The 50th Anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025) will have many large-scale activities.
On the main roads, the national flag is flying, people eagerly flock to the streets to wait for parades, big shots and eye-catching flights of fighter jets and helicopters in the sky.
The moments throughout the important anniversary left an unforgettable mark in the hearts of foreign visitors.
Valerie Darling, a Russian, was moved when recounting the first time witnessing the 21 cannons fired at the parade rehearsal: "I didn't expect anything so magnificent in the city. The extremely loud, resounding sound everywhere made my heart beat faster. It is necessary to see the smoke rising with one's own eyes and hear the sound of an explosion to fully feel its intensity."
Before the official parade and parade took place, Valerie and her friends were present on the streets of Ho Chi Minh City from the evening of April 29.
"9 hours before the parade and march, I arrived to reserve a seat. By the time of countdown, there were about 5 hours before G, there was no more empty seats on the sidewalk. My friends and I took the opportunity to sleep to have the energy to watch the event, she shared.
Amidst the crowded space and the hot weather, she felt very moved by the sharing of Vietnamese people: "Some people gave me water, some gave me a fan to borrow. Everyone cheered and cheered together, feeling like I was fully shared every moment".
Valerie said that although the number of people gathered was very large, each person chose their own way to enjoy it: some raised their phones to film, some just watched silently. At the moment the series of great men rang out, she felt like the whole city stopped together, facing towards a sacred memory.
Although a foreigner, Valerie still clearly feels the pride, resilience and emotions presented in the eyes and actions of those around her. For her, witnessing this important historical moment with the Vietnamese people is a great honor.
Alejandro Campbell, a tourist from the UK, was in Ho Chi Minh City during the ceremony, expressing: This is a moment to reflect on the resilience of Vietnam, the history and the long journey that this country has gone through. If you are in Vietnam today, you will see flags hanging everywhere, major celebrations and a clear national pride.
Meanwhile, Lawrence Mak - a Canadian living in Ho Chi Minh City - had the opportunity to watch the general parade, the parade on April 30. He believes that the deepest thing is not the line of requests, but an extremely simple moment.
I saw a baby hugging a soldier. Then another girl came, then another girl. Those children consider soldiers as heroes, as defenders of the Fatherland. I find that beautiful, he said.
For Lawrence, that image represents national unity and pride: In the West, the army is often not present much in daily life. But here, the whole society turned to the soldiers, joining in the festive atmosphere. I am not Vietnamese, but when I witness that, I feel like I belong to this place too.
