National flag being raised at the Hien Luong-Ben Hai historic site in Vinh Linh District, Quang Tri. The Ben Hai River, located at the 17th parallel, used to be a part of a DMZ that separated the country during the American War in Vietnam.

QUẢNG TRỊ — A flag-raising ceremony was held at the Hien Luong-Ben Hai historical relic site in Vinh Linh district, the central province of Quang Tri, on April 30 to mark the 44th anniversary of the Liberation of South Vietnam and National Reunification Day (April 30, 1945). 
As part of the national reunification festival co-organised by Nhan dan (People’s) daily, the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) and the provincial Party Committee and People’s Committee, the event also aims to celebrate the 65th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu victory which ended French colonial rule in Vietnam (1954-2019) and the 47th anniversary of the liberation of Quang Tri (May 1, 1972). 
The event was attended by Politburo member and Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh, Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC) and Head of the CPVCC’s Commission for Internal Affairs Phan Dinh Trac, Nhan Dan Editor-in-Chief and Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists’ Association Thuan Huu, and VNA General Director Nguyen Duc Loi, among others.
Hien Luong Bridge across Ben Hai River, which divided North and South Vietnam during the American War, is only 178 m long but it took 21 years for Vietnamese people from the North and the South to be united. The bridge is the witness to the Vietnamese people's fierce but glorious struggle and a reflection of their desire for and belief in victory. Relic sites located on both banks of the river have been recognised as special national historical relics.
Quang Tri was one of the most devastated localities during the war by thousands of tonnes of bombs and shells. The province was also well known for the fierce 81-day-and-night battle at the ancient Quang Tri Citadel.
In his opening remarks, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Nguyen Van Hung highlighted major achievements Quang Tri has recorded over the past years across spheres, from economy to social affairs and national defence and security. 
The flag-raising ceremony was followed by a Bai Choi singing performance at the southern bank of the Hien Luong-Ben Hai special national historical relic site, a boat race on Ben Hai River and an inaugural ceremony of the project on upgrading the southern bank of the site.
Delegates paid tribute to fallen soldiers at the National Road 9 Martyrs' Cemetery, Truong Son Martyrs' Cemetery. 
On April 29 night, an art programme entitled “Aspiration for Unification” was held at the historical relic site. 
On this occasion, VNA General Director Nguyen Duc Loi presented 1.8 billion VND (77.400 USD) to Quang Tri to build three classrooms at the kindergarten in Trieu Tai commune, Trieu Phong district.
Nhan Dan newspaper and the Electricity of Vietnam also presented 1 billion VND (43,000 USD) to local social policy beneficiaries. 
Addressing the event, Thuan Huu, who is also deputy head of the CPVPCC’s Communication and Education Commission, said that the Geneva Agreement defined the Ben Hai River on the 17th Parallel to be the temporary military division line 65 years ago and Quang Tri was an extremely fierce battlefield.
The Quang Tri people had to endure many sacrifices and hardships. Forty-seven years after the Liberation Day, people in Quang Tri have promoted their resilient tradition to build a more prosperous province with remarkable achievements in economics, society, and security and defence, he noted.
The art programme featured songs and dances to honour the fighting spirit of the Vietnamese army and people and the aspiration for national unification.-VNA