Vo Mien (real name Vo Duc Dat) was a member of the uprising committee that seized power in Duy My commune, Duy Xuyen district (now Dai Cuong commune, Dai Loc district, Quang Nam province) during the August Revolution.

In early 1955, when his 7th son, Vo Tien Trung, was just three months old, Mr. Dat, then the party secretary, led more than 50 party members north. They were at risk of being eliminated by the enemy and needed to leave the south to continue their activities.

In 1960, the enemy captured the three wives of Mr. Dat and his brothers, torturing them to reveal the whereabouts of their husbands and comrades. At just 5 years old, Vo Tien Trung accompanied his mother, Do Thi Nhan, to prison. There, he witnessed his mother being bound hand and foot, having diluted soap poured into her mouth, and then having a board pressed against her stomach, causing her to bleed. The young boy cried out, was beaten by soldiers, and had tape put over his mouth.

"Unable to extract any information, they forced my mother and aunts to write divorce papers. My mother said, 'In my hometown, women who leave their husbands are considered ruined, and their parents would shave their heads'," recalled Senior Lieutenant General Vo Tien Trung, former director of the Vietnam National Defense Academy.

Vo Tien Trung (left) when he first arrived in the north at age 14 and his father, Vo Duc Dat. Photo: Memoir document

Vo Tien Trung (left) when he first arrived in the north at age 14 and his father, Vo Duc Dat. Photo: Memoir document

Because he was young and allowed to move between the male and female prison areas, Trung became a liaison for the revolutionary soldiers. In 1963, when political prisoners were released, the mother and son returned to their thatched house by the Thu Bon River. The house then became a shelter for cadres. His mother instructed him: "These are the uncles who follow your father. You absolutely must not tell anyone." For the first time, young Trung understood the concepts of Viet Minh, Viet Cong, and who was "on our side."

In 1965, the US sent troops to Vietnam. At just 11, Trung was the captain of the secret youth guerrilla unit in Loc Phuoc commune, fighting the enemy while also working in enemy proselytization. At 14, Vo Tien Trung was honored as a "heroic combatant" and sent north for education. With his homeland still in the midst of fierce war, the young hero wanted to stay and fight but was encouraged that this was an opportunity to "meet Uncle Ho" and "find his father."

In 8/1969, Vo Tien Trung arrived in the north when President Ho Chi Minh was already frail. The hope of "meeting Uncle Ho" was gone, and the son only wished to find his father soon.

Trung was taken to the 580th convalescent regiment in Nam Ha. The teenager submitted a request to find his father but waited a long time without a response. Several months later, upon learning that he was a hero, the unit sent him to tell his story to students and workers at factories and schools, and then transferred him to 83 Ly Nam De Street, the residence for heroes from the south.

During his days in Hanoi, he would put on his uniform every morning, ready to go. For almost a week, Trung noticed a man wearing a fur hat often passing by, looking very familiar. One afternoon, the man stopped and asked, "Are you from the south?" The boy replied, "Yes, I'm from Quang Da." Hearing the teenager clearly state his hometown, commune, village, and parents' names, the man suddenly dropped his briefcase, rushed to hug him, and cried, "Tam! It's me, your father!"

It turned out that Mr. Dat worked at the Finance Department of the Western Affairs Committee at 91-93 Ly Nam De Street and was assigned to house number 79, right next to where his son lived.

Everyone at the station ran out. The station chief asked, "What's going on?" Mr. Dat choked up: "I found my son!" Trung also cried: "Uncle, I found my dad!" burying his head in his father's chest, tears streaming down his face.

The station chief immediately told the manager to get all the beef, pork, and a chicken, precious commodities at the time, and give them to Mr. Trung and his son for a celebratory feast. That night, Trung was ordered to stay home with his father. Mr. Dat led his son to his room, crying and exclaiming, "I found my son!" Neighbors and comrades came over, bringing more meat, spring rolls, and sausages to join the celebration.

Entering his father's room, Trung saw a family photo placed on an incense altar made from a plastic cup. In 1965, when her husband's younger brother went north, Mrs. Nhan and her children and grandchildren took a group photo and sent it to Mr. Dat.

A year later, a wounded soldier from the south informed Mr. Dat that his entire family had been killed. He used the photo of his wife and children as a memorial portrait.

Hearing his youngest son recount the situation back home, he learned that his wife and seven children had all participated in the revolution, and his second daughter and nephew had died from a bomb. "My father cried all night, grieving for my sister. Afterward, he asked an artist to draw a separate portrait of her from the family photo to honor her," Mr. Trung recounted. The father and son also took the opportunity to stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake, taking a commemorative photo together for the first time in 14 years.

During that trip to Hoan Kiem Lake with his father, Trung asked to stay and play longer and got lost. Seeing a child in uniform wearing a sergeant's insignia, the military police stopped him. Assuming Trung had stolen the insignia from a parent, they asked him to get in the car to take him home and check his papers.

Mr. Trung calls his aunt, Nguyen Thi Thu, who currently lives at 81 Ly Nam De Street, Hanoi, on 12/8. Photo: Pham Nga

Mr. Trung calls his aunt, Nguyen Thi Thu, who currently lives at 81 Ly Nam De Street, Hanoi, on 12/8. Photo: Pham Nga

After finding his son, Mr. Dat was much happier and often cooked delicious meals for him. Every Tet holiday, Trung and his older brother, who had also gone north to study, would bring their friends home to celebrate Tet with their father. One year, Mr. Dat had to borrow several months' salary in advance to buy chicken, make gio cha (Vietnamese sausage), and "treat the kids." As an adult, Trung learned that his father had been borrowing against his salary ever since he arrived in the north.

On Reunification Day, Vo Duc Dat returned to his hometown to reunite with his wife. The veteran revolutionary soldier passed away in 1989, and his wife died in 2000.

Their youngest son, Vo Tien Trung, attended the Commando Officer School, graduating at the top of his class in 1978. He was retained to teach and continued his studies at the Army Academy and the National Defense Academy, successfully defending his doctoral dissertation and becoming an associate professor. He held various positions, from regiment commander to deputy commander of Military Region 5.

In 2010, Senior Lieutenant General Vo Tien Trung became the director of the National Defense Academy. In 2016, he retired after 50 years of service.

Senior Lieutenant General Vo Tien Trung attends the 50th anniversary of national reunification, 4/2025. Photo provided by the subject

Senior Lieutenant General Vo Tien Trung attends the 50th anniversary of national reunification, 4/2025. Photo provided by the subject

At the end of July, at age 70, Mr. Trung still travels with his comrades along the central region, visiting former battlefields, burning incense at the graves of fallen soldiers, visiting military units, and quietly observing the peaceful country. "It's truly a blessing to see that the sacrifices of our fathers, uncles, myself, and our comrades have contributed to the changes today," he said.

The old general has also just completed his memoirs about his life of revolutionary activities. But he won't publish it widely, only making a few copies for his comrades and descendants as a reminder that today's peace was bought with blood and tears, and therefore must be cherished.

"The reunion of my father and me was a rare stroke of luck amidst the bombs and bullets, and also a tragedy of war. Young people living in peace and comfort with their families should cherish each day," he said.

Pham Nga