Long Dai Ferry: The Legend Of The "Martyrs" On The Support Route

Long Dai Ferry: The Legend of the "Martyrs" on the Support Route

Located at the confluence of three rivers: Kien Giang, Long Dai, and Nhat Le, Long Dai Ferry is not only a historical site but also a symbol of courageous spirit, witnessing the "living memorial" moments of those determined to maintain the lifeblood of transportation for the beloved South.

1. Strategic Coordinates on the Ho Chi Minh Trail

• Long Dai Ferry is located at Km 1004 + 810 on the eastern branch of the Ho Chi Minh Trail, connecting the two communes of Hien Ninh and Xuan Ninh (Quang Ninh district, Quang Binh province).
• Role: This is an extremely important traffic hub, where food, weapons, and equipment were transported from the North to support the battlefield in the South during the anti-American resistance years (1965 – 1972).
• Mission: From the Transport Company to Brigade 500 (Logistics Department) and the C16 engineering unit, all worked together to stay on the ferry and the river to ensure "vehicles have not passed, houses do not regret."

Long Dai Ferry

2. The Fierce Battle and the "Living Memorial Ceremonies"

• The American Empire identified Long Dai as a "nexus" to cut off the support route, so they dropped all kinds of bombs here, including magnetic bombs, demolition bombs, and fragmentation bombs.
• Suicide Team of Battalion 27: To counter the tactic of dropping magnetic bombs in the river, the suicide fighters were born. Before each time going down in a canoe to detonate bombs, the unit often organized a living memorial ceremony for the brothers. It was a moment where the boundary between life and death became fragile, but the will to win was higher than everything.
• Steel spirit: Amidst the rain of bombs and bullets, our people's anti-aircraft positions still blazed with fire to retaliate against enemy aircraft, protecting each ferry crossing safely.

Long Dai Ferry was once a heavily bombed area

3. The Memorial Tune by the Long Dai River

• The war passed, leaving behind painful yet immensely proud silences. In 1972, at this ferry, 32 young volunteers from Thai Binh and Nghe An bravely sacrificed their lives while on duty.
• Truong Son Martyrs Memorial: Inaugurated in 2013 on a high, windy hill next to the ferry. This is where the sacred souls of the mountains and rivers converge, a place for visitors to stop and light incense in memory of the heroes who fell at this "fire coordinate."
• View from the Temple: From here, you can gaze at the majestic beauty of Quang Binh's mountains and the tranquility of the Long Dai River today.

The stone stele commemorates a poem

The memorial temple is located beside the Long Dai River ferry

4. Suggested Nearby Exploration Journey

• After visiting Long Dai Ferry, you can continue your journey to explore other famous scenic and spiritual sites in Quang Ninh – Quang Binh such as:
• Than Dinh Mountain: Conquer 1,260 stone steps to visit Kim Phong Pagoda and drink from the Fairy Well.
• Uncle Ho Temple: A place that expresses the infinite love of the people of Quang Binh for the great leader.
• Thien Duong Cave & Phong Nha Cave: Natural wonders of the world not too far away.
• Long Dai Ferry is not just a historical landmark, but a place that teaches us about courage. If you are in Quang Tri, just a short ride to Quang Binh will allow you to touch this legend.

----------

Source: vietgoing.com