The exhibition is presented through three main themes: Song of Victory, Stream of Memories, and Joining Hands to Heal.
On December 6, the Management Board of Hoa Lo Prison Monument organized the opening of the exhibition “The Sounds of War” to mark the 51st anniversary of the victory of “Hanoi – Dien Bien Phu in the Air” (December 1972 – December 2023); commemorating 50 years of repatriating American pilots (1973 – 2023).
The exhibition aims to deepen the public’s understanding of the intensity of strategic air and naval attacks by the US during the escalation of destruction in the North. It recreates the daily life and work of the military and people of Hanoi in late 1972, showcasing their spirit of unity in the face of combat and service, overcoming losses and pain, and ultimately achieving the victory of “Dien Bien Phu in the Air.” The exhibition also introduces the lives of American pilots in Hoa Lo Temporary Detention Center, expressing their desire to end the war and reunite with their families. Additionally, it tells the story of the pilot repatriation process 50 years ago (1973 – 2023). The joint efforts of the Vietnamese and US governments to overcome post-war challenges, along with the contributions of organizations and individuals in people-to-people diplomacy, particularly by veterans, have played a crucial role in reestablishing relations between the two nations.
The exhibition attracts the attention of a large audience in the capital and tourists.
The exhibition is structured around three main parts: Song of Victory, Stream of Memories, and Joining Hands to Heal.
Under the Song of Victory part, it portrays the determination and resilience of the Northern forces, including Hanoi, during the 12 nights (December 18 – December 30, 1972), as they bravely fought back against the US military’s strategic air raids. In the face of bombing and shelling, armed forces, primarily the Air Defense-Air Force, proactively and innovatively collaborated with the people of the capital to counter the enemy. Holding their ground, these courageous individuals, resolute and determined, aimed to eliminate enemy aircraft, culminating in a glorious “Dien Bien Phu in the Air,” thwarting the largest-scale strategic air raids by the US military.
With the spirit of “evacuation is also a battle,” under the leadership of the Hanoi City Party Committee, the people of the capital promptly evacuated to suburban areas. Hundreds of transport vehicles were mobilized, and tens of thousands of families hastily left the inner city. In evacuation areas, the people of Hanoi and locals shared resources, cooperated in increasing production, and stabilized their lives. Under shelters and hideouts, the sound of studying echoed vibrantly.
In the part “Stream of Memories,” during a time when the country was still at war and the lives of the people were challenging, the Vietnamese Government made continuous efforts to provide healthcare, physical activities, and cultural, and religious care for the American pilots detained in Hoa Lo Prison and other temporary detention camps in the North. Every month, the American pilots wrote letters to their families. During Christmas and New Year, the pilots participated in preparing celebrations and sent warm wishes to their families, preparing meals, decorating their cells, and learning songs for the festivities. The increased number of letters helped the American pilots alleviate their homesickness. Many pilots also recorded messages of love for their families, which were broadcast on the Voice of Vietnam radio.
The exhibition recreates the devastation of a corner of Bach Mai Hospital after the B-52 bombing raid at 4 am on December 22, 1972, to illustrate the efforts of doctors and nurses in searching for and treating the victims.
Participants experience a model of a wartime classroom with thatched roofs, wooden desks and chairs, oil lamps, straw hats, and first aid kits – familiar items that every wartime student brought to class.
According to the Paris Agreement, all American pilots in detention camps in North Vietnam were concentrated in Hoa Lo Prison for repatriation to the US government. The first repatriation took place on February 12, 1973, at Gia Lam Airport, Hanoi. Subsequent repatriations occurred on February 18, March 4, and March 14, 1973. At 3:20 pm on March 29, 1973, the Vietnamese Government completed the repatriation of all American pilots.
In the “Joining Hands to Heal” part, it is highlighted that in September 1988, the Vietnamese and US governments began collaborating to search for the remains of missing American soldiers, address the consequences of landmines, and assist war victims to alleviate wartime pains. After half a century, many American veterans have returned to Vietnam, revisiting former battlefields and the Hoa Lo Prison Monument, recalling a part of their military memories.
Witness to history – Colonel Nghiem Dinh Tich, Hero of the People’s Armed Forces
The joy of Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, Artilleryman No. 1, Self-Defense Platoon of Luong Yen Mechanical Factory, participating in shooting down an F111 aircraft on the night of December 22, 1972, honored with the Ho Chi Minh Badge.
As a witness to history, Colonel Nghiem Dinh Tich, Hero of the People’s Armed Forces, former Head of Radar Station P35, Squadron 45, Radar Battalion 291, Air Defense – Air Force shares: When reviewing the documents, images, and artifacts in the exhibition “The Melody of the Air Battle” commemorating the 51st anniversary of the Victory “Hanoi – Dien Bien Phu in the Air”; commemorating 50 years of repatriating American pilots, he feels deeply moved and proud. Despite extremely difficult conditions, our Party and State have always shown care and humanity towards American pilots, which is greatly appreciated by them. It has been 51 years since the victory, and although the younger generation did not participate in the war, through the exhibition, they have gained a better understanding of the “Hanoi – Dien Bien Phu in the Air” victory. He hopes that the younger generation will always remember, preserve, and uphold the glorious revolutionary struggle tradition of the nation, determined to train and strive even harder to become talents contributing to the construction of the country in the future.
Mr. Thomas Wilber shared his impressions at the exhibition.
Mr. Thomas Wilber (son of Navy Lieutenant Colonel Walter Eugene Wilber, imprisoned in 1968, repatriated in 1973) attending the exhibition was also deeply moved and shared: When his father was imprisoned at Hoa Lo Prison, writing letters to the family about the situation, there was never any worry in the family. He appreciates the humane treatment of the Vietnamese Government towards his father and other pilots, providing food, personal items, and medical care during his father’s captivity. He has visited Vietnam and Hoa Lo Prison 43 times. He feels Hoa Lo Prison is as familiar as his second home.
The exhibition “The Sounds of War” introduces to visitors from December 6, 2023, to June 30, 2024, at the Hoa Lo Prison Monument, No. 1 Hoa Lo Street, Tran Hung Dao Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.