Tuy Phuoc Bac, formerly Phuoc Hung Commune, is a land with a strong tradition of learning and has produced many distinguished scholars, including Dao Phan Duan, a source of pride for the local community. Alongside this cultural tradition, however, the area also preserves a painful memory that generations of residents have not forgotten: the Nho Lam Massacre, which took place on March 23, 1966, corresponding to the second day of the third lunar month in the year of Binh Ngo.
In Nho Lam Hamlet, at Am Xac Luyen, a place regarded by local residents as sacred and traditionally used as a refuge during military sweeps, many civilians gathered for safety. During the operation, South Korean troops killed numerous civilians, most of them women, children and elderly people, while homes and parts of the village were also burned and destroyed.
The massacre caused profound loss for the Nho Lam community. Many families suffered devastating losses, and the memory of those who died has been preserved by local residents through generations.
Am Xac Luyen and the Memory of the Massacre
According to accounts from elderly residents of Nho Lam Hamlet, the area once contained a raised mound in the middle of the fields where four families lived: Mai Thi Muoi, Nguyen Yem, Nguyen Thi Duoc and Tran Ngan.
An am, or small shrine, known as Am Xac Luyen was located there. Local people regarded the site as sacred and would often seek refuge there whenever military sweeps took place.
On March 23, 1966, during a military sweep, many civilians, including men, women, elderly people and children, gathered around the shrine. According to the local historical accounts provided, South Korean troops then opened fire on civilians and burned and destroyed homes in the surrounding area.
The sources provided record different figures for the number of victims. One account states that 134 innocent civilians were killed, while another records 169 victims. This difference should be cross-checked against official historical and heritage records if a single figure is required.
Regardless of the difference in the recorded numbers, the accounts agree that the community suffered extensive loss. Most of the victims were civilians, including women, children and elderly people.
The Suffering of a Village
Following the massacre, Nho Lam was left devastated. Those who survived continued to remain attached to their homeland and village through the difficult years of war.
Memories of those who died have been passed down within the community as an inseparable part of local history. The story is not only about a wartime event but also about families, individuals and an entire village that endured profound suffering.
After peace was restored, the people of Nho Lam gradually rebuilt their lives and began reconstructing their homeland. The fields and village once marked by tragedy eventually returned to everyday life, while the memory of the victims continued to be preserved by the community.
A National Historical Heritage Site
In 1991, the Nho Lam Massacre Memorial Site was recognized as a national historical and cultural heritage site, according to the source material provided. This recognition acknowledged the site’s historical significance and established a basis for its preservation and commemoration.
Since then, the site has received attention for conservation and restoration and has become a place for historical and traditional education within the local community.
The memorial site reminds visitors of the civilians who lost their lives during the war while providing an opportunity for younger generations to understand the hardships and losses experienced by local communities during a turbulent period in history.
Annual Commemoration Ceremony
Every year, on the second day of the third lunar month, a memorial ceremony is held at the site to commemorate the victims. Local residents gather to offer incense, pay their respects and remember those who lost their lives in the massacre.
The ceremony is also an occasion to look back on the losses of the past and to reflect on the value of peace, a peaceful community life and compassion.
In 2026, the People’s Committee of Tuy Phuoc Bac Commune organized a memorial ceremony at 7:00 a.m. on April 18, 2026, corresponding to the second day of the third lunar month, at the Nho Lam Massacre Memorial Site.
A Place for Historical Education
Today, the Nho Lam Massacre Memorial Site serves not only as a place of remembrance but also as a site of historical and traditional education.
Preserving the site provides younger generations with an opportunity to learn about specific chapters of their homeland’s history, the people who endured wartime losses and the process through which the community rebuilt its life after the war.
From a place associated with painful memories, the Nho Lam Massacre Memorial Site has come to carry another meaning: a reminder of the value of peace, compassion and the responsibility to preserve historical memory.
For the people of Tuy Phuoc Bac, Nho Lam is more than a historical place name. It is a repository of community memory, a place where the victims are remembered and where future generations can learn more about the history of their homeland.
Basic Information
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Site name | Nho Lam Massacre Memorial Site |
| Location | Nho Lam Hamlet, Tuy Phuoc Bac Commune, Gia Lai Province |
| Site associated with the event | Am Xac Luyen |
| Date of the massacre | March 23, 1966, corresponding to the second day of the third lunar month in the year of Binh Ngo |
| Victims | Civilians, including women, children and elderly people |
| Recorded number of victims | The provided sources record different figures of 134 and 169 victims |
| Heritage recognition | National historical and cultural heritage site, 1991 |
| Commemoration | Annually, on the second day of the third lunar month |
| Significance | Commemoration, historical education, preservation of community memory and reflection on the value of peace |
