At the ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of Hanoi's Liberation Day on October 10, attendees of all ages expressed deep pride in the nation's heroic history and excitement over the dynamic development of the city and country.

Hoping the future generation will honor the sacrifices of the forefathers

War veteran Tran Phien from Dan Phuong District, Hanoi. Photo: The Hanoi Times

Tran Phien, who was born in Dan Phuong District in 1924, was moved at the ceremony as he recalled the days of resistance against the French and Americans, especially the day the Vietnamese People's Army triumphantly entered Hanoi on October 10, 1954.

"I joined the revolution in 1941 and the army in 1949. Although I am now over 100 years old, I still have vivid memories of the atmosphere of that momentous day 70 years ago," he said.

"At 5am on October 10, 1954, the streets of Hanoi were filled with flags and banners celebrating victory. Red banners with gold letters lined the streets, proclaiming slogans such as 'Long Live President Ho Chi Minh' and 'Long Live the Democratic Republic of Vietnam'. The people of Hanoi were ready to help the soldiers accomplish their mission," he said. "Today, these once rural areas have been transformed into vibrant urban centers. As an old revolutionary who worked through those difficult times, I feel immense pride and joy to witness Hanoi's current development." 

"At my age, I'm grateful for the care and attention of the Party and the state. I'm happy to see the rapid growth of the capital. Every year on this day, I remember the hardships we endured and the solidarity of comrades in our mission to protect the country. We, the older generation, only hope that the younger generations will continue to cherish the sacrifices made by so many and ensure that our nation remains strong and prosperous," Phien said, his voice trembling with emotion.

Remembering the fallen heroes

War veteran Nguyen Thu from Hai Ba Trung District. Photo: The Hanoi Times

Nguyen Thu, former officer of the 102nd Regiment (the Capital Regiment) under the 308th Division (the Vanguard Army Corps), reflected: "We were the soldiers who liberated the capital 70 years ago. I am incredibly proud to witness the strong growth of Hanoi and our nation."

"I can't help but remember the soldiers of our regiment, especially those who lost their lives in combat. In my platoon, only four of us survived. Their sacrifice made today possible," said the veteran from Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi. "In our hearts, we deeply admire and believe in the younger generations who are now writing the nation's history. Our country has made so much progress thanks to their efforts."

A new era of creativity for Hanoi

Ho Quang Loi, former Head of the Education and Communication Department of the Hanoi Party Committee. Photo: The Hanoi Times

"I am very proud to attend the 70th anniversary of Hanoi's Liberation Day today. Party Secretary and President To Lam's speech today reaffirmed Vietnam's path to a bright future," said Ho Quang Loi, former Head of the Education and Communication Department of the Hanoi Party Committee.

Listening to the comments of student Nguyen Chi Phuong and veteran Nguyen Thu, I could feel the strong bond that exists between the generations of our country. This gives us hope that today's Vietnamese youth will carry on the legacy of our predecessors," he said.

Hanoi is truly entering a new creative period, Loi said, citing the city's recent rapid expansion and transformation as evidence. Hanoi is developing in line with modernity, civilization, and cultural heritage.

The honor of portraying a historical figure

Hoang Tam, a student at the University of Natural Resources and Environment. Photo: The Hanoi Times

Hoang Tam, a student at the University of Natural Resources and Environment, was proud to participate in the event. He had the honor of portraying one of the soldiers who entered Hanoi on October 10, 1954, during a reenactment performance.

"I have been rehearsing for half a month, studying the event to be as accurate as possible. Wearing the soldier's green uniform today, I felt incredibly honored to impersonate such a significant figure in our history," he said.

“Standing under the national flag, I gained a deeper understanding of the sacrifices and bloodshed of our forefathers to secure our nation. My love for my country has grown, and I’m determined to study hard and contribute to the future development of our capital and nation.”

Vietnamese people to carry on with the spirit of Hanoi’s Liberation Day

Historian Le Van Lan. Photo: The Hanoi Times

At the age of 88, historian Le Van Lan believes that the spirit of October 10, 1954, guided and inspired him throughout his career and contributed to the development of Hanoi.

"I am confident that the spirit of Hanoi's Liberation Day will continue to guide and inspire me and the people of Vietnam, especially in Hanoi, for many years to the next 10, 20, 30 years and beyond," Lan said.

He emphasized that Thang Long-Hanoi has many values in various fields that form the basis for the capital's growth and integration with Southeast Asia and the world.

"To achieve this, we need the right direction, great efforts, and the ability to quickly adapt to changing conditions while leveraging the advantages of this thousand-year-old city," Lan stated.

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