At 6 a.m., 22-year-old Nguyen Thuy Linh and her younger sister traveled over 40 km by motorbike from Cau Giay ward to the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism to watch the parade rehearsal (Mission A80).
Linh said she missed the first rehearsal and was determined not to miss this one. "We came to encourage the soldiers and help them overcome fatigue to complete their mission," Linh said.
Arriving at 7:30 a.m., Linh was surprised to see hundreds of people in raincoats and holding umbrellas lined up along the barricades. Many had brought their young children, patiently waiting.
"You have to see it in person to fully experience the majestic atmosphere. Seeing the soldiers marching in unison, so dignified, makes me feel very proud," Linh shared. She said she would continue to come and cheer at future rehearsals.
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22-year-old Nguyen Thuy Linh (far right) and her younger sister Ngoc Bich take photos with soldiers at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism on the morning of 2/7. Photo: Quynh Nguyen |
22-year-old Nguyen Thuy Linh (far right) and her younger sister Ngoc Bich take photos with soldiers at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism on the morning of 2/7. Photo: Quynh Nguyen
To arrive on time for the rehearsal, 44-year-old Ngoc Thuy from Ha Dong district took time off work and woke her four young children up at 5 a.m. For her family, this wasn't just a "spectator outing" but a special extracurricular activity.
"I want my children to witness the solemnity, discipline, and even the sweat of the soldiers, instead of just watching it online. This is the most visual lesson about national pride that no textbook can teach," Thuy said.
On the morning of 25/6, over 7,400 officers and soldiers participated in the parade rehearsal in preparation for the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day on 2/9 (Mission A80). The rehearsal took place at three locations: Mieu Mon National Training Center, Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism, and Vietnam National University, Hanoi. The army had 27 marching units and 11 stationary units, with a total of 7,413 personnel participating.
The Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism (Son Tay, Hanoi) attracted the most attention.
From 7:30 a.m., despite the rain, a large crowd gathered along the barricades to cheer. Many brought water, snacks, and fruit to give to the soldiers during their breaks.
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Citizens brave the rain to watch soldiers rehearsing at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism on the morning of 2/7. Photo: Nga Thanh |
Citizens brave the rain to watch soldiers rehearsing at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism on the morning of 2/7. Photo: Nga Thanh
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A large crowd came to watch the soldiers rehearsing at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism.
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A large crowd came to watch the soldiers rehearsing at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism.
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After the rehearsal, many people asked to take commemorative photos with the soldiers.
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A large crowd came to watch the soldiers rehearsing at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism.
Standing under a tree, 28-year-old An Binh intently watched each unit march by. She said she traveled alone from Hoang Mai district because she didn't want to miss this atmosphere.
"Waiting until 2/9 to see the parade is too long, so when I heard about the rehearsal, I decided to go immediately," she said.
Hundreds gather at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism, Son Tay, to cheer on troops rehearsing for the parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day (Mission A80). Video: Nga Thanh
Quynh Nga
