A delegation of senior Hanoi officials on December 26 paid tribute to the people of Kham Thien Street who died in a US bombing in late December 1972.

Hanoi's high-ranking officials honor B-52 victims on December 26. Photo: Thanh Hai/The Hanoi Times

The delegation, led by Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Dinh Tien Dung, Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Tran Sy Thanh, and Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Council Nguyen Ngoc Tuan visited the B-52 victims’ monument on Kham Thien Street.

During the last days of December 1972, US air forces launched an air strike operation called Linebacker II in an attempt to subdue the will of the North Vietnamese people to fight for freedom and independence.

From December 18 to 30, 1972, the air raid was widely known for its carnage as US aircraft and bombers targeted residential areas alongside military and industrial facilities.

During the two-week battle, thousands of houses were damaged, and hundreds of Hanoians were killed. Many children, the elderly, and women were unarmed and unable to fight back.

With determination, resolve, courage, and creativity, the people and armed forces of Hanoi and other northern provinces defeated the bombing and shot down a total of 81 US aircraft, including 34 B-52 bombers, leading to successful negotiations to restore peace and unify Vietnam.

This year, the Hanoi authority has held a number of activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the victory against US bombers as part of efforts to review Hanoi's tradition of courage and solidarity in the fight protecting the city.