – Hồ Chí Minh Trail for the South of Việt Nam Revolution and Laos and Cambodia.

From 1959-1975, Vietnamese soldiers together with workers and volunteers from Indochinese countries built a route through 21 provinces covering 20,000km of roads, 600km of waterways, 1,400km of petroleum pipelines and a 1,500km three-side information line. 

The exhibition is being held at the Hồ Chí Minh Trail Museum to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the historical Trường Sơn Trail, which is also known as the Hồ Chí Minh Trail (1959-2019).

“During the American War, the Hồ Chí Minh Trail played an important part in the Vietnamese revolution,” said Lieutenant Colonel Nguyễn Văn Ngọc, director of the museum.

“Although the war is over and the soldiers’ footprints have faded away, the trail is part of our national history as a symbol of the bravery, creativity and sacrifice of the Vietnamese people and soldiers.”

The exhibition will run until May 31. — VNS