VietNamNet Bridge – A Vietnamese farmer from the Mekong River Delta has been honored by the King of Cambodia for his achievement of building an armored vehicle for the Cambodian army.

Tran Quoc Hai, the farmer, and his son Tran Quoc Thanh, have been awarded with the Grand Officer medal by the King of Cambodia after successfully repairing and upgrading the army's armored fighting vehicles and building a new one.

Thanh Nien reported that Hai and Thanh repaired and upgraded Soviet-era infantry fighting vehicles BRDM-2 and BTR-60PB. He was in Cambodia to provide technical support for his cassava farming machinery when he saw the broken vehicles of the Cambodian army's 70th brigade.

After the success, he was contracted to repair 10 more vehicles and also built a completely new vehicle of his own. This is a six-wheel vehicle fitted with a machine gun turret that can be controlled automatically or manually and armed with more guns, according to Thanh Nien.

Hai said he could not imagine that he would have received such  royal treatment, when he started making vehicles. On the day when the armoured cars turned up before the public, Hai and his son were standing in the line of honor watching the armoured car parade.

At the solemn ceremony, Hai received a medal from Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, while his son received a medal from the Cambodian Royal Army General Commander.

Hai, who is considered a “hero” in Cambodia, is a well-known “unrecognized hero” in Vietnam.

In Vietnam, Hai is known as the inventor of a helicopter. However, he remains an “unrecognized hero” because his invention has not been recognized by any state agencies and the helicopter has never been able to experience a test flight.

While Hai has never been applauded in Vietnam despite his 10-year great efforts to make the helicopter, he has been welcomed warmly in neighboring Cambodia.

When asked why he succeeded with the armored cars, Hai said that it was very easy to collect spare parts and accessories in Cambodia, while the authorities always create most favorable conditions for anyone to conduct research and invention.

“I quickly got the nod from the Cambodian Royal Army’s General Commander after I asked for permission to repair and build armored vehicles,” he said, adding that he did not have permission in Vietnam, and that he would have been considered “mad” if he had made such a proposal.

Hai said he would never give up the dream of manufacturing a helicopter. Hai and his son are working on the helicopter, trying to improve some parts to make it perfect for operation.

“I am considering going to Cambodia to continue my research on my helicopter,” Hai said, explaining that he expects to receive  support from the Cambodian government.

Hai and his son have made three helicopters, which were displayed at exhibitions in Japan and Germany. However, the helicopters have not received a patent in Vietnam.