Women in Phu Thuong, Hue City , perform cultural shows to celebrate the National Unity Day (Illustrative photo)

The significance of this day is clear; it's an activity to strengthen community bonds. Sitting together at the same table, sharing family stories, inquiring about each other's health... makes it difficult to maintain a tense or unpleasant relationship in daily life. That's the psychological aspect. Those who initiated this day probably understood this psychology.

Before the meeting, those in charge in the village or neighborhood must carry out certain "actions" – printing invitations, going from house to house to deliver them, and collecting donations. The amount varies from place to place, or in some cases, it depends on the number of contributors!

During the National Unity Day, for example, if a family is in need of community support, it's easy to mobilize contributions. For instance, the village head might mention the case of a family facing hardship due to illness or misfortune. Immediately, the community, with whatever means they can, will contribute without hesitation. The village head could also briefly inform the community about local issues that ordinary people, busy with work, might not pay much attention to. Thus, it also contributes to effective government administration. In general, the National Unity Day is very useful.

It must also be said that, on this occasion, from cities to rural areas, the atmosphere is bustling. The people are excited, but the women providing catering services are ten times more so! The reason is that everywhere follows a routine – after the ceremony comes the festivities. And festivities inevitably involve food, drinks, and beer. Nowadays, there's an added element: singing. The sound of singing from portable loudspeakers echoes throughout the villages.

I've heard stories from Nordic countries. Besides the bustling city center, the satellite cities are often designed as clusters – satellite towns. Perhaps it's similar to residential clusters or neighborhoods in Vietnam. In some places, usually on weekends, families living on the same street bring out food and drinks to share in the middle of the street. It's very lively, civilized, and polite. They might even organize a dance. Afterwards, everyone goes back home. It seems that Western and Vietnamese cultures are quite similar!

However, while we don't know how it is in the West, we also have a few disadvantages that need adjustment. The first disadvantage is that sometimes the revelry can get out of control. The village's budget might not be generous. Sometimes the village only provides enough food, while the drinks (usually beer) are left to the participants to decide. And when it's self-organized, it's no longer a formal event. We all know that "when you're having fun, you have to have beer." Looking at the tax revenue from the beer and liquor industry contributes to the budget, you can see how much beer our people consume. One person wants to stop, but another doesn't, so they keep urging each other to "have another bottle." I heard that at the police parking lot on Tam Thai Street, getting caught for drunk driving is already a hassle. Getting your car back is even more difficult. Because it's a huge lot, finding your car can sometimes take all day! I don't know how many people have been caught drunk driving at the National Unity Day celebration, but it's possible there are some!

Another thing is the singing. Agreed, having food, drinks, and singing is fun. The problem is that it sometimes goes too far. Singing past noon or too late at night. Those participating have fun, but those who didn't, if they find themselves in this situation, get very tired. The people in the surrounding area also get tired because the fun can sometimes last too long!

These issues may seem insignificant compared to the positive aspects, but adjustments are necessary in the way the festival is organized at the grassroots level to avoid unnecessary problems and ensure that the National Unity Day is truly meaningful!

Text: Nguyen Le - Photos: Thanh Thao