Birthday in the Old Quarter

September. Hanoi's autumn, the most beautiful season of the year. The autumn of nature, the autumn of revolution, where people's hearts and lives intertwine, coming together joyfully like a festival.

Early in the morning of August 29th, the ancient streets of Thang An, a land of cultural heritage, were adorned with fluttering flags celebrating National Day on September 2nd and the 78th anniversary of the August Revolution. Golden sunlight stretched across the landscape. On streets like Hoang Dieu, Phan Dinh Phung, Dien Bien Phu, and Hung Vuong, leading towards the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, fallen leaves resembled a carpet. On the flagpole at the top of Hanoi, the national flag billowed in the wind, a good omen for the enduring autumns of national independence and socialism…

The above essay, "Út Mũi Né," is quoted from the personal page of a close friend of Tô Hà and Khắc Năng, a beloved daughter of Hanoi. Fifty-six years ago, Tô Hà, then 17 years old, falsely claimed to be one year older and ran away from home to join the 812th Youth Volunteer Company of the capital, writing a letter in blood, ready to dedicate her youth – to fighting alongside the whole country. A week later, Tô Hà was on the front lines of Zone IV, living, fighting, and serving in combat, clearing roads under fierce bombing and shelling during the years 1967-1970.

After a bombing raid destroyed a ferry bridge, Squad Leader Tô Hà of Company 812 and Company Commander Khắc Năng of Company 811 from Hanoi reunited on the front lines. They were both former youth union cadres of the Hoàn Kiếm Corps, part of the Hanoi City Youth Union. Their friendship and love were beautifully forged amidst the bombs and bullets, and beside the majestic Trường Sơn forest flowers.

On her personal page, To Ha recounted: August 29th is her 75th birthday. She was born at Phu Doan Hospital, now the Vietnam-Germany Friendship Hospital, and grew up in the loving care of her parents and family. She matured in the cultural cradle of Trang An, and after the success of the August Revolution, the whole country entered the resistance war against foreign invaders. The culture of Trang An and the spirit of the August Revolution harmonized in the youthful soul of To Ha and many young people in Hanoi and throughout the country.

On August 29, 2023, amidst the bustling atmosphere, a rickshaw with a gold frame, the kind tourists often use for "City Tours" in Hanoi, pulled up. An elderly couple, Mr. and Mrs. To Ha and Khac Nang, dressed elegantly in traditional Vietnamese ao dai and suits with ties, were seen strolling through the streets, taking photos and videos with their smartphones. Upon reaching Thanh Quan High School at 29 Hang Cot Street, their high school days, they stopped the rickshaw to take pictures, reminiscing about old times. The former student, Mrs. To Ha, in her blue ao dai, hummed a song about Hanoi in the golden autumn sunlight: "Hanoi in autumn, the crape myrtle trees turn yellow, the banyan trees turn red, side by side, old streets, ancient houses, dark brown tiled roofs…" From somewhere across Hang Cot Street, the sound of a guitar playing "Hanoi and Me" (by Le Vinh) suddenly echoed: "The place where I was born, Hanoi. The day I was born, a burning day." My house is in a small alley, a small street. At night, I lie listening to the wind. The Red River sighs. During those days of wandering, I came to understand the soul of the people of Hanoi. Simple, yet so moving. Simple, yet so unforgettable…

Such is the unwavering love of these two former squad leaders and company commanders of the 811 and 812 Youth Volunteer Brigades. They were ready to dedicate and sacrifice their youth for the Fatherland. They worked selflessly, devoting their talents and intellect to building peace . They loved Hanoi, the land that gave birth to and nurtured the thousand-year-old cultural soul… amidst the autumn sky of Hanoi. Happy birthday! Even as grandparents, they still burn with love for Hanoi, for the Vietnamese Fatherland, and for each other, a shining example for their descendants to follow: Live happily, live healthily, live contentedly in the cradle of Thang An culture!

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Mr. and Mrs. To Ha & Khac Nang wish to return to Ho Chi Minh City one day to visit Nha Rong Port, from where President Ho Chi Minh departed to seek a path to national salvation. From the city named after him, the two former youth volunteers will have the opportunity to travel along the Ho Chi Minh City – Long Thanh – Dau Giay – Phan Thiet expressway to visit the Duc Thanh historical site, where the patriotic young man and teacher Nguyen Tat Thanh stopped to teach and spread the flame of patriotism to young people and students. Phan Thiet – Binh Thuan is very beautiful, with favorable geographical conditions and human resources, offering vast potential for tourism and resort development, a destination for many elderly people and domestic and international tourists...

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