The northern central province of Thanh Hoa has decided to build a monument park to commemorate 64 teachers and students who died at a dyke construction site along the Ma River in 1972.
A stele with names of the 64 teachers and students built by the Ma River
The Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee on January 19 approved the VND 125 billion two-hectare project.
According to local authorities, the project aims to educate people about local history and provide a cultural and historical destination for visitors to the province.
During the American War, the US troops regularly bombed the Ma River in order to prevent supplies and troops being mobilised for southern battlefields.
From the beginning of 1972, the US escalated their attacks on the north by raiding key strategic positions throughout the north, including the Ham Rong Bridge on the Ma River.
Thanh Hoa Province sent 5,000 people including teachers and students to reinforce the dyke along the Ma River following continuous bombing.
At 9.10 am on June 14, 1972, the US suddenly attacked the dyke again, dropping 24 bombs on the site. The attack left 64 young teachers and students dead on the spot, and 96 others injured.