The exhibition "80 Years of the Journey to Independence, Freedom, and Happiness" has attracted millions of visitors in recent days. (Photo: Tuan Huy)
The event, with its widespread appeal and attraction, drew millions of locals and tourists, creating an atmosphere of convergence and connection that far exceeded expectations.
Record crowds at the "National Festival"
Opening on August 28th at the National Exhibition Center (Dong Anh commune, Hanoi), the exhibition "80 Years of Independence, Freedom, and Happiness" quickly became a cultural and political focal point for the entire country. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced statistics showing that in the first nine days, from August 28th to September 5th, the exhibition welcomed nearly 5 million visitors – a record number unprecedented at any exhibition in Vietnam. Notably, September 1st recorded over 1 million visitors, while other days saw visitor numbers ranging from 230,000 to 900,000.
The exhibition is considered the largest ever, with over 230 booths covering an area of nearly 260,000 m². The content spans achievements in technology, agriculture, economics , defense, education, culture, digital transformation, and aviation… All interwoven into a glorious and proud 80-year journey of nation-building. More than just a place to admire artifacts, the exhibition is also a space for exchange, where the past, present, and future converge.
Immediately after the opening ceremony, the exhibition continuously welcomed high-ranking delegations from the Party, State, and Government , as well as many international guests. Simultaneously, a large number of people from all regions, overseas Vietnamese, and foreign tourists also flocked to the exhibition. Regardless of age, occupation, or region, the crowds came to the exhibition carrying a shared excitement and pride.
Veterans reminisce about their battlefield days. The elderly are moved by the hardships and struggles they endured, while the younger generation, students, and university graduates find inspiration and a burning desire to contribute. The exhibition's appeal is further demonstrated by its rich content and widespread reach across most popular digital platforms. Social media is flooded with beautiful images, authentic and moving videos, and reviews affirming the exhibition's high quality and scale, as well as encouraging friends and family to attend and experience the event…
Many families organized trips for all three generations to visit the exhibition. Some people visited the exhibition three or four times to see all the display booths. Ms. Duong Huong Thao (Hoang Mai ward, Hanoi) said: “We spent 15 hours viewing the exhibition. My parents walked 25,000 steps to explore the past, present, and future of our country. The more we walked, the more proud and excited we felt – these are unforgettable moments for every member of the family.” In addition, the craze of “checking in” at the exhibition, collecting “patriotic artifacts,” and showing off new knowledge gained from the event has become a vibrant and positive movement among young people, especially students.
The exhibition "80 Years of the Journey to Independence, Freedom, and Happiness" has attracted millions of visitors in recent days. (Photo by ANH DUONG)
A creative experience that resonates with the community.
What makes this exhibition uniquely appealing is not only its scale, but also its creative and innovative way of presenting its content. For the first time, modern technology is applied at a high level, providing vivid and multi-dimensional experiences. Visitors can "travel through time" to historical moments via virtual reality (VR), admire three-dimensional images using holograms, or try sitting in a simulated Airbus A320 cockpit. 3D mapping, drones, and 360-degree cameras... all create open spaces where history and the present meet in an easily accessible visual and auditory language.
These applications not only appeal to young people but also inspire the elderly, as they feel the breath of history seemingly revived right before their eyes. On average, about 100 events and experiential activities are organized each day. High-altitude fireworks displays, robot shows, hot air balloon rides, artistic kite flying, traditional craft demonstrations, culinary showcases, unique art performances, workshops, and seminars create a vibrant and colorful festival atmosphere.
Among the exhibition spaces, the most prominent is the Kim Quy exhibition hall with the theme "95 Years of the Party Flag Guiding the Way," organized by the Nhan Dan Newspaper. Elaborately designed and spanning over 10,000 m², this space impresses as a visual and intellectual "epic." Its spiral structure, reminiscent of the Co Loa Ancient Citadel, guides visitors through seven content zones and one experiential zone, recreating the historical journey from the Party's founding, through the resistance wars, to the period of reform. Instead of simply displaying static artifacts, it utilizes augmented reality (AR) technology, semi-realistic stages, and 3D models, creating a multi-sensory experience. Viewers not only see but also feel, reflect, and immerse themselves in history. This is why this thematic space has become a highlight, attracting a large number of visitors.
These forums are not only places for academic exchange but also broaden the space for reflection on the country's development journey in the new era. According to statistics, from August 28th to September 6th, the thematic exhibition area "95 Years of the Party Flag Guiding the Way" welcomed 698,865 visitors.
On September 6th and 7th, the first few days of the exhibition's extended duration, coinciding with the weekend, people flocked to the exhibition from early morning. Sunday, September 7th, was a particularly busy day. From around 7 a.m., the Ly Son road, from the left bank of the Duong River connecting Dong Tru Bridge to Truong Sa Road, became congested due to the extremely high volume of traffic.
Mr. Nguyen Truong An, from Hai Duong ward (Hai Phong city), said: “I wanted to see the country's development achievements firsthand since September 2nd, but I was afraid the roads would be too crowded, so I only came to the exhibition today. Surprisingly, people from all over the country are still flocking here. Despite the traffic jams and the long travel time, I am very excited to see the exhibition booths firsthand. In particular, many booths utilize new technologies. I was even guided by the young people to experience some of the technologies, and I was impressed with the booths of the military and police. These are the forces that protect our sovereignty and maintain national security.”
To accommodate the record number of visitors, the exhibition organizers, in coordination with Hanoi City, implemented a comprehensive set of solutions, including organizing 20 bus routes with 68 buses and 850 trips per day to transport visitors to the exhibition, arranging two free internal electric tram routes, a food court with over 100 outdoor kiosks and many indoor areas, along with the Digimap digital navigation system, 925 restrooms, etc. These meticulous preparations ensured that millions of attendees had a civilized, safe, and comfortable experience.
The National Achievements Exhibition, themed “80 Years of Independence, Freedom, and Happiness,” attracted the largest number of visitors ever. From a tourism perspective, the exhibition falls under the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) tourism category. With better marketing, the exhibition could attract not only a large number of domestic visitors but also international tourists. However, the prolonged traffic congestion also highlights the need for Hanoi to accelerate the construction of transportation infrastructure connecting the National Exhibition Center with surrounding roads, and to urgently build and adjust traffic junctions accordingly.
The success of the event demonstrates that when history is told through creative language that touches emotions, it has a powerful appeal, connecting generations and fostering lasting national pride. The exhibition "80 Years of the Journey to Independence, Freedom, and Happiness" not only honors the historical journey and promotes outstanding achievements, but also inspires the aspiration to build a prosperous and powerful nation. This is a vivid testament to the power of community cohesion, a journey of memory and future, where every Vietnamese citizen finds pride and responsibility to write new chapters of history together.
Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/khoi-day-khat-vong-phat-trien-dat-nuoc-a461004.html
![[Photo] Coc Ly market bustling on the eve of Tet](https://vphoto.vietnam.vn/thumb/402x226/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2026/02/14/1771062261424_baolaocai-br_img-6457-jpg.webp)
Comment (0)