Nguyen Trong Hao, who lives in Ha Tinh Province, fought during the war against the United States and was awarded the Second-Class Resistance Medal.
After peace returned, Hao went back to his hometown to raise a family and worked in several trades, including mechanical engineering. He once ran a workshop producing agricultural tools and repairing machinery before handing the business over to his son about five years ago to enjoy retirement.
Despite his age, the veteran has set aside a small space in his home filled with tools and equipment where he continues to invent and create.
In the summer of 2025, Hao began working on a unique waterwheel puppet model to tell the story of the wartime battlefield at the Dong Loc Junction. He said the idea came after visiting the historic site many times but not seeing any model that depicted the volunteer youth forces who once worked there.
Using simple materials such as bamboo, plastic pipes, bolts, wood, steel and even beer cans, Hao built the model based on the principle of traditional waterwheels used by Thai ethnic communities for irrigation.
When the wheel turns, the scene comes alive: enemy aircraft circle above while below, female youth volunteers are shown filling bomb craters, repairing roads and transporting supplies.
Representatives of the management board of the Dong Loc Junction historic site praised the model as a creative and engaging way to educate younger generations about revolutionary traditions.
Dong Loc Junction, located in Ha Tinh Province, was a crucial transportation point during the war, serving as a key route for supplies from northern Vietnam to the southern front.
From April to October 1968, US air forces bombed the area heavily, dropping nearly 50,000 bombs. On average, each square metre of land in Dong Loc endured at least three tonnes of explosives.
On July 24, 1968, a team of 10 young female volunteer workers was assigned to fill bomb craters and repair the road so traffic could resume after air raids. Later that afternoon, during the 15th bombing raid of the day, a bomb struck the entrance of the shelter where they were hiding.
The shelter collapsed, killing all 10 volunteers. The youngest was just 17 years old.
