The 17th Parallel: A Dividing Line and a Silent Struggle
The 17th parallel, established by the 1954 Geneva Agreement, was a dividing line that split Vietnam, becoming a symbol of the fierce war against the United States. While the initial purpose of the demilitarized zone was a temporary military boundary, separating the forces of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam from the French army and its allies, the 17th parallel became an impenetrable border, dividing the country and its people.
According to the Geneva Agreement, the demilitarized zone would be guarded by police and security forces from both sides, each side not exceeding 100 personnel, equipped with light weapons and limited ammunition. The 17th parallel was expected to be abolished after the general election in 1965, but the Ngo Dinh Diem regime violated the agreement, preventing the election from taking place.
The Hien Luong Bridge and the Ben Hai River became symbols of the division between North and South, where a silent but tense confrontation occurred.
"The Color War" on the Hien Luong Bridge was a unique form of confrontation. The Saigon regime and the Democratic Republic of Vietnam constantly changed the color of the bridge. Whenever one side painted it a different color, the other side would follow suit, reflecting their desire for national reunification.
"Loudspeaker warfare" was an equally dramatic audio battle. Both ends of the bridge used powerful speakers to broadcast political messages aimed at the opposing side. The conflict escalated when the US-Diem side used larger speaker systems, forcing the North to respond with even stronger speakers.
The competition for the height of the flagpole was a tense chase. The Democratic Republic of Vietnam emerged victorious with a 38.6-meter flagpole erected in 1962. However, this flagpole was broken during a US air raid in 1967. The North rebuilt the flagpole with wood, only to have it repeatedly destroyed by bombs.
In the 1960s, the US and the Ngo Dinh Diem regime continuously provoked and attacked the forces of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, violating the Geneva Agreement. In October 1967, the Saigon regime unilaterally abolished the temporary military demarcation line at the 17th parallel. The Hien Luong Bridge was destroyed by US aircraft.
From June 1969, both sides of the Ben Hai River were under the control of the Liberation Forces. On July 3, 1976, the National Assembly of a unified Vietnam held its first session, officially abolishing the existence of the demilitarized zone at the 17th parallel.
The 17th parallel, the Hien Luong Bridge, and the Ben Hai River became historical relics, reminding future generations of a painful past, but also demonstrating the unwavering will and determination of the Vietnamese people to achieve independence and national reunification.
