On this day 50 years ago, on December 31, 1976, in Hanoi and Saigon, the government inaugurated the Reunification Railway after 30 years of disruption to the North-South railway due to the devastation of war.
Today, Da Nang station is not just a technical stop for trains to turn around and continue their journey, but it is also the meeting point for trains SE1 and SE4 from Ho Chi Minh City.
Ten minutes later, the two trains met amid applause, greetings, and congratulations on the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and the reunification of the country.”
The event, organized by the Vietnam Railway Corporation, was themed “Reunification Railway – A Unified Country.” The two trains were decorated with vibrant flags, slogans, and symbols of peace and national unity. On board were over 900 passengers from both ends of the country.
“I was truly touched when I stepped off the train and was greeted with familiar songs about our nation and the vibrant red flags. I thought of the generations of our ancestors who sacrificed for us to have this day,” said Thanh Hang, a 35-year-old passenger from Hanoi traveling on the SE1 train.
The youth were equally excited. Duong Minh Vu, a 19-year-old student from Hanoi who boarded the train on April 29, shared, “The train and the stations were filled with red colors. The heroic atmosphere made me feel the spirit of our country’s reunification.”
In the locomotive cabin, train driver Bui Minh Hoang, with 15 years of experience, expressed his emotion at being chosen to drive the train carrying passengers on this historic journey, 50 years after national reunification. “Every time the passengers sing patriotic songs, I feel a surge of national pride,” he said.
Not only the passengers but also many Da Nang residents came to the station early to witness this meaningful moment. Nguyen Van Chien, a 75-year-old veteran from Chinh Gian ward, Thanh Khe district, was moved to see hundreds of people waving the national flag and welcoming the train with the slogan “A United Country.”
“Fifty years have passed, but today my heart still swells with pride. We, the lucky surviving soldiers, once rejoiced as we liberated Da Nang half a century ago, and now we relive that glorious history with the people of the whole country,” he said.
Various activities took place at the event, including cultural performances, offering incense to commemorate the martyrs of the Da Nang Railway Depot Party Cell, presenting Southern scarves with the national flag to the first 30 passengers, and giving gifts to veterans, revolutionaries, and former railway workers who contributed to the resistance war…
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the country’s reunification, from April 24 to May 9, Vietnam Railways is offering a 40% discount on tickets for wounded soldiers, sick soldiers, veterans, and family members of those who made revolutionary contributions.
