On October 30, in Hoai My, Hoai Nhon (now a town), the 60th anniversary of the Lo Dieu Beach historical site took place solemnly with the participation of Vice President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor Huynh Thanh Xuan.
The first ship without number opened the wharf in Zone 5
Resolution 15 of the Party Central Committee, Session III, marked the shift of the Southern Revolution from political struggle to combining politics with armed struggle. The need for weapons support for the battlefield was more urgent than ever.
On the night of the 30th of the Lunar New Year (January 27, 1960), the first ship to support the South quietly left Gianh River, carrying 5 tons of weapons and medicine for Zone 5 to dock at Hai Van but failed due to the storm.
Overcoming many dangers and storms, the Ho Chi Minh trail at sea was formed. In October 1962, the first ship carrying 30 tons of weapons arrived at Vam Lung port. From then until December 1962, there were 4 trips bringing 111 tons of weapons to Ca Mau.
On June 20, 1964, the 401 fleet was established, disguised as a fishing boat; the captain was Pham Van (from Quang Ngai), political commissar Dang Van Thanh, deputy captain Tran Phi Khanh, supplemented by Tran Phan (navy), in charge of maritime affairs, and 8 crew members. Mr. Khanh (from Hoai An, Binh Dinh), had previously been transferred back to his hometown to work as a staff officer of the provincial military command, in fact preparing the wharf to receive the ships.
Journey 401 was not easy. The ship carried 30 tons of weapons and 6 tons of explosives. On October 10, 1964, the ship had to depart for the second time, circling Hainan (China) to distract the enemy. Fighting and avoiding enemy reconnaissance aircraft and naval ships, "outsmarting" the US 7th Fleet, riding strong winds and big waves, the engine broke down, and drifted dozens of times. At 4 a.m. on November 1, 1964, the ship arrived at Lo Dieu wharf.
Determining that the weapons could not be handed over and leaving before dawn, the command crew opened full speed, drove the ship onto the sandbank where local forces were waiting to receive it, and hid the weapons and ammunition before the ship detonated and self-destructed.
401 was the first unnumbered ship to open the wharf in Zone 5 and the only ship to dock in Binh Dinh, contributing to the feats of An Lao (December 1964), Deo Nhong - Duong Lieu, Doi Muoi, Go Boi (February 1965)... opening up a chain of liberated areas, creating a new position and force against the local war of the army and people of the martial land.
Witness Tran Van Dich recalled: “At 3 a.m. on November 1, 1964, my teammates and I received orders to join the people of Lo Dieu and Phu Thu in digging tunnels, temporarily burying weapons at the foot of the mountain, then transporting them to a safe secret warehouse. 60 years later, some people are dead and some are still alive. For me, that was an unforgettable moment.”
Red address
Lo Dieu Wharf was ranked as a provincial historical relic by the People's Committee of Binh Dinh province on May 20, 2005. In 2018-2019, the Navy coordinated with Binh Dinh province to adjust the planning, expanding the relic from 6,800m2 to 15,000m2 and invested 15 billion VND in phase 1 renovation.
Mr. Tran Van Dich expressed: “Having survived the war, I always have the desire to turn history into a useful lesson. I hope Lo Dieu will be a red address for traditional education, a tourist attraction about the vibrant, pristine source on the loyal land of Hoai My.”
The speech of Vice Chairman of Binh Dinh Provincial People's Committee Lam Hai Giang at the 60th anniversary of Lo Dieu relic made Mr. Dich feel secure: "I suggest that Hoai Nhon town organize more activities and have specific, practical solutions, build this place into a revolutionary tradition education point, an attractive tourist destination to promote the value of the relic, combined with tourism development".
Secretary of Hoai Nhon Town Party Committee Pham Truong said: “Showing gratitude and honoring the bravery of the revolutionary soldiers of the past is our concern and concern. Lo Dieu is being exploited as an address to undertake the mission of educating revolutionary traditions and as an attractive tourist destination.”
