Not only emotional, the National Day parade on September 2nd gives young people many meaningful lessons.

Hanoi's atmosphere on the morning of September 2 was filled with red flags and flowers to welcome National Day. On Trang Tien Street - one of the routes the blocks pass through - people stand on both sides, anxiously watching every step of the parade blocks.
Having watched live from the practice sessions to the rehearsal, until today, September 2, Ta Phuong Lan (22 years old, Dong Anh commune, Hanoi) shared emotionally: "I did not miss any moment of the marching blocks from the practice sessions to the rehearsal.
And today, continuing to see it with my own eyes, I feel extremely proud and moved. This day reminds me of the history of the nation, and is also an opportunity to be grateful to the generations of our ancestors."
With friends, Ta Phuong Lan celebrated the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day September 2, immersing herself in the atmosphere of the parade and marching on Trang Tien Street. Photo: Phuong Anh
Watching the steady, decisive steps of the army, Lan clearly felt the strength and discipline of the nation. That moment reminded Lan of the stories her grandfather - a veteran - often told about the years of arduous marching, deprivation but still resilience.
“When I saw the soldiers marching in unison, I imagined my grandfather wearing a soldier’s uniform, standing tall like that. I felt very proud. He often said that this was the most sacred day of the nation. He told me to always be grateful, not to forget my roots and the contributions of my ancestors,” Lan proudly recounted.
Lan added, day National Day Not only is it an occasion to have fun with everyone, but it also reminds the younger generation to live responsibly, continue traditions and together build a peaceful and developed country.
As for Nguyen Ngoc Tham and Hoang Thi Ngoc Diep - both 18 years old, who just finished their university entrance exams - they took the bus from Lang Son to the capital on September 1. Both eagerly said they wanted to directly experience the solemn atmosphere of the parade - an event that they had previously only watched on the small screen.
Friends Nguyen Ngoc Tham (left) and Hoang Thi Ngoc Diep from Lang Son came to Hanoi to watch the National Day parade on September 2. Photo: Phuong Anh
“We arrived in Hanoi before dawn, bringing the national flag and some snacks to wait for the parade. Although we were tired, when we stood in the crowd and saw the army marching in unison, the red flag with yellow star fluttering to the music, I felt all the fatigue disappear,” said Tham.
With pride still evident in her eyes, Ngoc Diep expressed: “This is the first time I have witnessed such a solemn atmosphere. What remains is not only the overwhelming feeling, but also the profound lessons. Looking at the soldiers marching with discipline and spirit, I feel that I need to live more responsibly, not only for myself but also for the country.”
For Tham and Diep, this trip was not only an experience of “watching a parade”, but also a milestone of maturity. Tham and Diep said that they felt more clearly the value of peace today, which was exchanged for so many hardships and sacrifices of their fathers and grandfathers.
“We will never forget the images this morning. This will be the motivation for us to continue studying and practicing, so that in the future we can contribute a small part to the development of the country,” said Diep.