Dong Loc Bell Tower - a work of gratitude
Ha Tinh - In the sacred space of the Dong Loc T-junction Historical Relic Site, the bell tower is located on a high hill, standing out, attracting tourists to admire.
Bells ringing in the sky and earth of Dong Loc
One autumn day in 2026, I returned to the National Special Historical Relic Site of Nga Ba Dong Loc in Dong Loc commune, Ha Tinh province. Just stepping into the relic site, the first feeling was sacredness and solemnity.
At the grave of 10 female Youth Volunteers (TNXP), people and tourists from many rural areas come to burn incense, quietly bowing their heads before the graves of 10 girls who have become immortal symbols of Vietnamese youth during the war years.
Standing from the tomb area looking out, on the opposite hill, the Dong Loc bell tower stands out with its unique architecture among the relic complex.
Tourists who come to offer incense often stroll up to the bell tower. Some people stand for a long time to admire the construction, some people take a few photos as souvenirs. But perhaps, what people remember most is not only the tall tower in the middle of the hill but also the large bronze bell located inside the tower.
I find the bell tower project very beautiful and meaningful, contributing to creating a prominent highlight in the system of works in the National Special Historical Relic Site of Nga Ba Dong Loc" - Mr. Pham Ngoc Duy (40 years old, a tourist from Hanoi) shared.
For people living near the relic site, that bell sound seems to have become a familiar part of the Dong Loc space.
Ms. Tran Thi Tai (70 years old, residing in Truong Thanh village, Dong Loc commune) shared that every time the bell from the tower rings, she feels it as a reminder to everyone to always remember the merits of the heroes and martyrs who bravely fought and sacrificed to protect the independence and freedom of the Fatherland.
In the land that was once hit by fierce bombs and bullets in the war, today's bell rang in peace, amidst the flow of people coming to offer incense, as if connecting the past with the present.
In the complex of works of Nga Ba Dong Loc Relic Site, the bell tower is a work bearing the contributions of Lao Dong Newspaper, Tam Long Vang Charity Social Fund and a number of other agencies and organizations.
The project was built from an initiative of Ha Tinh province, Lao Dong Newspaper, Tam Long Vang Charity Fund, Dau Tu Newspaper, National Academy of Public Administration... coordinating to organize and mobilize donations.
In 2009, the bell tower project officially started construction. On January 2, 2011, the project was inaugurated with a total investment of about 27 billion VND contributed by compatriots nationwide. The bell tower is nearly 37 m high, including 7 floors and 1 attic floor. Inside the tower is a large bronze bell, weighing 5.7 tons, 3.7 m high, and more than 1.9 m in diameter.
This is a work created from the contributions of compatriots across the country and the large bell is cast by the hands of talented artisans, all gathered in the land that once marked the painful losses of war. Therefore, the bell tower is not simply an architectural work. It is also a place to send the feelings and gratitude of today's people to those who have not returned.
The work of gratitude
In the peaceful space of the relic site, the story of the girls of yesteryear is still told through each incense stick, each bouquet of flowers, through the footsteps of people and tourists returning.
The sacrifice of 10 female youth volunteers at Nga ba Dong Loc has become an immortal symbol of revolutionary heroism, reminding today's generations of the losses and sacrifices for the country to have peace, independence, and freedom.
According to Mr. Dao Anh Tuan - Deputy Director of the Management Board of Nga Ba Dong Loc Relic Site and Ly Tu Trong Memorial Area, Nga Ba Dong Loc Relic Site is a special national historical relic, and also a red address for revolutionary tradition education. In recent years, people and tourists from all over have been increasingly coming here to offer incense.
In 2024, the relic site welcomed about 450,000 visitors; in 2025, it welcomed about 550,000 visitors; in the first 9 months of 2026, it welcomed about 450,000 visitors; the total number of visitors for the whole year 2026 is expected to reach nearly 600,000 visitors.
In that crowd, Dong Loc bell tower became an unmissable stop.
Mr. Dao Anh Tuan respectfully thanked Lao Dong Newspaper, the Golden Heart Charity Fund and many agencies, businesses, and philanthropists for donating and supporting funds to build the project.
The sound of the bell sounds like we clearly feel the sacredness of this place, and at the same time as a reminder to everyone to always remember the merits of the heroes and martyrs who fell for independence and freedom for the Fatherland" - Mr. Tuan shared.
As evening falls, the crowd at the Dong Loc T-junction Relic Site gradually thins out. Incense sticks are still silently burning next to the graves of 10 female youth volunteers. On the opposite hill, the bell tower stands out in the sacred space of a red address educating revolutionary traditions - patriotic traditions and national pride.
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