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Pò Hèn (Móng Cái, Quảng Ninh) has engraved a heroic chapter in the national defense history in 1979. The Pò Hèn Memorial Site today stands as a tribute to the valiant soldiers who sacrificed in the battle.
Pò Hèn Memorial Site – Honoring the Heroes and Martyrs of the Border War
Throughout the illustrious history of our nation, certain landmarks have left an indelible mark, etched in the minds of generations. Among them, the Pò Hèn Memorial Site, formerly known as the 209 Pò Hèn border post, stands out as such a landmark.
In the early morning of February 17, 1979, China suddenly poured troops across, simultaneously attacking 6 border provinces, from Nậm Cún (Lai Châu) to Pò Hèn (Quảng Ninh).
In Móng Cái, heavy artillery and various types of firepower fiercely bombarded border posts 209, 210, 211, 212 as well as forestry worker teams and residential areas along the border line.
Despite facing relentless attacks from enemy forces at Po Hen outpost, the border guards displayed immense courage pushing back the assaults. However, outnumbered by over 3,000 enemy troops against just 60 defenders, 45 brave soldiers sacrificed their lives alongside workers from Hai Son forest and businesswoman Hoang Thi Hong Chiem.
On January 10, 2001, a memorial was erected on the grounds of the former military camp. In 2014, the historical site of outpost 209 at Po Hen was recognized as a provincial-level historical relic. By 2022, the Po Hen historical site was elevated to national-level recognition.
The Po Hen historical site comprises 4 key points: the memorial to fallen soldiers at Po Hen, Quế hill checkpoint, the border gate control station at Po Hen, and the observation tower on Tay hill. Notably, the cluster of statues was built based on the concept of 'Comradeship Circle.'
Standing 16m tall, the memorial made of reinforced concrete clad in white stone faces north, featuring an image of three hands clasped together. Symbolizing the three ethnic groups, Kinh, Dao, and San Chay living here, it also represents the embracing arms of the motherland and comrades.
The five-pointed star in the center symbolizes the indomitable spirit of the land and border guards. Adjacent are two memorial houses, where two stone tablets bear the names of border guards and forest workers who sacrificed their lives from 1979 to 1991.
Every February 17th, the Po Hen border outpost holds a joint memorial for the fallen soldiers. And in 2010, the Po Hen historical site underwent renovation on the occasion of commemorating 110 years since President Ho Chi Minh's birth.
The Po Hen historical site has now become a 'red address' in the education of traditional struggle to safeguard border sovereignty, inspiring and encouraging future generations to continue the glorious history of the border guards and the Vietnamese nation as a whole.
Today, the Po Hen memorial stands tall and proud amidst the Northeastern mountains and forests, resembling the heroic spirit and fierce exploits of those who laid down their lives to fulfill the sacred mission of safeguarding every inch of the motherland's sacred soil in the border areas.
According to Mytour
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Reference: Travel guide from Mytour
MytourOctober 31, 2022
