During a recent visit to their father's resting place in Soc Son, two daughters of an Algerian journalist witnessed a moment of mysterious beauty - just as they were offering incense, a white butterfly landed on the grave and a ray of sunlight touched their faces.

On March 8, 1974, a tragic accident occurred during the official visit of Algerian President Houari Boumediene to Vietnam. The plane carrying members of his delegation crashed, claiming the lives of 15 Algerian journalists and technicians from major Algerian media outlets (such as El Moudjahid, APS news agency, Algerian Television), 9 Vietnamese journalists, and 3 flight crew members.

In October 2000, during the state visit of Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika (1937–2021), a memorial site was inaugurated at the crash location in Soc Son District, Hanoi.

In 2013, the Algerian government further honored the victims by erecting a memorial for the 15 journalists and naming a street in the capital Algiers “Vietnamese Journalists Street.”

Mahmoud Maida was among the 15 Algerian journalists who died in the tragedy.

Fifty-one years later, his daughters - Badia Maidat (born 1966, a painter) and Siham Maidat (born 1972, senior inspector at the Algerian Ministry of Tourism) - traveled thousands of kilometers from Algeria to Vietnam to visit the memorial.

At the time of her father’s death, Siham was only two years old, leaving her with little memory of him. Yet both sisters grew up with an enduring desire to visit the place where their father had fallen.

Because of the long distance and many logistical barriers, it took decades for them to make their first journey to Vietnam. Following the Covid-19 pandemic, they finally stood before their father’s grave in 2023. Seeing the carefully maintained and solemnly honored memorial site brought warmth and peace to their hearts.

On this visit, an extraordinary moment moved them to silence: as they lit incense, a white butterfly appeared and perched on the gravestone, and a sunbeam lit their faces.

In Vietnamese spiritual belief, it is often said that the spirits of the departed may return in the form of a butterfly to visit their loved ones.

“In that moment,” Siham shared through tears, “we felt a sacred warmth that seemed to flow from the souls of the martyrs - our father among them - into our hearts.”

Returning to a second home

In 2025, they returned to Vietnam again, this time with even deeper emotions. No longer visitors, they said, Vietnam now feels like home - the land that holds their father's spirit.

“Vietnam is not just the place where our father passed away; it holds a part of our family’s soul. The warmth of strangers, the reverence of the memorial, and the nation’s deep respect for history… all of it makes Vietnam our second homeland. This country now feels like family,” said Siham.

She expressed pride in her father, who was part of Algeria’s first generation of journalists after the country’s independence. He laid the foundation for modern journalism and inspired future generations.

“His legacy lives on through his courageous articles and broadcasts, etched into our hearts. His image is a guiding light, reminding journalists today of their duty to uphold and continue the values he built.”

Speaking on the bond between Vietnam and Algeria, Siham noted that Algeria drew deep inspiration from Vietnam’s legendary victory at Dien Bien Phu. Vietnam’s struggle for independence served as a powerful model for Algeria’s own liberation movement.

Though separated by thousands of kilometers, the two countries share many parallels in their histories of resistance. The Vietnam–Algeria friendship was forged through sacrifice, blood, and profound solidarity during hardship.

Their latest visit coincides with Vietnam’s upcoming celebration of 50 years of reunification. For the sisters, this is more than a memorial journey - it is a return to memory, to history, and to a nation that shares their father’s ideals.

“Freedom and independence are earned through the sacrifice of heroes and martyrs. This is a priceless legacy that younger generations must cherish and continue. Whether a country prospers and grows sustainably depends on whether its youth understand and carry forward those values,” Siham emphasized.

In March, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Algerian Embassy in Vietnam held a memorial ceremony for the Vietnamese and Algerian journalists and officials who died in the 1974 plane crash.

Algerian chargé d’affaires Redha Oucher remarked that the crash was a tragic event, but also a deeply symbolic moment - one in which the blood of journalists from both nations was shed together, demonstrating the shared destiny of the Vietnamese and Algerian people.

Phuong Anh – Diep Anh