80 years later, the epic song continues to resonate.

The 10th Mass Art Festival of the Armed Forces and Youth and Students is a large-scale event aimed at celebrating the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army – Photo: HA THANH

On the evening of July 11th in Hanoi, the General Political Department of the Vietnam People's Army held the opening ceremony of the 10th Arts Festival for the Armed Forces, Youth, and Students – Region 3.

Attending the opening ceremony were Senior General Trinh Van Quyet – Head of the General Political Department of the Vietnam People's Army, head of the festival's steering committee, and Lieutenant General Le Quang Minh – Deputy Head of the General Political Department of the Vietnam People's Army.

Representing the Central Committee of the Youth Union was Ms. Nguyen Pham Duy Trang – Secretary of the Central Committee of the Youth Union and President of the Central Council of the Young Pioneers.

The 10th Mass Art Festival of the Armed Forces and Youth and Students is a large-scale cultural and artistic event, aiming to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army, the 35th anniversary of the National Defense Day, and other major national and military holidays in 2024-2025.

Lieutenant General Le Quang Minh – Deputy Head of the General Political Department of the Vietnam People's Army – Photo: HA THANH

This is an opportunity to bring together and showcase the mass cultural and artistic movements of the armed forces and youth and students, creating a large-scale cultural and artistic exchange event.

This contributes to widely disseminating to the people and soldiers nationwide the spirit of military-civilian solidarity, the glorious 80-year tradition of building, fighting, winning, and maturing of the Vietnam People's Army and the tradition of the Vietnam People's Police, the combined strength in the cause of building and protecting the Fatherland, as well as the beautiful cultural aspects of Vietnamese youth and students in the Ho Chi Minh era.

In his opening remarks, Lieutenant General Le Quang Minh shared touching images of the "barefoot, iron-willed" soldiers, embodying the noble qualities of Uncle Ho's soldiers, which he said would be the most genuine source of inspiration for officers, soldiers, youth, and students to perform artistic works that strongly evoke patriotism and the 80-year tradition of the Vietnam People's Army.

A feast for the eyes: a dazzling array of artistic performances, featuring prominent figures in the cultural and artistic movements of the armed forces, youth, and students nationwide – Photo: HA THANH

Participating in the festival in Region 3 were amateur art troupes including: the Hoang Mai District Command (Hanoi Capital Command) and the 395th Division (Military Region 3), Thai Nguyen University of Education and the Son La Provincial Military Command (Military Region 2); the Border Guard Academy and the Central Military Hospital 108; the Military Medical Academy and the 3rd Division (Military Region 1); the Hai Phong City Youth Union and the Armored Officer School (Armored Corps).

Also attending were the 312th Division (12th Corps) and the Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank; the Logistics Academy and the Coast Guard Command; the Command for the Protection of President Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and the Chemical Corps; the Political Officer School and the Northeast Corporation; the Political Academy and the 12th Corps.

In addition, the event was attended by the Military Technical Academy and the 325th Division (12th Corps); the General Department of Logistics and Phenikaa University; the Vietnam-Russia Tropical Center and the 86th Command; the 5th People's Police Brigade and the Hanoi Youth Union; the Army Officer School 1 and the National Defense Academy; the 6th People's Police Brigade and the 316th Division (Military Region 2); the Military Telecommunications Industry Group and the Bac Giang Provincial Military Command (Military Region 1).

The performance by the amateur art troupe of the Hoang Mai District Military Command, Hanoi Capital Command, showcased the rich cultural identity of the thousand-year-old capital city – Photo: HA THANH

Young soldiers from the Army participate in the 10th Armed Forces and Youth/Student Mass Art Festival – Region 3 – Photo: HA THANH

Organized every five years.

The Folk Arts Festival is held every five years, chaired by the General Political Department of the Vietnam People's Army, in coordination with the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Education and Training, and the Central Youth Union.

In 2024, the festival brought together approximately 3,000 officers and performers who are the cultural and artistic core of 80 amateur art troupes inside and outside the Army, coinciding with the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army (an increase of 19 troupes compared to the 9th festival).