A journey of discovery leading to happiness.
The Hoan Kiem Lake pedestrian street in Hanoi has long been a familiar weekend destination for many locals and tourists. For Hoang Chung (28 years old, Hanoi) and his girlfriend, it's also a place they often visit to relax after a busy work week. As usual, on the first Saturday of December, they met up to stroll along the pedestrian street, but this time they were surprised to witness a mass wedding ceremony of 80 couples at Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square. Amidst the lively music and cheers of thousands of people, 80 couples, hand in hand, walked into the ceremony area, creating an emotionally charged scene right in the heart of the Hoan Kiem Lake pedestrian street.
Even now, a week later, Hoang Chung and his girlfriend still can't forget the mixed feelings of surprise and happiness they experienced when they witnessed a mass wedding ceremony for the first time. “My girlfriend and I plan to get married in 2026, so whenever we see a wedding, we get very excited. This mass wedding was no different; seeing 80 couples walking hand in hand, exchanging kisses and vows, we could feel the overflowing love between them. As people about to enter marriage, we felt very happy and fortunate to witness this meaningful moment,” Hoang Chung expressed.
Indeed, the moments of emotional tears mingled with happy smiles from young couples wearing their wedding attire for the first time, or couples who had been together for 15, 30, or 50 years, left a lasting impression on the hearts of all attendees. In particular, the mass wedding of 80 couples was not only a vivid testament to the enduring power of love, tolerance, and sharing, but also a symbol of the 80-year journey of "Independence - Freedom - Happiness"—a historically significant period where family happiness has always been considered the enduring foundation of the nation.
The mass wedding ceremony is one of the highlights of the Vietnam Happiness Day 2025, organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in coordination with the Hanoi People's Committee, Vietnam Television, and the Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists. This year, for the first time, the Day was implemented as a series of continuous activities, a shift that helped to convey the story of "Vietnamese happiness" more fully.
Over three days, December 5th, 6th, and 7th, a series of diverse experiential and interactive activities took place, attracting the participation of a large number of locals and tourists. Following the "Path to Happiness" model, participants explored 13 stops stretching from Le Thai To Street to Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square, including: the "Happy Vietnam" exhibition; the "Lens of Happiness" workshop; the "Map of Happiness" experiential activity; the "Health is Happiness" outdoor activity; and the "Send Happiness to Tomorrow" mailbox… Each stop offered a unique "emotional rhythm," recreating beautiful stories of Vietnamese people and diverse perspectives on happiness.
Locals and tourists enjoyed participating in diverse interactive activities at the Vietnam Happy Day 2025. (Photo: PV)
In terms of events, along with the mass wedding ceremony, the Vietnam Happy Day 2025 also featured a parade of Vietnamese traditional costumes themed "A Hundred Flowers of Joy," with the participation of 800 people. Through a unique route with three stops around the Hoan Kiem Lake pedestrian area, participants entered a festive atmosphere and experienced a journey of joy rich in Vietnamese identity. From the rhythm of the steps and costumes to each ritual of the procession, everything seemed to transport them back in time to the solemn wedding ceremonies of the Nguyen Dynasty or the simple, familiar weddings of the 1990s.
Besides that, other activities such as the Happy Vietnam 2025 Awards Ceremony and the "Happy Vietnam" music night also draw locals and tourists into the flow of art. Having participated in the Happy Vietnam 2025 Festival from the very first day, Bảo Linh (27 years old, Hanoi) even invited her friends back on the second day to "fully experience the feeling of happiness." She shared: "The atmosphere here is very special. Every corner has interesting activities and beautiful stories that make me feel lighter and more positive. I want my friends to experience that feeling too; happiness is actually very close, present in simple things that we sometimes overlook."
Towards establishing an annual Happy Vietnam Day
As can be seen, over the three days of its organization, the Vietnam Happiness Day 2025 has left unforgettable impressions on the people and tourists about a destination of happiness, where "Happiness is present in every small moment of Vietnamese life." Therefore, the Day is not only a cultural and artistic event, but also an affirmation that Vietnamese happiness is nurtured from peace, love, solidarity, and the simplest values.
The Vietnam Happy Day 2025 is also an important step in the journey to realize sustainable development goals in the new era. Today, the progress of a country is not only measured by economic growth, but also by the quality of life and the happiness of its people. Notably, 2025 also marks a proud milestone as Vietnam rises to position 46 in the World Happiness Report, an increase of 8 places compared to the previous year.
According to the Permanent Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Le Hai Binh, Vietnam's rise to 46th place in the World Happiness Report is not simply an indicator, but a recognition of Vietnam's persistent efforts in creating a safe and humane living environment; it also reflects the optimistic, compassionate spirit and shared aspirations of millions of Vietnamese people always striving towards a prosperous, thriving, and loving future.
“Every citizen is the creator of happiness, the one who inspires and tells that story of happiness through their own lives. For the Vietnamese people, happiness is always built on simple things: a warm family meal, a bountiful harvest, a helping hand in times of hardship. It is these small values that have contributed to the enduring strength of the country for many generations,” emphasized Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Le Hai Binh.
The Vietnamese traditional costume parade, themed "A Hundred Flowers of Joy," featured the participation of 800 people. (Source: Organizing Committee)
When "happiness" was chosen as the theme for a national festival, Vietnam demonstrated a new developmental mindset, viewing happiness not merely as an emotional concept, but as a goal directly linked to the State's responsibility in building a safe and humane living environment. A happy country is not just one where people have enough to eat and wear, but one where they are trusted, listened to, and inspired to build the future together. This aligns with the trend in many countries where the happiness index is placed on par with measures of the economy, education, health, innovation, and environment.
From that foundation, the Happy Vietnam Day serves as a stepping stone towards establishing an annual Happy Vietnam Day. If successful, this would affirm to the international community that Vietnam is not only a destination of beautiful scenery, but also a destination of humanity and peace – a place where all policies are geared towards people and everyone feels they are a part of the country's future.
Source: https://baophapluat.vn/du-am-tu-ngay-hoi-viet-nam-hanh-phuc-2025.html
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