A squadron of Su-30MK2 fighter jets performed a heat decoy display over Ho Chi Minh City during the parade commemorating the 50th anniversary of the reunification of the country, on the morning of April 30, 2025.
The procedures for getting the job done beforehand weren't easy, but after overcoming the bureaucratic hurdles, I had to wait because my flight was delayed several times. Looking at my backpack containing equipment and machinery in the corner of the room, I felt as anxious as a soldier waiting to go into battle.
A once-in-a-lifetime shot.
Reporter Pham Nguyen - Tien Phong Newspaper (right), in a Mi helicopter practicing over Ho Chi Minh City.
Then the day arrived. The rotor blades whirred on the Bien Hoa runway. The helicopter door opened, and I stepped aboard with a few colleagues, my heart pounding with anticipation. The UH helicopter soared into the air, carrying me, a photojournalist , and all the hopes of capturing precious images.
None of us knew the flight path beforehand. Upon entering Ho Chi Minh City airspace, the flight path constantly changed; some flights flew directly over the Independence Palace, while others briefly passed Landmark 81 before immediately turning around... That's why we were always on high alert to avoid missing any precious moments or shots.
As the Landmark 81 tower emerged in the golden morning sunlight, the scene was breathtakingly magnificent and awe-inspiring. At that very moment, two helicopters swooped into the frame, as if arranged by some invisible hand. One on the left, one on the right, perfectly positioned at the top of the building—symmetrical, balanced, and flawless. I only had time to press the shutter button without checking or adjusting the camera settings . My intuition told me: "This is a once-in-a-lifetime photograph!"
Previously, I had chosen a wide-angle lens with a 14mm focal length, a risky but calculated choice. This is a fixed-focal-length lens, meaning I had to accept a single perspective and capture every moment within that frame, but the moment Landmark 81 appeared, I knew I was right.
From that height, the wide-angle lens allowed me to capture a spectacular view: Landmark 81 rising against the blue sky in the distance, the Ba Son Bridge below, and the Metro train speeding by.
A moment of transition between the present and the future. A frame capturing the vitality of a city that has endured war, now surging forward with renewed vigor.
The shooting conditions allow no room for error. Every action, from focusing and metering to composition, must be handled with reflexes, experience, and emotion. Just a moment of hesitation and the opportunity will slip through your fingers.
On the roof of the Independence Palace: Overwhelming emotions
Tens of thousands of people welcomed and cheered during the joint rehearsal for the parade and march.
Three weeks later, I was on another helicopter flight, with a crew of four flying over the roof of the Independence Palace. I deliberately chose a seat on the leftmost helicopter with the goal of bringing the other three helicopters into a single formation, right above the Palace's roof.
My heart raced as the Independence Palace appeared below. I raised my camera, adjusted the angle, and waited for the right moment, but the lens didn't allow me to capture all three helicopters in the frame. What a pity!
I felt a pang of disappointment, but then told myself there was no need to be too greedy. Below, on the rooftop of the Independence Palace, there was still a UH-1 helicopter. It was the same helicopter that had been used in the evacuation plan for President Dương Văn Minh on the morning of April 30, 1975, but it hadn't had time to take off before the Liberation Army advanced and took over. The UH-1 was a vivid testament to the final moments of the Saigon government.
My frame captured two helicopters flying overhead, carrying the national flag and the Party flag, and below, a UH-1 helicopter – a historical "witness" – lay silently. It was a symbolic image of victory, peace , and the resurgence of Vietnam in the present.
The past and the present coexist. That is also the flow of history that I have been fortunate enough to witness, from the very sky of my homeland.
The lasting impression
There are things that cannot be expressed in words, because emotions transcend language. It's the stirring in the heart, the profound pride of being a small part of a momentous event, a historical moment etched in the sky.
Sitting inside the helicopter, soaring through the sky, clutching my camera amidst the howling wind, I not only felt like I was working but also sensed the heartbeat of the nation, the breath of the soldiers, and the echoes of a people who have endured countless ups and downs.
Each time I press the shutter button, I convey my pride, responsibility, and gratitude – like a storyteller through images, light, and frozen moments of history.
I am proud to be here, to witness, record, and share these images. They are not just photographs, but the imprint of a moment, of a journey, where history and modernity intersect, creating the story of today and tomorrow.
Not only in the sky, I also had many opportunities to take photos from different locations on the streets and even right in the middle of the parade commemorating the reunification of the country. During rehearsals and the official parade, tens of thousands of people flocked to the streets to watch, creating an incredibly vibrant and exciting atmosphere. The streets were adorned with red and blue-red flags, along with waving hands welcoming the parade. The wide-angle lens allowed me to capture the vast scene, but it also meant having to "push through" thousands of arms, raised phones, even sweat and light reflected from screens, to preserve the most authentic and vivid moments. Each click of the camera was not just a capture of the marching parade, but also a touch of the embrace of the people – those who not only watched but also embraced the troops with all their hearts. The parade was not just passing through the streets, but seemed to be walking amidst the love, trust, and hope of an entire generation. |
Pham Nguyen
Source: https://baolongan.vn/nhung-khoanh-khac-vang-tren-bau-troi-a197242.html
Comment (0)