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Bowls of shared kindness

Phan Van Tang was born in Kien Vang hamlet, Tan Hung Tay commune, Phu Tan district. In 1954, he was a soldier (belonging to Company 680, Battalion 412, South Western Nam Bo Sub-region) and was evacuated to the North. From 1960 to 1966, he worked at the Military Museum. In 1975, he transferred to work in Ca Mau. Between 1980 and 1990, he served as the Director of Minh Hai Provincial Museum (now Ca Mau and Bac Lieu provinces). He passed away in 2022.

Hien Luong Bridge (viewed from the North), the place that divided the South and the North after the Geneva Accords. Photo: Thanh Chi

In the dozens of handwritten pages of his memoirs, there are many passages recounting the kindness he received in the North. "On the fifth day, we arrived at Sam Son port. The large ship couldn't dock due to the shallow waters and had to anchor about 1 kilometer away. Despite the distance, we could clearly see the bustling atmosphere on the shore, with drums beating, flags waving, and slogans echoing across the waves. Fishermen's boats rushed out to meet us. The Polish sailors lowered rope ladders for us to climb down."

After arriving at the port and resting in a temporary camp for a few days, our unit began marching into Thanh Hoa town. The affection of the local people left a deep impression on me "The party committee and the people welcomed us wholeheartedly. The village chief took us to each house and introduced us. The villagers warmly accepted us.

That night, something unexpected happened. It was 9 or 10 pm and the villagers hadn't eaten yet. Upon inquiry, we learned that Thanh Hoa had experienced a dyke breach that year, leading to a poor harvest. Yet, we soldiers were given 27 kilograms of rice each month, equivalent to 900 grams per day. Every meal included meat and fish, while the children had nothing to eat from morning till evening. We admired the leadership of the party committee and were moved by the people's noble actions. Many of us were so touched that we cried. Turning our emotions into action, we collected the leftover food after each meal and brought it to the villagers. After doing this a few times, the local authorities discovered it and reported it to our unit, and we were criticized. While we did make a mistake, we had no regrets."

Warmth of straw bed

In the charming home of Engineer Pham Huu Liem and Le Thi Lieu, nestled in Tac Thu hamlet, Ho Thi Ky commune, Thoi Binh district, the story of their evacuation is recounted with deep emotion.

"Once you start talking about it, it's hard to stop thinking about the North," Lieu said.

Le Thi Lieu is originally from Quang Ngai province. In 1954, at the age of 10, she was evacuated to the North as a Southern student. In the North, Lieu attended elementary, middle, and high school in Hai Phong, and later studied at the Hanoi University of Agriculture and Forestry.

Pham Huu Liem (born in 1941, from Tan Hung commune, Cai Nuoc district), also a Southern student, was evacuated to the North in 1954 and was a classmate of Lieu.

Engineer Pham Huu Liem (top left) and Le Thi Lieu (second from left, bottom row). Photo: Le Thi Lieu

Having lived in the North for over 20 years, she has many memories, especially of the care she received from the local people.

There is one story that Engineer Pham Huu Liem and Le Thi Lieu always remember with gratitude and remind their children about. That was when they got married and had their first child. She worked at the Dam Thuy Cooperative's livestock farm in Dong Trieu district, Quang Ninh province, and was assigned a house with an earthen floor in the farm. At that time, their child was young and there was no one to look after them, and there was no nursery. A man who worked with her at the farm, whom everyone called Nuoc, lived in a village about a kilometer away. Seeing her situation, he offered to take care of the child for her. Every day, she sent her child to Nuoc and his wife.

When I was assigned to work on a farm 30 kilometers away and had our second child, Nuoc and his wife once again opened their hearts and home to us. They insisted on taking care of our children, fearing the harsh Northern winter might harm them. Their selfless act of creating warm straw beds for our infants allowed me to focus on my work. We are eternally grateful for their love and care.

The memories of the North are filled with the warmth of the people's kindness. Nuoc and his wife, who cared for our children like their own, hold a special place in our hearts. Their selfless act of love has left an enduring impact on our lives. The North's generosity towards Southerners during those challenging times was truly remarkable. The people's willingness to share their limited resources is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the enduring bonds of our nation," Lieu said.

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