In the last days of June 2026, a 60m2 level 4 house in Cat Thinh commune, Lao Cai province was filled with laughter and voices. After nearly two months of construction, the new house was completed in the joy of the family, local authorities and those who joined hands to help the elderly wife of a martyr in the Northwest mountains.
Few people know that behind that joy is a story that has lasted for 57 years with so many losses, sacrifices and waiting.
In the early 1960s, Mrs. Doan Thi Ly and her husband left their hometown of Thai Binh to the Cat Thinh mountains to reclaim land and build a new economy. Life was still difficult, but the small family was still full of hope when their only son was born in 1966.
A year later, listening to the call of the Fatherland, Mr. Bui Van Dac enlisted in the army. After a period of training, he marched into the southern battlefield and never returned.
In 1970, Ms. Ly received a death notice. Bad news revealed that her husband had sacrificed himself in 1969 on the Western Front.
From then on, the young woman of that year quietly stayed single to raise her children to adulthood, carrying on her shoulders the pain of losing her husband and the tiring journey to find information about the martyr's resting place.
For so many years, I just wanted to know where my husband was lying to come and light an incense stick for him, to cry in front of his grave once," Ms. Ly choked up.
In 2016, her only son passed away due to a serious illness. In the old house in the remote mountains, only she and her daughter-in-law and young grandchildren remained.
Although always receiving attention from local authorities and neighbors, the family's life is still extremely difficult. The house has seriously deteriorated, but economic conditions do not allow them to repair or rebuild.
In the process of implementing activities to respond to the "500 Days and Nights" Campaign on martyrs' work, the Lao Cai Provincial Association for Supporting Families of Martyrs came to Ms. Ly's family at the request of the local government.
After conducting a field survey, the Association connected with Agribank Yen Bai Branch to support the construction of gratitude houses.
Thanks to sponsorship funds, along with the contributions of relatives, the efforts of mass organizations and local authorities, the new house was completed right on the occasion of the gratitude month for policy families.
At the house handover ceremony on June 23, Ms. Doan Thi Ly emotionally said: "My whole life has two biggest dreams. One is to have a house to live in, to worship Vietnamese Heroic Mother and to worship my husband thoughtfully. Today that dream has come true".
Then the 84-year-old woman paused for a few seconds before mentioning her unfinished wish.
My second dream is to find the place where my husband is resting. I just hope to have enough health to come and offer incense to him, or take him back to his hometown in his last years," the martyr's wife said.
In that house of gratitude, everyone lit up hope that in the campaign to find information about martyrs being implemented, Mrs. Doan Thi Ly will soon receive the answer to the remaining wishes of her life.
