Truong Son Martyrs’ Cemetery – A Place of Reverence and Remembrance
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Truong Son Martyrs’ Cemetery is a solemn resting place that honors the fallen soldiers of the Vietnam People’s Army and the Liberation Army of South Vietnam along the historic Truong Son (Ho Chi Minh) Trail. Nestled in the Ben Tat area, adjacent to National Highway 15, within Linh Truong commune, Gio Linh district, Quang Tri province, Vietnam, this cemetery lies approximately 28 kilometers northwest of Dong Ha city, the provincial capital of Quang Tri, and a little over 20 kilometers west of National Highway 1 (near the Gio Linh district town). Covering an area of 140,000 square meters, it spans three hills overlooking the source of the Ben Hai River, symbolically dividing the nation during the Vietnam War. Truong Son Martyrs’ Cemetery is one of the 72 martyrs’ cemeteries in Quang Tri province.
History and Construction
During the war, General Dong Si Nguyen proposed the idea of gathering the scattered remains of fallen soldiers along the Truong Son Trail and the neighboring territories of Laos and Cambodia into a single resting place. This would not only provide a convenient location for comrades and especially the families of the fallen soldiers to pay their respects but also serve as a lasting memorial.
Upon this suggestion, General Secretary Le Duan and the Politburo agreed to conduct a survey to select a suitable site for this sacred resting place. Three options were considered: first, a location along Route 20 (now Provincial Road 562) in Quang Binh province; second, Route 9 (now National Highway 9A) near the Dau Mau Bridge in Cam Lo, Quang Tri province; and third, the Ben Tat hill in Vinh Truong commune, Gio Linh district, Quang Tri province.
After careful consideration and survey, General Dong Si Nguyen chose the Ben Tat hill for its exceptional significance. In 1959, when the Truong Son 559 Command was established, initially with just 500 officers and soldiers stationed near Khe Ho, close to Ben Tat hill. By 1973, after the liberation of Quang Tri province, the main base of the Truong Son forces was relocated to the Ben Tat area. This location, situated east of the Truong Son Trail, was intimately connected to the Truong Son forces and held special significance for the fallen heroes.
After the Paris Peace Accords in 1973, General Dong Si Nguyen issued a directive to gather the remains of the fallen soldiers along the Truong Son Trail. The result was the collection of over 10,000 sets of remains to be interred at the Truong Son National Martyrs’ Cemetery.
The construction of the cemetery began on October 24, 1975, and was completed on April 10, 1977. It is the largest martyrs’ cemetery in Vietnam. The central area of the cemetery, situated atop a 32.4-meter hill, features a white stone memorial monument with three sides open, symbolizing openness and sacrifice. The cemetery consists of four burial zones arranged by provinces and cities, spread across five hills. Lush forests separate these zones, and pathways are adorned with stone, bricks, or cement paving. Flowers bloom throughout the year on both sides of the paths. Each zone has a memorial house designed to evoke the characteristics of various regions of Vietnam. The cemetery is the final resting place for 10,333 soldiers who fought in the Liberation Army of South Vietnam and the Vietnam People’s Army. On May 19, 1999, commemorating the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Truong Son Military Region, the Government of Vietnam decided to upgrade and renovate the martyrs’ cemetery.
As of April 2006, the cemetery contains 10,263 graves, divided into 10 regions representing different provinces and cities where the fallen heroes hailed from, along with a section dedicated to 68 unidentified martyrs. The graves are solidly constructed, each with a gravestone, and are meticulously maintained and overseen by 21 caretakers.
WebGIS Portal
On July 18, 2011, on the occasion of the 64th anniversary of Vietnam’s Martyrs and Invalids Day, the Department of Science and Technology of Quang Tri province hosted an event to introduce the project “Application of GIS Technology for Management and Information Retrieval at Truong Son National Martyrs’ Cemetery” and launched the WebGIS portal at nghiatrangtruongson.quangtri.gov.vn. The project was part of a collaborative program between Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee and Quang Tri Provincial People’s Committee, with implementation by the Ho Chi Minh City Geographic Information System Application Center.
The WebGIS portal provides information about the martyrs resting at Truong Son National Martyrs’ Cemetery in a visually engaging and immersive manner through images, graphic effects, and 3D maps. It also assists family members, comrades, and visitors in exploring the overall and detailed views of a specific area of the cemetery. Additionally, visitors can offer flowers, incense, and write messages of remembrance at the martyrs’ graves.
Truong Son Martyrs’ Cemetery stands as a place of reverence, history, and remembrance, welcoming international travelers to pay their respects and learn about the sacrifices made during the Vietnam War. Whether you come to honor the fallen or to gain a deeper understanding of Vietnam’s history, this sacred site offers a meaningful and solemn experience for all visitors.