(VOVworld) - A commemorative ceremony for the victims of US bombings in December 1972 during the Vietnam war took place at Kham Thien Memorial Site in Hanoi on Wednesday. Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan and Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan attended the event. In the night of December 26, 1972, Hanoi’s densely-populated residential areas including Kham Thien street were relentlessly attacked by a large number of US B52 bombers. As many as 278 people, including 91 women, 40 elderly and 55 children were killed and 178 children became orphans during the air raid. In remembrance of the victims, a memorial was erected on the site of house 51 on Kham Thien street. In the December 26 bombing, this house vanished and none of seven people living in it survived. “I bow every time I pass by the memorial on Kham Thien street to pay tribute to the victims and the soldiers who laid down their lives to bring peace to us today. This is a precious tradition that the younger generation should preserve”, said Ms Nguyen Thuy Nga who attended the ceremony.

Addressing the ceremony, Secretary of Hanoi Party Committee Pham Quang Nghi said the historical victory of the “ Hanoi – Dien Bien Phu battle in the air” stands out as an immortal heroic epic in Vietnam’s construction and defense. The same day, the Political Department of the Military Zone 7 in Ho Chi Minh City held a photo exhibition recalling the Hanoi Dien Bien Phu in the air victory. 85 photos on display recall historic moments of the victory. Colonel Nguyen Duy Thieu, Director of the Museum of Military Zone 7’s Armed Forces says: “Through this exhibition, we want to honor the glorious feats of arms of our army and people, particularly soldiers and people in Hanoi and some northern provinces who heroically fought the US blitz. We hope that the younger generation will better understand sacrifices that our predecessors have made to defend the country”.