The capital Hanoi is living on special days of the 80th Anniversary of National Day. On this occasion, international visitors present in the capital had an interesting experience. They are not only observers, but have become a part of the solidarity festival, joining in the heart of Vietnam.
The fateful meeting
As soon as they arrived in Hanoi after a 30-hour bus trip from Laos on a weekend, two guests from France, Emma and Marie were accidentally lost in the atmosphere of a vibrant parade and parade.
We were really surprised and happy, Marie shared, still holding a small flag given to her by a Vietnamese family. Its great to see people so proud of their country. Everyone smiled. National Day in France is not like this, the atmosphere here is very different".
Meanwhile, for Emma, this is a fateful reunion. This is the first time I have come to Vietnam, even though my grandmother is Vietnamese. I came here and immediately lived in this atmosphere. This is not a coincidence. I felt that this was also a part of my blood... It was like returning home, returning to her hometown, the female tourist shared.
Not only Emma and Marie, feelings of pride and solidarity were also shared by Chris from Germany and seb - an American tourist present at the southernmost gate in the rainy evening to watch the parade with local people. The two male tourists decided to come to Hanoi at this time because they listened to a friend's introduction to the parade, the parade to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Vietnam's National Day.
What impressed me the most was that this event created a great sense of solidarity for everyone. This is the first time I have seen such an atmosphere, seb exclaimed. He said that there are no similar scenes on National Day in the US, because people mainly travel during the holidays.
Chris nodded in agreement: Yes, everyone is very proud. I'm not Vietnamese, but I can feel that they are really proud and connected."
Witnessing a live parade for the first time, both had unforgettable impressions. seb said that he paid special attention to female soldiers: "I really like female soldiers. When they passed, everyone cheered in support.
Meanwhile, Chris was conquered by the discipline and uniformity of the parade soldiers, solemnly greeting the people.
The perspective from a German family brings interesting feelings. Simon and Etienne accidentally witnessed this event in their first days in Hanoi.
What I like most is the spirit of the event. That is the way you affirm yourself and your national spirit. I like that. It creates a very positive source of energy, Simon said.
This impression became even stronger when the father and son ran and happened to witness preparations for the parade, and people gathered to check in from 5am. They have prepared very early. We also saw the plane flying overhead from the hotel. It was really great, said Mr. Simon.
Meanwhile, Etienne's son was overwhelmed by the scale of the event. Etienne said: "We can't imagine so many people coming to see it. The streets were packed, people spread tarps to hang out, waiting for hours. It's unbelievable."
Riverside festival
Not only international visitors, but also Vietnamese people and tourists from other provinces and cities present in the capital on this occasion were overwhelmed by the bustling atmosphere in the days leading up to the A80 grand festival.
From 3am, Ms. Nguyen Thu Ha (Hai Ba Trung Ward, Hanoi) and her friends walked from Hao Nam to find a location close to the fence on Nguyen Thai Hoc Street. For her, this was a unique moment. This will be an unforgettable memory. No one knows how many years their life will be, so watching an event like this is so satisfying and happy," Ms. Ha said emotionally.
That excitement was also the reason why he brought Bui Anh Van, a new student from Ngoc Lac commune, Thanh Hoa, to Hanoi one month earlier than the school year schedule. "I just arrived in Hanoi and was present on the streets to choose the most beautiful place. Although it was just a practice, the comrades were very strict, going straight as the official day. I really hope to see the official date.
More specifically, among that crowded sea of people, humanity and national spirit are the most brilliant things. Ms. Nguyen Thi Yen Nhi (Lang Ward, Hanoi) recalled: "This is the first time I have seen the parade live, before that I only watched it on TV. Although we have to jostle, when I see people helping each other, giving each other food and drinks, fans, and singing songs about the country together, I am very happy and proud.
The A80 A-final is not only marked by grand activities, rich in historical significance and cultural and artistic colors, but also a festival of solidarity, where people and international tourists join in the same beat, sharing the pride in a resilient and aspirational Vietnam.
