The Legend Makers (Những Người Viết Huyền Thoại)

After the Mau Than Campaign, the Vietnam War entered a critical stage.

The Central Military Commission and General Staff realized

strategic blitzes, regardless of their effectiveness,

had little impact on the overall state of the war.

Grand-scale battles and decisive operations were much needed

to turn the tide of war and realize total victory.

The troops needed vehicles, weaponry, materiel,

and modern military equipment.

A daunting task facing the General Department of Logistics

was the fuel supply.

Sir, our depot at Station 33 was hit by enemy airstrikes.

Twelve hundred tons of weapons and 500 fuel tanks were destroyed.

High Command of 559 took full responsibility.

- Greetings, sir. - Hello, comrade.

Both the CMC and General Staff are determined to turn the tide of the war.

The Central Department of Logistics is struggling to provide for the frontier.

To end this war, we cannot rely solely on guerrilla warfare.

We must strike hard, on all fronts,

when they least expect it.

We can't just hide in the woods with some AKs.

No fuel, no tanks, no artillery, and no AKs either.

Then what do we strike them with?

We can't rely on guerrillas forever.

If we wish to end this war soon, grand-scale operations are crucial.

We can't take them on without vehicles.

My tanks, trucks, and artillery are immobilized.

The fuel you supplied wasn't enough to share.

All supplies are thin on the ground. Self-sufficiency is a must.

You're only good with words! But my troops are starving.

They aren't well-fed like yours.

We supplied everything to your side from our depots.

My men have malaria

while your antimalarials are rotting away.

My troops starved to death

while Truong Son mice are well-fed on your rice.

Transporting rice on foot would be fine

if your men didn't eat all of it on the way.

Not like the French.

This is not Dien Bien Phu anymore.

The U.S. is modern and professional.

We have to catch up with them!

We need armor and fuel

to supply materiel and food to soldiers.

The Truong Son route can only operate if there's fuel.

Fuel is blood.

Without blood, my men will die in agony.

Who will fight then?

There will be fuel.

Enough for your men to strike hard.

The report is useless.

I risked my neck just for our meeting.

Do you think only ammunition is important?

Right now, fuel is the most crucial thing.

Without armor, the People's Army are basically guerrillas.

Main forces and local troops are the same.

I'm heading south.

You? Going south?

There'll be a fuel pipeline running along the Truong Son route.

Hello, everyone.

Nguyen Van Quang, Pipeline Company Commander, reporting for duty, sir.

Our unit is installing pipes at vital zones. Headcount 100.

ETC 15 days. Over.

Good. Please proceed.

Why are you here every day? Don't you have homework?

I've already finished…

Can you teach me how to shoot?

Do you know how to reload yet?

Yes. I've been practicing all week.

Do not pee here!

Where should I go?

Anywhere but here!

Mind the fuel. You'll get blisters.

I feel a bit irritated.

Careful. Shit.

- It's worse than scalds. - Don't scare me.

- Rookie? - Yes, sir.

It's my third year carrying. My comrades died from infection.

Wash it off in the stream. Grip the bag tight.

- Do not let it soak. - Yes, sir.

Look out! Mines!

Your hair's turning gray.

Our kids all grew up.

Our youngest also enlisted. I should turn gray.

It feels like a barracks.

Your drink, Father.

Your drink, Mother.

Father. Mother.

We'll head south next week.

You're both enlisting?

We'll leave on Monday.

We're lucky to catch you, Father.

What about your study?

The war is more urgent than the lectures.

What about the wedding, Mai?

Father and Mother, it'll have to wait until after reunification.

Where are Luong and Hoa?

They were sent to Hai Phong to receive the pipeline from the Soviet Union.

They'll return later.

Prepare a chicken to offer to our ancestors.

I'll leave for the war soon.

Go home! Why are you still here?

Waiting for our parents.

You're going on duty, Mai?

I'm a youth volunteer.

I want to volunteer, too.

They killed our parents.

Who are you staying with?

The village militia.

Mother, my article has been published in the newspaper.

Really?

Father, you've returned.

I thought you went south.

From the rear, there are tons of things to support the front.

You don't need a gun to be a hero.

We do need writers.

Leave him be, Duc.

Dear Father and Mother, our country is suffering.

Many men and women have joined the fight.

Please forgive us, for each Tet holiday

that we were unable to make decent offerings.

I'm heading into an unforgiving war.

Even if I die, I vow to bring honor to our family

and pledge my allegiance.

Do you guys want to stay with me?

Mother, I was meaning to ask you…

I'll talk to the captain.

I feel bad for them. I can't leave them to the Cooperative Depot.

Do we have anti-aircraft artillery, miss?

What do you need it for?

I want to destroy those planes.

Mail for you!

Hello.

A letter from Nghia!

I'll read it to you, okay?

Dear Mother, I wrote to you yesterday.

Today, I wish to write some more.

Not sure you'll get this, but I'll write anyway.

I'm writing from Death Valley.

I have to escort a task force through a brutal combat zone today.

It's called a valley, but it's just a single road

which lies under a two-kilometer ravine.

Artillery attacks…

They are launched every 30 minutes,

a few dozen rounds each time, strike after strike.

No one can survive here except us scouts.

War might be a horror to many,

but we're used to it.

As long as I'm out of range

and only move between strikes, I should be safe.

Every few days, I escort people through the valley.

Today, I'm managing a troupe.

Comrade Ha!

Comrade Ha! Get down!

Return to your post at once!

They're gonna annihilate the valley.

I said, stay down!

Destiny is written. There's no point in worrying.

Damn it!

You can neglect your safety,

but nobody's gonna die on my watch.

It's not that easy to die.

Comrade Performer Le Thi Bao Ha!

Death may come late in some places.

But here, we can be killed at any moment.

You'll die, just like that!

Attention!

They're reloading the artillery. Let's move now to avoid the chopper.

Yes, sir!

Thanks.

Get down!

Incoming strikes! Get down!

Is everybody okay?

- I'm good. - Me, too.

We need to reach that forest in 25 minutes before the next strike.

Don't drink too much.

You'll be exhausted quicker.

We need to save it for later.

Damn it!

The water in this place is contaminated.

Shit, I know!

You go with the others.

Let me deal with this.

Don't stop!

Keep moving!

Run!

The department insisted on installing pipes in the Triangle,

Vinh, Nam Dan, and Linh Cam.

I wish to see it done this week to push construction further south.

Here there are only 200-kilometer pipes.

Another 400 kilometers just arrived.

We can request aid, but we must manage it ourselves eventually.

Two, three!

May! Get to the shelter.

I'm topping up ammo.

Tracking target.

Diving direction 32, speed 180.

Burst fire mode. Observations?

Mark one. Mark two. Fire!

Tracking target, back to one.

Steady… Fire!