Sacred Day of the Great Feast

On the morning of September 2nd, the autumn sky over Hanoi was clear, and the gentle golden sunlight illuminated Ba Dinh Square – the heart of the nation beating with joy on this grand occasion. On the central streets, crowds of people from all over the country poured in, many having stayed up all night, but all were radiant and joyful, celebrating the 80th anniversary of the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam with unwavering faith in the independence, freedom, happiness, and bright future of the nation.

Confident in a bright future.

In the area dedicated to veterans and senior citizens on Hung Vuong Street, Mr. Le Van Tu (92 years old, from Ung Hoa, Hanoi ) was deeply moved: “In the autumn of 1945, my father carried me to the square to listen to President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence. I still remember the vibrant and sacred atmosphere, so much so that even the small heart of a child burst with joy. Eighty years have passed, the country has changed a lot, but that feeling of freedom and happiness remains intact within me today.”

Grandpa Tú's words silenced the young people around him; many instinctively clasped hands, feeling the sacred continuity between generations.

Meanwhile, despite his failing eyesight and hearing, Mr. Nguyen Van Di (103 years old, 74 years of Party membership, from Yen Lac, Phu Tho province) still walks with remarkable composure. Mr. Di, a veteran of the Dien Bien Phu battle , was brought to Hanoi by his grandson, Mr. Nguyen Van Tan, on the night of September 1st to join the parade celebrating the 80th anniversary of National Day.

Watching the parade pass through the intersection of Lieu Giai and Kim Ma streets, Mr. Di emotionally shared: "After 80 years of independence, our people are much better off now. We have enough food and clothing, and there is no longer the hunger and hardship of the past."

Veteran Nguyen Van Di and his grandson attend the parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of National Day. Photo: Nguyen Quoc

Amidst the bustling crowds, many veterans, carrying the memories of war, could not hide their emotions on this national celebration. Having participated in the Central Highlands campaign and the resistance war against the US to save the country, Mr. Vu Dinh Phu (71 years old, from Hanoi) was moved to see the troops marching through Ba Dinh Square.

He shared: “I am proud to see the army growing stronger and stronger, and deeply moved by the sight of people from all over the country gathering in the capital on this great national holiday. Attending the parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of National Day, I have even more confidence in the prosperous future of our country.”

Sitting in a wheelchair at the ceremony, Mr. Nghiem Dinh Xay (87 years old, from Bac Ninh ) beamed: “I am fortunate to witness today’s parade; this may be the last time in my life. Having trained soldiers and spent many years on international missions in Laos and Cambodia, and fighting to liberate South Vietnam, I am extremely proud to see the country at peace and the army progressing and becoming powerful. Weapons and the strength of the army are for preserving, protecting, and developing the country.”

Accompanying his father, Nghiêm Đình Vũ (48 years old, 12th Army Corps) shared: “Taking my father to the parade on the 80th anniversary of the country’s National Day is the most memorable experience of my life.” As someone who directly trains soldiers in the army, Vũ felt even more proud witnessing the discipline, strength, and modern equipment of the forces participating in the parade.

Millions of hearts converge on the capital.

In the festive atmosphere of the September 2nd National Day celebrations, tens of thousands of people from all over the country and tourists flocked to Hanoi to directly participate in the parade and march commemorating the 80th anniversary of National Day. This was not only an opportunity to admire the military and police forces along with their impressive array of equipment, but also a moment for each person to feel even more proud of the glorious traditions and development of the country today.

Watching the troops marching with firm, majestic steps through the streets of Hanoi, Ms. Tran Thi Thuong (39 years old, from Nghe An) and her family of 10, who traveled over 300km to arrive in Hanoi early on September 2nd, expressed: "Despite the distance, we still wanted to immerse ourselves in the festive atmosphere, to directly watch the parades and military equipment pass by, to clearly feel the increasingly powerful development of our country."

Along with the delegation, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy emotionally mentioned the affection the Party and State have shown to the people: "We people of Nghe An deeply appreciate the money the Government sent to celebrate Independence Day. My family will use this money to contribute to the fund supporting flood relief efforts after our hometown was devastated by Typhoon No. 5."

Against the clear blue sky, as the helicopter squadron hoisted the Party flag and the national flag over the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, tens of thousands of eyes followed, and hundreds of hands were raised to capture the sacred moment. A 7-year-old girl exclaimed, "Mom, look, the national flag is flying in the sky!" The crowd burst into laughter, but many quickly wiped away tears of emotion.

Amidst the sea of ​​people waving red flags with yellow stars, not only were millions of Vietnamese hearts filled with joy, pride, and a sense of sacredness, but many foreigners also shared in the same excitement. After watching the majestic troops march across Ba Dinh Square and many streets of the capital, three young Laotians, Outhith, Thavone, and Soonuc (third-year students at the Academy of Journalism and Communication), shouted: “Happy Vietnam National Day, September 2nd, celebrating 80 years of independence and freedom for Vietnam!”

Hanoi on the 80th anniversary of National Day on September 2nd was beautiful not only because of the golden autumn sunshine and the vibrant red of the Vietnamese flag, but also because of the strength of community – the strength that unites all hearts. Amidst the throngs of people, strangers' hands clasped together, smiles exchanged between people who had never met before, all with a fervent belief in the peace, independence, and freedom of the nation. Moreover, that belief was further illuminated by the glorious history and the nation's aspiration for freedom, so that the country would continue to move forward, proudly and strongly, into a new era.

MINH KHANG - HA NGUYEN

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/thieng-lieng-ngay-dai-le-post811408.html