A special art performance entitled "Hanoi - Anthem of the Streets" was held on October 10 at the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Hanoi’s Liberation Day (October 10, 1954 – October 10, 2024).

The show "Hanoi - Anthem of the Streets" on October 10. Photo: The Hanoi Times

The show combined documentary and historical testimony with a fusion of music, light, and contemporary technology via 3D mapping.

The performances revisited Hanoi's heroic journey since its liberation, highlighting the city as a symbol of human dignity and conscience - a place where the nation's finest values converge and shine.

"Hanoi - Anthem of the Streets" suggests that every street and every house in Hanoi serves as a historical record, standing through the destruction of war until its victorious return to peace.

The event was divided into three acts entitled "Battlefield in the City", "Nine Years Away for Resistance but Always Remember the Capital", and "Songs of Hanoi."

Veteran war cinematographer Phung De recalled living in Hanoi for two months without electricity, water, or fresh vegetables. Yet he and his comrades stood firm, refusing to retreat despite being surrounded.

"We were asked to stay and fight to the end to protect the capital," he said.

According to De, President Ho Chi Minh in a letter during the Tet (Lunar New Year) celebration in 1947 inquiring about the soldiers' enjoyment of the occasion in the midst of difficult circumstances. "He wrote: 'You are the embodiment of the nation's pride'. Hearing those words lifted us all up."

The Capital Regiment was ordered to leave Hanoi on February 17, 1947. De said that "everyone was heartbroken," wanting to stay and protect the city.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Man, former platoon leader of the 271st Capital Regiment of the 308th Division, recalled the night before the historic takeover.

"The people couldn't sleep, they were too excited, eagerly awaiting the soldiers' return," he said. "The next day, the streets were filled with tears of joy as people rushed out to greet us."

Artistic performances at the event. Photo: The Hanoi Times

Former Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Van An, moved to tears and said that Hanoi was more jubilant than any Tet celebration.

"The oppressed and enslaved were finally lifted," he said.

Meritorious Artist Bui An Ninh reminisced about the day the troops re-entered the city. As a seven-year-old, she ran through the streets with her mother and older sister, tossing paper flowers in celebration.

"The military was on its way to liberate the capital, so my father told us to dress elegantly. We sang as we walked through the streets," she said.

Other important figures also shared their stories.

Pham Thi Vien, then a 22-year-old militia member from the Mai Dong Mechanical Factory, stood defiantly beside an anti-aircraft gun as she helped shoot down an F111A bomber on the night of December 22, 1972.

Hoang Quan Tao, a leader in the distribution of underground revolutionary materials, also recalled his efforts to help liberate the capital.

In addition to talks with historical figures, the program included emotional, heroic and romantic artistic performances.

Together, they form a powerful "anthem of the streets" that resonates with Hanoi's rich cultural heritage and emotional depth.

This legacy continues to inspire younger generations to build and preserve the capital with the love, creativity and vitality inherited from their ancestors.

The show also featured 3D mapping technology to bring Hanoi’s historical landmarks to life, along with images of modern and future projects, symbolizing the city’s vibrant and enduring spirit.