The 40-year-old South Korean man said he has lived in Vietnam since the beginning of this year. He has joined celebratory crowds for Vietnamese football victories and flown to Ho Chi Minh City for the reunification day parade on 30/4. Jonghyeok said National Day on 2/9 was an event not to be missed. He traveled from Bac Ninh to Hanoi and struggled to secure a "black market" ticket for the "To Quoc Trong Tim" concert on 10/8, but was unsuccessful.

"Fortunately, the organizers accepted my passport instead of a citizen ID and let me in. In Vietnam, there are many events that everyone can participate in, they cheer together, sing Vietnamese songs, that's also why I love this place more," Jonghyeok said.

A few days before the event, he prepared "patriotic" attire and accessories to blend in with the Vietnamese. During the concert, he was impressed by the moment a giant Vietnamese flag fluttered, while tens of thousands of people below placed their hands on their chests and chanted "Vietnam Ho Chi Minh".

"I chanted along, felt happy and lucky to be immersed in this atmosphere," Jonghyeok said. "This never happens in South Korea. National Day is usually a time for people to rest. In Vietnam, people can attend national events for many days or even a month and still be excited."

Jeong Jonghyeok checks in at cafes decorated for National Day in Hanoi. *Photo: Provided by the individual*

Having lived in Hanoi for 9 years, Kaneya Manabu, a Japanese national, said that on occasions like 30/4 and 2/9, he often rides his motorbike around the streets adorned with red and gold star flags to enjoy the atmosphere of excitement and pride. For the 80th anniversary of Vietnam's National Day this year, Manabu noticed a significant difference. From cafes and shopping malls to residential areas, the national flag was displayed everywhere. People wore Ao Dai and Non La, taking photos at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

"Thousands of people even lined the streets to cheer on the troops practicing for the 2/9 parade," the 44-year-old man said.

A former police chief in Saitama Prefecture, Manabu said that in Japan, people are generally not allowed to take photos with police officers or soldiers. They also don't pay much attention to training exercises or national events like these. "But here, people offer water and food, treating the soldiers like idols, which surprised me," Manabu said.

Cam Hang, Manabu's 27-year-old friend, said that during this time, he diligently studied Vietnamese, especially songs, to attend the "national concert." He asked Hang to be his guide to the Vietnam Military History Museum to learn more about the country's history and participated in the "Return to the Sacred Moment" exhibition using virtual reality technology to relive the atmosphere of the historic 2/9/1945.

"Manabu also spent millions of dong to buy black market tickets to concerts leading up to National Day. These days, he often finishes work early so as not to miss any event," Hang said.

Jeong Jonghyeok and Manabu are among the foreigners attracted to Vietnamese culture through traditional values such as ancestor worship, hospitality, and patriotism, according to a survey by Cultural Atlas, a multinational cultural information platform of SBS (Australia).

A 2023 report by ABroader.org found that 80% of foreign visitors appreciate Vietnamese culture, describing the country as having an "optimistic culture" and a "strong community spirit." They were particularly impressed with Vietnamese cuisine, festivals, and historical events.

This interest is growing as Hanoi hosts events leading up to the 80th anniversary of Vietnam's National Day, with programs such as parades, music events, and fireworks displays.

For over a week, several shops selling "patriotic" items like red and gold star shirts, handheld national flags, and Non La in Hang Ma Street, Hoan Kiem District, have attracted hundreds of foreign customers. Ms. Bich Lien, the owner of one shop, said she was surprised that since the beginning of August, the number of foreign customers has doubled or tripled compared to last year.

"They often express surprise and delight at the streets decorated with flags by residents. Many come to buy and take souvenir photos here. Some even buy Ao Dai to join in the atmosphere with the Vietnamese during these days," the 50-year-old woman said.

Hoang Giang, the owner of a photo studio in Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi, said that for over a week, dozens of foreign customers, mainly from Russia, Indonesia, and the Philippines, have contacted him to book photo shoots at locations like the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Vietnam Military History Museum, and Hoan Kiem Lake.

"They send videos of Vietnamese people checking in at these locations for National Day and want us to capture their memories as well. I'm very surprised because previously, the studio didn't have international customers," Giang said.

44-year-old Kaneya Manabu from Japan (third from left) and Cam Hang (second from left) attend the "To Quoc Trong Tim" concert, 10/8/2025. *Photo: Provided by the individual*

Having lived in Vietnam for six months, Jeong Jonghyeok said he not only feels the patriotism and unity of the Vietnamese people through the holiday activities but also in the way they help each other overcome difficulties. He saw Vietnamese people joining hands to support areas severely affected by Typhoon Wipha, and Jonghyeok also asked to join a Vietnamese volunteer team to provide assistance in Dien Bien Province.

"And when I saw Vietnamese people donate more than 300 billion dong after 5 days of fundraising for Cuba, I also contributed because I was inspired by their spirit of mutual support," he said. "This is something people from other countries should learn from Vietnam."

Nga Thanh