"I felt both elated and apprehensive," said Hoang, head of the Vo Thanh Trang Secondary School's student association and manager of the Vo Thanh Trang - Vietnam Marching Band. The invitation for 100 students from Ho Chi Minh City to perform in Hanoi for the 80th National Day celebration was a tremendous honor. However, with only 10 days until the grand event, Hoang worried about fulfilling the task.

"Not to mention the logistics of training, travel, accommodation, and meals for 100 students," Hoang added. He immediately mobilized a 10-member logistics team, comprised of former band members now university students, to liaise with Hanoi and arrange accommodations. The band maintained its four-day-a-week practice schedule to prepare for rehearsals with the military band in Hanoi. Simultaneously, 30 musical pieces were submitted to the A80 organizing committee for approval, including essential Vietnamese patriotic songs like "Dat Nuoc Tron Niem Vui," "Cung Nhau Ta Di Len," and "Nhu Co Bac Trong Ngay Dai Thang."

An urgent meeting was held with 100 parents and the school. "This is an opportunity for the children to learn history not just from books but through a momentous event," Hoang told the parents. "This is a great honor, and we will strive to ensure everything goes smoothly."

All parents agreed to let their children participate.

In its nearly 25 years of operation, Vo Thanh Trang Secondary School's Vietnam Marching Band has performed over 3,000 times. It earned recognition for the most performances by a student band in Vietnam in 2008, in Asia in 2018, and globally (WRA) in 2019 and 2024.

For Hoang and the students, the 80th National Day celebration marks the most significant milestone in the band's history.

The Vo Thanh Trang marching band at Hoan Kiem Lake Walking Street, Hanoi, on 1/9. Photo: Nguyen Minh Hoang

The Vo Thanh Trang marching band at Hoan Kiem Lake Walking Street, Hanoi, on 1/9. Photo: Nguyen Minh Hoang

The band originated as a student ritual club at Vo Thanh Trang Secondary School in Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City. In 2001, teacher Nguyen Minh Hoang, noticing a lack of extracurricular activities for students, formed a brass band for flag-raising ceremonies. Initially, the club had only 10 members. Every week, they would cycle to the Tan Phu District Children's House to borrow instruments. Later, they managed to borrow instruments to practice on school grounds.

After a few flag-raising ceremonies, the school provided the club with five trumpets and two drum sets. The band was then invited to perform at district and ward events. Coincidentally, a district leader attended a performance and, impressed by their talent, invited them to participate in an event organized by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee (UBND TP HCM).

From its initial 10 members, the band expanded to 40-50 and now maintains around 100 students annually. Currently, the band has over 500 members from across the city. In 2012, the traditional ceremonial band transitioned to a marching band model. The band's reputation grew rapidly, leading to invitations to perform at numerous events in various provinces.

A turning point came in 2019 when international trainers from the US and UK took an interest and coached the students, opening doors to marching band events in Cambodia, Malaysia, and Thailand.

The Vietnam Marching Band has an inclusive recruitment policy. Any student with passion can join, including those with disabilities or physical limitations. Their four-day-a-week training allocates 40% to life skills and teamwork, 40% to musical technique, and 20% to organizational work. Discipline is emphasized in all activities, fostering independence and self-management through training sessions, camps, and performances.

"This rigorous training made preparing for A80 smoother," Hoang said.

On the morning of 24/8, they departed from Ho Chi Minh City for Hanoi by car, carrying over 100 instruments, including trumpets, cornets, flutes, piccolos, alto saxophones, clarinets, baritones, and percussion instruments like bass drums, snares, tenors, toms, rototoms, cymbals, and tambourines.

The children performing at the "80 Years of Independence, Freedom, and Happiness" Exhibition, on 27/8. Photo: Nguyen Minh Hoang

The children performing at the "80 Years of Independence, Freedom, and Happiness" Exhibition, on 27/8. Photo: Nguyen Minh Hoang

Two days later, they arrived in Hanoi and had a 30-minute rehearsal with the National Army Orchestra. "Initially, the soldiers thought the children were there to assist, but after hearing and seeing them perform, they were amazed by their skill, comparable to professional musicians," Hoang shared.

During their five-day stay in Hanoi, the Vo Thanh Trang youth band performed at the 80th Anniversary of National Achievements Exhibition, in front of the Ly Thai To Monument at Hoan Kiem Lake, and during the National Day televised celebration at Hang Day Stadium.

"I felt proud to be part of the nation's celebration," said Anh Thu, a 14-year-old band member. Thu had performed at hundreds of events, but A80 was the most nerve-wracking. On 2/9, she took a deep breath, held her bandmates' hands tightly, and stepped out to perform, showcasing everything she had practiced.

Thu's most memorable experiences were performing at Hoan Kiem Lake's walking street and Dinh Le Street, where thousands of people watched. Initially, the crowd assumed they were from Hanoi, but their southern accents surprised everyone.

A restaurant owner, touched by their journey of thousands of kilometers to Hanoi, offered to treat the entire 100-member band to a meal. Although they declined due to prior arrangements, Thu was deeply moved by the warmth of the Hanoi residents.

Tuyet Nhung, 22, a former band member who now handles logistics, also found the trip meaningful. For 10 days, Nhung cared for over 100 children, guiding them through historical sites. They visited museums, saw Vietnamese military weaponry, met veterans, and greeted people on the walking streets.

"We learned to listen, observe, and appreciate the past, making every story a vivid lesson," Nhung said.

Vo Thanh Trang Secondary School's youth band performing on Hanoi's walking street, 9/2025. Video: Minh Hoang

Ngoc Ngan