The whole village went to watch the parade.
Since 1954, our country has held many large-scale military parades. Those were the parade on January 1, 1955 to celebrate the victory of the resistance war against France, the liberation of the North; the parade on September 2, 1975 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the August Revolution and the National Day of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, to celebrate the reunification of the country; the parade on September 2, 1985 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the August Revolution and the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam...
There are also parades and marches such as the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long - Hanoi (2010); the 40th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 2015 in Ho Chi Minh City); the 60th and 70th anniversaries of the Dien Bien Phu Victory (2014 and 2024 in Dien Bien Phu City, Dien Bien Province)...
Although 50 years have passed, the images of the parade on September 2, 1975 are still intact in the memories of many generations of Hanoians.
At that time, in my hometown, a small village on the Day River in the old Ha Tay province, almost the whole village went to the capital to watch the parade. Many people left early the night before. There was a man carrying three or four children in two baskets on the back of his bicycle, with an adult sitting on the frame, like a circus act. As for my aunt, a few days before, she had carried my two cousins on both sides of the basket, and also brought along sticky rice and banh te, the specialties of her hometown, as gifts for relatives in the capital. My house was in the old town, although small, it was still enough space for my aunt's family to stay for a few nights. The whole family went up to the attic or spread mats on the floor, leaving the bed for my aunt and her children. My mother and my aunt hardly slept, whispering and chatting the whole time. At midnight, my mother was busy making sticky rice. Around 4am, the whole family woke up, everyone dressed in nice clothes. My mother packed some sticky rice for each person, my eldest brother poured water into a canteen and urged the whole family to leave early so there wouldn't be any place to sit and watch.
My great-grandfather had a grandson who died in the Central Highlands. That year, he was nearly eighty years old but still went to Hanoi to watch the parade. He said that seeing the victorious army that his grandson participated in would show how powerful and majestic it was, and then he would be satisfied even if he died.
Patriotism, national pride
This year, the parade celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification Day was held on April 30 in Ho Chi Minh City. In addition to the participation of the military branches, the People's Public Security forces, including international peacekeeping forces, there were also the armies of some fraternal countries and especially the participation of veterans who directly fought and contributed to the great victory in the spring of 1975.
The good news is that young people seem to be more interested and more aware of the country's history. My youngest son and his wife took leave for April 30, booked flights and hotels in Ho Chi Minh City before Tet At Ty to see this historic parade with their own eyes.
Half a century has passed, my hometown has been merged into the capital Hanoi. Electricity, tap water, internet, 4G network are complete, no less than modern cities. Last Sunday, when I went to the ancestral memorial service, I heard some elders and gentlemen excitedly make an appointment to get up early on the morning of April 30 to go to the village cultural house to watch the parade live on a large TV screen, "just as grand and exciting as watching it live".
In the bustling atmosphere leading up to the big festival, one feels inspired by patriotism and national pride.
Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/nho-mai-nhung-lan-duyet-binh-dieu-binh-700274.html
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