Lingering emotions after the grand ceremony celebrating the 50th anniversary of national reunification

Clement Lormeteau (40 years old, from France) and his wife and two young children planned to stay in Ho Chi Minh City for only 2 days during their trip through many Southeast Asian countries. Then, when he arrived in Ho Chi Minh City from Cambodia by road, he saw large signs with the date April 30 everywhere.

"At that time, I thought I would definitely return to Vietnam in my life, but it was impossible to meet it on the occasion of the 50th anniversary," Lormeteau said.

The French man decided to extend his stay in Ho Chi Minh City to 5 days, then linger in the city to watch fireworks, drone shows..., and on the morning of April 30, the State-level parade.

Millions of Vietnamese faces were excited, exuding pride and happiness, and it was certainly an unforgettable feeling.

People holding flags, continuously cheering and singing loudly (Photo: Anh Khoa).

Sharing joy all night long

From the afternoon to the evening of April 29, Le Loi Street (District 1) witnessed the rapid filling of a sea of people pouring in. A gathering of locals, tourists, veterans and those with duties such as police, security, press...

Authorities marked the route the parade would take. People quickly gathered near the border. The first people arrived to reserve a spot on the afternoon of April 29.

Sea of people at the intersection of Le Loi - Nam Ky Khoi Nghia (Photo: Manh Quan).

Mr. Truong Xuan Tinh (69 years old), a veteran from Hanoi , flew with his wife to Ho Chi Minh City to attend the April 30th ceremony. He also chose to sit on the sidewalk the night before, waiting an estimated 12 hours before the ceremony began.

Mr. Tinh shared that his father was a soldier in Dien Bien Phu, his brother fought and died in the Ho Chi Minh Campaign. It was his turn to join the defense of the Fatherland at the Cao Bang border in 1979. He considered this trip to Ho Chi Minh City as an opportunity to see the peace of the country.

"You can still come back in 50 years, but in 50 years I will be somewhere else," the old soldier humorously said in the crowd of young people, making many people laugh. Then, as an effort to connect generations, Mr. Tinh started the song " As if Uncle Ho were here on the great victory day" .

The singing started from a few people and spread to the whole crowd. The applause also broke out. They gave the old soldier affectionate and respectful looks. Not only him, the appearance of any elderly person wearing a soldier's uniform was warmly welcomed by the crowd.

Veteran Truong Xuan Tinh on Le Loi Street (Photo: Ngoc Tan).

People offered the veterans water or coffee, giving the elders good spots to watch the parade. "Do you think peace is beautiful?" a girl asked, and Mr. Tinh smiled and nodded.

"I feel very grateful to the heroic martyrs and veterans who sacrificed their youth and lives to gain peace for the next generation. I feel very proud and grateful. I hope that in the future, the next generation will have the same feelings as I do now," Cao Thi Bich Ngoc (3rd year student at Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy) shared with reporters.

As the dawn of April 30 broke over the top of a skyscraper, Bich Ngoc finally witnessed what she had been waiting for. A squadron of SU-30MK2 fighters cut across the sky. The last two groups of planes dropped heat traps, creating a spectacular sight.

A moment later, Bich Ngoc's voice was lost in the excited screams as the parade groups passed through Le Loi Street. "I have watched the parade three times, both the preliminary and final rehearsals, and it was only on the main ceremony that I was able to stand so close to the parade groups," the female student excitedly shared.

The parade force marched in the arms of the people (Photo: Bao Quyen).

Amazing images of Vietnam

As the aerobatics paraded overhead, Clement Lormeteau's six-year-old son, Arthur, was carried on his father's shoulders. He asked his father about everything, from where the planes came from, who was flying them, whether the parade was navy... this parade was the boy's earliest memory.

"The atmosphere in Ho Chi Minh City today was amazing. I felt the crowd enjoying every moment. This event is sacred to you. The soldiers in the parade were so close. I was surprised to realize that Lao, Cambodian and Chinese soldiers were also participating," Lormeteau shared.

During his first visit to Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City gave the French visitor the impression of a "city that never sleeps", with convenient access to all services day and night. "However, the city is not less clean because of that. In fact, many cities in Europe have more garbage than this place. People here respect the rules and respect each other," he said.

Clement Lormeteau and his son after watching the parade (Photo: Ngoc Tan).

Coming to Ho Chi Minh City as a tourist, Mr. Lormeteau said he was not bothered by the road closures for the parade, and was even used to it. In France, every July 14, the government also closes the roads and holds a parade to celebrate National Day.

Watching the parade in Ho Chi Minh City, the most impressive thing for the French visitor was the image of fighter planes dropping thermonuclear decoys. Witnessing such a magnificent performance on the 50th anniversary of Vietnam's reunification is wonderful.

Performance of SU-30MK2 pilots in the sky of Ho Chi Minh City on the morning of April 30 (Photo: Hai Long).

"As a French person, I am also interested in the long history between us. I visited the City Theater, Ben Thanh Market, the City People's Committee building, Notre Dame Cathedral... they are all structures left by the colonial government.

I noticed that the Vietnamese could have erased everything when the foreigners left, but you didn't do that and even preserved them. That shows you don't hold a grudge against us," the guest shared.

Dantri.com.vn