Dung, 21, from Hanoi, came up with the idea of collecting unused shirts to give to children in the highlands after seeing many families buy them for the 80th National Day celebration. He hopes the children can wear the red and gold star flag shirts to share in the country's independence day atmosphere and feel the pride and connection of the Vietnamese people.

The 21-year-old initially planned to collect 200 shirts in one month, but the results exceeded his expectations. As the administrator of the "Patriotic Fandom" group with nearly 10,000 members, Dung's post quickly spread. He will personally deliver all the collected shirts to students at Ha Giang Ethnic Boarding High School in Tuyen Quang province.

Dung plans to continue calling for donations of winter clothes and school supplies for the children.

Hoang Dung folds shirts printed with the national flag, preparing to pack and send them to students at Ha Giang Ethnic Boarding High School in Tuyen Quang province, on the afternoon of 3/9. Photo: Provided by the subject.

On the afternoon of 2/9, Mai Lan, 51, from Hoai Duc district, started calling for donations of flags, shirts, hats, and scarves to send to children in the Dien Bien border area. She and her friends are preparing a Mid-Autumn Festival program for children in Sin Thau commune, Muong Nhe district. Initially intending to collect a few dozen shirts for performance uniforms, her post received an enthusiastic response.

"The image of the flag flying at the border marker is a symbol of sacred sovereignty. Now I want to bring that flag and shirt color to the children, for them to wear to school," Lan said.

A survey by VnExpress found that groups like "Free Donations Hanoi" and "National Concert A80" have been collecting red and gold star flags, shirts, and related accessories since the afternoon of 2/9. Many individual accounts posted offers of donations, while others acted as collection points. Under each post, hundreds of comments asked for addresses or offered to donate other items such as national flags, party flags, and red scarves.

Hats, string flags, fans, along with cakes and water, are packed by Thu Thuy and her 8-year-old daughter in Dong Da ward on the afternoon of 3/9, ready to be sent to highland children. Photo: Provided by the subject.

On the afternoon of 3/9, Nguyen Thu Thuy, 36, from Dong Da ward, and her 8-year-old daughter took down decorative flags from their house along with 20 cloth fans and 20 red and gold star flag balloons to pack and send to a collection point in Ngoc Ha ward before sending them to the highlands.

She also sent 48 bottles of mineral water and sweets, asking charity groups to deliver them to the students.

Thuy frequently participates in community activities, so she immediately responded to these meaningful initiatives. "These items are precious but have few opportunities to be used. Collecting them after the holiday to give to the children is a practical act, spreading the spirit of patriotism," she said.

According to Thuy, although the red and gold star flag is a familiar image, not every child in the highlands has the opportunity to wear a shirt or hold a flag bearing the national symbol.

"This is a way for people in the lowlands to contribute a little, so that these items, though used, still retain their humanistic value and meaning," Thuy said.

In addition to calling for donations on social media, some people also collect items themselves from the streets. On 1/9, Thuy Trang, from Long Bien, posted on a group specializing in receiving old toys to ask for celebratory items. The post quickly gained attention.

Besides setting up two receiving points in Hanoi's inner city, Trang's group also actively collects fallen flags or those left behind by people after the holiday, washes them, and sends them to teachers and students in Dien Bien.

"I hope more receiving points will be established to make it easier for people to send items. The main purpose is for the national flag to continue its proud journey," Trang said.

Nga Thanh - Quynh Nguyen