On May 18, 2025, the
Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Association of Dong Nai province coordinated with
the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Association of Ho Chi Minh City and Division
302 to organize a visit for more than 200 Cambodian students studying at
universities and colleges in Ho Chi Minh City to the Brigade 125 Historical Site (Cam My district) and to interact
with officials and members of Dong Nai province. Attending the program were: Mr.
Tran Tan Ngo - Vice President of the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Association;
Major General Nguyen Van Nam, President of the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship
Association of Ho Chi Minh City; Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tri, President of the Union
of Friendship Organizations of Dong Nai province; Mr. Tran Thanh Hung, Chairman
of the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Association of Dong Nai province, along
with leaders of Division 302.
Delegates offering incense at the Brigade 125 Historical Site
In the program, nearly 500 delegates, including veterans who participated in
international duty in Cambodia and are currently living in Dong Nai and Ho Chi
Minh City, officers and soldiers of Division 302, along with Cambodian students
studying in Ho Chi Minh City, offered incense at the Brigade 125 Historical Site, which marks the establishment of the Brigade 125
- the precursor of
the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces.
Speaking
at the exchange program, Chairman of the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship
Association of Dong Nai province Tran Thanh Hung stated: "Along with the
military and the people of the whole country, the soldiers, officials, and
people of Dong Nai not only assisted Mr. Hunsen in establishing Brigade 125,
the precursor of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces in the area of Cam My
district, but also sent tens of thousands of our children in the volunteer army,
expert officials, and youth volunteers of Dong Nai, contributing to the
nationwide victory on January 7, 1979, including 02 comrades awarded the title
of Hero of the People's Armed Forces, 446 comrades who heroically sacrificed,
and 891 comrades who became wounded soldiers. After January 7, 1979, thousands
of officials, experts, and volunteer soldiers from Dong Nai, with their
selfless and pure hearts, helped the revolutionary forces and the people of
Kampong Thom province restore and rebuild the political system, revive
production, restore culture, and social institutions, gradually bringing the
lives of the local people back to normal, leaving behind beautiful feelings and
admiration in the hearts of the local people. More commendably, upon completing
their international mission and returning home, these comrades continued to
promote their sense of responsibility and became core officials, party members,
civil servants, and officers contributing to building Dong Nai into a
comprehensive development province with a particularly important role in the
southern key economic region.". Mr. Trần Thanh Hùng emphasized his trust
in the young generation of Cambodia present at the program, and stated that
they would "contribute not only to preserving and conserving but also to
promoting and spreading awareness about the Brigade 125 Historical Site in
Cambodia, a rare symbol of the enduring friendship and solidarity between
Vietnam and Cambodia that will forever live on in the hearts of the youth of
both countries."
Leaders posing for a group photo at the
exchange program
At the program, delegates were treated to lively dances and songs that
reflected the beauty and friendship between the peoples of the two countries
through the performances of the members and students from the two friendship
associations, as well as officers and soldiers from Division 302. They also
listened to the shared memories of veterans and former volunteer soldiers
recounting their experiences during the years of helping their Cambodian
friends escape from genocide, as well as the feelings of Cambodian students
towards the country and people of Vietnam …
Cultural exchange performance performed by
the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Association in Ho Chi Minh City
Cultural exchange performance performed by the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship
Association in Dong Nai Province
Cultural exchange performance performed by Division 302