'The Star of Independence' celebrates National Day on September 2nd at three locations: Saigon, Binh Duong, and Vung Tau.

On the evening of September 2nd, a special art program titled "Stars of Independence" was held to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the successful August Revolution and National Day on September 2nd.

(From left to right) Mr. Tran Luu Quang - Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee; Mr. Pham Viet Thanh, former Secretary of Ba Ria - Vung Tau ; Mr. Dang Minh Thong, Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, attending an art program in Vung Tau ward during a heavy rain - Photo: A Loc

The "Independent Starlight" program, organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Organizing Committee for Major Holidays in collaboration with the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports and Ho Chi Minh City Television, will be broadcast live from 7:30 PM on HTV1, with online connections from three locations: Saigon Ward, Binh Duong Ward, and Vung Tau Ward in Ho Chi Minh City.

At the Vung Tau ward end of the meeting were Mr. Tran Luu Quang - Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee; Mr. Pham Viet Thanh - former Secretary of Ba Ria - Vung Tau; Mr. Dang Minh Thong - Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee...

At the Saigon ward end of the meeting were Mr. Nguyen Van Duoc - Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City; Mr. Nguyen Phuoc Loc - Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City; Mr. Nguyen Manh Cuong - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City; Mr. Duong Anh Duc - Head of the Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department of the City Party Committee of Ho Chi Minh City; Lieutenant General Mai Hoang - Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Police Department...

At the Binh Duong ward end of the bridge were Mr. Vo Van Minh - Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Council of Ho Chi Minh City; Mr. Nguyen Loc Ha - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City; Mr. Nguyen Chi Trung - Deputy Head of the City Party Committee's Inspection Committee...

Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Van Duoc attended the meeting at the Saigon Ward location - Photo: THANH HIEP

On July 1st, Ho Chi Minh City reached a significant historical milestone when it merged with Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau provinces. Ho Chi Minh City now plays a central role in finance, services, science and technology, and culture.

Binh Duong plays a key role in smart industrial and manufacturing development and regional logistics.

Ba Ria - Vung Tau is a hub for international seaports, energy, tourism, and logistics services.

From Sen Village to the successful August Revolution

To begin, the program traces back through history, returning to "The time of our people's enslavement and national loss / A scene of misery and darkness" (excerpt from the poem "30 Years of Our Lives with the Party " by Tố Hữu). From Sen village in Nghệ An province to Saigon, young Nguyễn Tất Thành decided to leave to find a way to save the country.

Nguyen Hue pedestrian street is covered with red flags with yellow stars at the Saigon ward bridge - Photo: THANH HIEP

Chapter 1: From Sen Village to the Successful August Revolution begins with the song "Last Night I Dreamed of Meeting Uncle Ho" (composed by Xuan Giao) performed by the Ho Chi Minh City Children's House - MTV.SG song and dance group. This is followed by the performance "From Sen Village - Footprints Ahead" by singers Pham Trang and Duyen Huyen, along with the choir and song and dance groups.

On June 5, 1911, Nha Rong Wharf bid farewell to him as he embarked on his arduous journey across the five continents and four seas for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland and the happiness of the people.

Following that was a major milestone in the nation's history when "Uncle Ho returned, and the Party was born" (excerpt from the epic poem " Following in Uncle Ho's Footsteps" by To Huu), and continued with the song "The Party Has Given Us a Spring" by composer Pham Tuyen, performed by the Phuong Nam Choir.

Artists, singers, and dance groups in Ho Chi Minh City braved heavy rain to perform and dedicate themselves to the city's audience - Photo: THANH HIEP

On August 18, 1945, President Ho Chi Minh sent a letter calling on the entire nation to rise up in general uprising. And on stage, the Vietnamese people stood up together under the red flag - a performance by My Phon, Jack Long, along with a singing and dancing group.

Next up was a medley of August 19th - The August Flag (composed by Xuan Oanh and Phan Thanh Nam) performed by Chinh Hung, Dang Quan, Leo Minh Tuan, the Nhat Nguyet group, and a dance troupe.

The journey has led to a historic day: September 2nd, 1945, at Ba Dinh Square, where President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence, giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. At this point, the flag-raising ceremony begins.

The national anthem, "Marching Song," played, and all delegates and audience members simultaneously rose to salute the flag and sang along - Photo: THANH HIEP

Resistance against the French and against the Americans

At the Bình Dương ward location, following the events of September 2nd, 1945, the fledgling government faced countless difficulties: famine, illiteracy, internal and external enemies, and the French colonialists' plot to return and invade.

Our people waged a protracted resistance war, beginning with the National Call to Arms on December 19, 1946. For nine years, the Vietnamese army and people achieved resounding victories, culminating in the glorious Dien Bien Phu victory that shook the world.

The program enters Chapter 2: Resistance against the French and the Americans, beginning with the song "The Road Ahead" and the dance " Unleashing the Underground Current of Victory - The Dien Bien Phu Victory," performed by the Binh Duong Cultural Center's choir and dance group and the Gio Viet dance group.

Cultural performance program at the Bình Dương ward location, Ho Chi Minh City - Photo: BÁ SƠN

Following the victory at Dien Bien Phu, the Geneva Accords were signed on July 20, 1954. The country was temporarily divided into two regions: North and South. However, the US imperialists and their henchmen actively sabotaged the agreement. On December 20, 1960, the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam was established. - Photo: THANH HIEP

Next came a medley of songs : "Southern Vietnam, We Are Ready," "Footsteps on the Truong Son Mountain Range," and "The Storm Has Risen."

In Vung Tau ward, the program took place in Tam Thang Square with the Tam Thang Tower - the new symbol of Vung Tau. Thousands of delegates, tourists, and locals braved the rain to attend.

The journey entered its most brutal phase: the resistance war against the US. The devastation caused by modern weapons, especially chemical weapons, resulted in millions of deaths, and the lasting consequences affected generations, impacting the environment, the land, and more.

Singer Trong Tan took to the stage in Vung Tau ward with the song " The Road We Take" (music by Huy Du, lyrics by Xuan Sach), accompanied by the Viet Hai - Seawind dance group. After a heavy rain, the Tam Thang square stage lit up brightly amidst Trong Tan's powerful voice, allowing thousands of hearts to beat in unison with pride.

The Star of Independence: Ho Chi Minh City Enters an Era of Rejuvenation

Returning to the Saigon ward's location, and focusing on April 30, 1975, the triumphant anthem still resonates with poignant, somber notes. These are the immeasurable losses and sacrifices of countless patriotic mothers, sisters, daughters, and sons from all corners of the country.

At 8:20 PM, the program entered Chapter 3: The city innovates, develops, and enters an era of progress.

The song "Homeland" is a duet by Ho Trung Dung and Thanh Ngoc, accompanied by a musical scene featuring Meritorious Artist Le Thien acting as a heroic Vietnamese mother - Photo: THANH HIEP

A touching performance by artist Le Thien - Photo: Screenshot

Meanwhile, the duet " Aspiration" resonated through the voices of singer Cam Van and her daughter Cece Truong, with a new arrangement, incorporating a dance group and gymnasts and circus performers.

Next up was a series of songs from Vung Tau, including "Duyen Vung Tau" and "Thuyen va Bien," sung by Giang Hong Ngoc. With a coastline stretching over 300km, including islands, Ba Ria - Vung Tau possesses rich potential for marine economic development. Following its merger with Ho Chi Minh City, this region has even more opportunities to leverage its strengths in seafood harvesting, petrochemicals, renewable energy, ports, and tourism.

Independence Day is the most glorious festival in the country, the beginning of a journey of peace and reconstruction. The song "Homeland, Love" was performed for the audience in Vung Tau by the famous duet Trong Tan and Anh Tho. - Photo: A Loc

Beautiful Vietnam - A New Day in Vietnam (composed by Nguyen Van Chung and Nguyen Hoang Duy) was sung by Hien Thuc and Ho Trung Dung. Following that, the television broadcast aired a medley of "A New Day in the City - City of Faith " (composed by Trong Dai and Nguyen Thai Hiep) performed by the choir and dance group of the Binh Duong Cultural Center.

At 8:50 PM, a laser mapping performance set to music showcased the administrative map of Vietnam, featuring 34 provinces and cities, including the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos. The performance concluded with a new administrative map of Ho Chi Minh City, with the three localities seamlessly merged together.

Following the medley of "Melodies of Pride - Joining Hands" (composed by Pham Hong Bien and Trinh Cong Son) performed by a choir, the special art program "Independent Starlight" concluded at 9 PM with a spectacular fireworks display.

Fireworks display celebrating Independence Day at the Vung Tau ward viewing point - Photo: A Loc

Fireworks display in Binh Duong ward, Ho Chi Minh City - Photo: BA SON

MI LY

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/anh-sao-doc-lap-mung-quoc-khanh-2-9-o-ba-diem-cau-sai-gon-binh-duong-va-vung-tau-20250902200316908.htm