On October 9, Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Nguyễn Đức Tâm; Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation Đinh Thị Hồng Minh; Standing Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial People’s Committee Y Ngọc; along with members of the Provincial Party Committee’s Standing Board and leaders of departments, agencies and localities, attended a ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of the Diên Niên–Phước Bình Massacre (October 9, 1966 - 2026).
Delegates attend the anniversary
The historic relic of the Diên Niên–Phước Bình Massacre
At the ceremony, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Phạm Thị Trung delivered a commemorative speech recalling the immense suffering and loss endured by residents of Diên Niên and Phước Bình villages.
On October 9, 1966, a platoon of South Korean troops from the 3rd Battalion of the Blue Dragon Brigade entered Phước Bình Village, rounded up residents and forced them to gather in the schoolyard. The soldiers then opened fire and threw grenades into the crowd, killing 68 civilians, including 21 elderly people and 47 women and children, at the local school, now located in Phước Lộc Village.
On October 13, 1966, South Korean troops from their base on Tròn Mountain launched a sweep into Diên Niên Village, rounding up residents in the courtyard behind Diên Niên communal house. At 5 p.m. that day, they opened fire, killing 112 innocent civilians.
In just two days, 180 residents of the two villages were killed. The tragedy left profound grief among the victims’ families and the local community, becoming an indelible painful chapter in the history of Sơn Tịnh.
The memorial ceremony honored the innocent civilians who lost their lives, expressed solidarity with their families, and reminded younger generations of the immense sacrifices and losses caused by war.
The provincial leaders offer incense in remembrance of the victims
Victims’ relatives offer incense in remembrance of the victims
At the ceremony, provincial leaders, representatives of departments, agencies and local authorities, victims’ relatives, and students from Sơn Tịnh Commune solemnly offered incense and flowers and observed a minute of silence in remembrance of the victims.
Minh Thiện
