Among those attending were Nguyen Minh Triet, former State President, and General Nguyen Trong Nghia, Chairman of the General Department of Political Affairs.
Special political-art program
In his opening remarks, Le Quoc Minh, Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper and Chairman of the Viet Nam Journalists Association, emphasized that the evening was an occasion to pay tribute to generations of predecessors who sacrificed their lives for today’s peace; Vietnamese heroic mothers; soldiers on duty in border areas and on islands; doctors and teachers working in remote areas; and workers, farmers, entrepreneurs and scientists contributing day by day to national development. It was also a tribute to millions of Vietnamese living far from their homeland.
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Flag-raising ceremony held in the rain during the program (Photo:nhandan.vn) |
Minh said the country is entering a new era with unprecedented determination. Ho Chi Minh City today has assumed a new stature and entered a new development space, bringing with it new responsibilities to the nation. Viet Nam is approaching sacred milestones: the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Viet Nam in 2030 and the 100th anniversary of national independence in 2045. The road ahead will bring many challenges, but the country will certainly overcome them because it possesses something special, the Fatherland in the heart of every Vietnamese person.
That spirit formed the emotional thread running throughout the program. Music and modern stage technologies were combined to tell the story of a Fatherland preserved through sacrifice, built through labor and living in the heart of every Vietnamese person.
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Artists perform at the program |
The program was divided into three chapters. This year’s program featured several special elements, including a large-scale rendition of the national anthem, enhanced by the incorporation of a flag-raising ceremony at Ba Dinh Square recreated on the stage. The military parade was also maintained and comprehensively upgraded, with the participation of many forces in the military and public security.
Inspiring national pride
Immediately following the flag-raising ceremony, the national anthem “Tien Quan Ca” by composer Van Cao rang out. Thousands of spectators sang along, their voices rising above the sound of the heavy rain at the beginning of the program. On the stage, artists and performers placed their hands over their hearts. The sight of tens of thousands of spectators standing in raincoats amid a sea of red, singing the national anthem together, became one of the most memorable moments of the evening.
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Outstanding artistic performances at the program |
The event lasted more than two hours and featured more than 20 performances imbued with patriotic spirit, performed by singers from different generations.
Alongside the artists, parade formations comprising military and public security personnel, Southern female guerrillas and U.N. peacekeeping forces contributed to a solemn and heroic artistic setting. These images created a bridge between soldiers who fought in the wars to defend the Fatherland and Vietnamese people contributing to peacekeeping efforts today.
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The program attracts thousands of spectators. |
More than offering an emotionally artistic experience, “The Fatherland in our hearts” helped inspire national pride and a deeper appreciation of history among the audience, particularly younger generations. The program concluded with a spectacular artistic firework display amid the vibrant atmosphere created by thousands of spectators.
Translated by Quynh Oanh