Around 30,000 spectators gathered at My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi on the evening of 17/8 for a spectacular concert. The event commenced at 8:10 p.m. with the song "Vietnam in Me" (composed by Yen Le), performed by Ha An Huy and Duong Hoang Yen, accompanied by 500 dancers. The audience joined the artists in singing the chorus, "Red blood, yellow skin, I am Vietnamese."

Hours before the performance, long queues of people eagerly awaited the concert.

In the first segment, titled "Origins," visual LED technology displayed images from Vietnamese mythology, such as the legend of the Dragon and the Fairy, and key historical moments, from the founding of the nation by the Hung kings to the struggles during 1,000 years of Chinese domination, the Vietnamese feudal dynasties, the French colonial period, and the birth of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in 1945. This segment concluded with a recording of President Ho Chi Minh reading the Declaration of Independence.

Singer Tung Duong performed "Tien Quan Ca" (composed by Van Cao) with a 200-member choir. The 30,000 spectators joined in, creating a powerful atmosphere.

The musical performances depicted the resilience of the Vietnamese people through historical upheavals. Artists Hoang Tung, Pham Thu Ha, Le Anh Dung, and Tien Hung sang "That Soldier" (composed by Pham Tuyen) and "Vietnam's Stature" (composed by Nguyen Chi Vu), honoring heroes who sacrificed their lives for independence and freedom.

Hoa Minzy performed "Pain Amidst Peace," a new song by Nguyen Van Chung about the silent sacrifices of mothers and wives during wartime.

The second segment, "One Vietnam - A Million Hearts," featured melodies from different regions. Huyen Trang and Ha An Huy, the 2023 Vietnam Idol winner, performed a duet of "Northwest Love Song" (composed by Bui Duc Hanh).

Oplus, Tien Hung, and Dinh Thanh Le sang "Lake on the Mountain." Composed by Pho Duc Phuong in 1977 and inspired by Cam Son Lake (formerly in Ha Bac province), the song evokes the atmosphere of hard work in northern Vietnam during the socialist construction period.

Singer Ram C and rapper Tieu Minh Phung received enthusiastic applause for their performance of folk music from the three regions of Vietnam.

The music took on a more upbeat and youthful tone in the final segment, "Proud to be Vietnamese." Singer Lam Bao Ngoc performed "Hello Vietnam" (composed by Marc Lavoine) and "You in My Eyes" (composed by Nguyen Cuong).

The band Buc Tuong performed "Discovery" and "Road to Glory," songs about the desire to conquer new heights.

The sunny and windy central region, the highlands of the Central Highlands, and the beloved south were evoked through songs like "Mo Te Rang Rua" (composed by Nguyen Chuong), "Highland Sacred Fire" (composed by Y Garia), and "Song of the Southern Land" (composed by Luu Nhat Vu and Le Giang). In the finale, singers Tung Duong, Duong Hoang Yen, and all the artists performed "The Great Circle of Vietnam" (composed by Trinh Cong Son).

The concert was praised for its staging, which harmoniously combined music, sound, lighting, and choreography. Each performance involved hundreds of dancers.

The 30,000 spectators waved flags and sang along throughout the concert. During the finale, as a 15-minute firework display lit up the sky, they stood up and sang "The Great Circle of Vietnam" and "As if Uncle Ho is with us on the Day of Great Victory" (composed by Pham Tuyen).

The "Proud to be Vietnamese" concert was hosted by the Central Commission for Propaganda and Education. Following the success of recent national concerts, particularly "Homeland in My Heart" (held on 10/8 at My Dinh Stadium), tickets for this event, which were given away by the organizers, were highly sought after.

Ha Thu - Giang Huy