The journey of the 27-year-old Hanoi resident began in late June when parade formations started rehearsing at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism. Every Wednesday morning, she woke up at 5 a.m. and traveled nearly 40 km from her rented room in Cau Giay ward to watch and cheer.

"Watching the soldiers practice in person instead of on TV is a worthwhile experience, despite the long commute and early wake-up," Phuong said.

Trinh Phuong, 27, in Hanoi, didn't miss any events leading up to the 80th National Day. Photo: Provided by the subject

Trinh Phuong, 27, in Hanoi, didn't miss any events leading up to the 80th National Day. Photo: Provided by the subject

For the following month, she maintained her schedule of going to Son Tay in the morning and working in the afternoon. On weekends, she invited friends to bring drinks and fruits for the practicing soldiers.

From early August, Phuong's activities shifted to the inner city as a series of events celebrating the 80th National Day (A80) officially began. She went to Ba Dinh square to watch fighter jets and helicopters fly over, and wore a traditional Ao Dai to take commemorative photos in front of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

A week later, she put her energy into getting tickets for three major music programs, accepting to pay nearly one million VND to buy a ticket for the "To Quoc Trong Tim" (Homeland in My Heart) art program at My Dinh Stadium on the evening of 10/8. That same morning, she went to Hoan Kiem Lake to watch the parade and martial arts performances in the "Day Hoi Vi Thu Do Binh Yen" (Festival for a Peaceful Capital) event.

"I feel like I'm chasing KPIs, not wanting to miss any event," Phuong said.

Her notebook listed nearly 10 different programs, such as the "Hanoi - Tu Mua Thu Lich Su" (Hanoi - From the Historical Autumn) concert on 15/8, "Tu Hao La Nguoi Viet Nam" (Proud to be Vietnamese) on 17/8, the event recreating the Declaration of Independence on 19/8, and parade rehearsals on various streets from 21 to 31/8. Phuong updated upcoming events from social media and Hanoi's newly launched "A80 - Tu Hao Viet Nam" (A80 - Proud Vietnam) website.

"This is the first time I've experienced the atmosphere of such a grand celebration, and I don't want to be left out. This is how young people like me express our love for the country and gain a deeper understanding of history," she said.

Phuong also affirmed that being part of a "national concert" brought a greater sense of pride than attending shows by international idols.

Nguyen Thuy Linh, 22 (far right), and her younger sister Ngoc Bich took photos with soldiers at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism on the morning of 2/7. Photo: Quynh Nguyen

Nguyen Thuy Linh, 22 (far right), and her younger sister Ngoc Bich took photos with soldiers at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism on the morning of 2/7. Photo: Quynh Nguyen

More than 100 km from Hanoi, Kim Nhung, 35, from Hai Phong, also had a busy summer with A80. Driven by her 6-year-old son's desire "to meet the soldiers," she has been driving him to Son Tay every weekend for the past two months.

When Hanoi added more celebratory activities from early August, she registered tickets for the whole family. Most recently, they attended the "Duoi Co Vinh Quang" (Under the Glorious Flag) art program at Ba Dinh square. She plans to take her son to the "Tro Ve Thoi Khac Thieng Lieng" (Returning to the Sacred Moment) exhibition organized by the Voice of Vietnam (VOV).

"This is a special opportunity for both me and my son to 'travel through time' back to the historical moment of the morning of 2/9/1945, helping him understand the sacred meaning of 'independence'," Nhung said.

Living far away, she had to be selective about which events to attend, but took leave from work starting 27/8 so her family of four could come to Hanoi and not miss any events close to the grand celebration. "This happens only once every 10 years, or even longer, and I want my whole family to witness this important moment fully," she said.

Like Phuong and Nhung, millions of other people are immersed in the atmosphere leading up to the grand celebration. According to a survey by VnExpress, the wave of enthusiasm began in late June, with thousands of people gathering in Son Tay to watch the soldiers rehearse. It peaked in early August, with numerous cultural and artistic events taking place in Hanoi's public spaces such as Hoan Kiem Lake, My Dinh Stadium, and Ba Dinh Square, attracting large crowds. The registration portal for the "To Quoc Trong Tim" program on the evening of 10/8 crashed just minutes after opening on the morning of 31/7 due to overwhelming traffic. All 50,000 tickets at My Dinh Stadium were claimed in less than 10 minutes. Similarly, the "Tu Hao La Nguoi Viet Nam" art program held on 17/8 attracted tens of thousands of attendees.

Social media is equally buzzing with excitement. Dozens of groups have been created to share "ticket hunting" tips, exchange tickets, and invite each other to events. "This grand celebration only happens every few years, so we have to participate no matter what; otherwise, we'll definitely regret it," commented Thuy Dung.

Tens of thousands of people wearing red and yellow starred flags, singing together at the "To Quoc Trong Tim" concert at My Dinh Stadium on 10/8. Photo: Giang Huy

Tens of thousands of people wearing red and yellow starred flags, singing together at the "To Quoc Trong Tim" concert at My Dinh Stadium on 10/8. Photo: Giang Huy

Explaining this phenomenon, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thanh Nam, Vice President of the University of Education, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, said that the approach to fostering patriotism has been evolving. Instead of just through textbooks, historical values are now conveyed through vivid, real-life experiences such as cultural events, films, and digital technology, helping the public, especially young people, remember and understand better.

"We can see the strong outpouring of national spirit and patriotism through symbolic events like April 30th and September 2nd, similar to when the national soccer team competes," Nam said.

According to the expert, the trend of participating in these activities also fulfills the need "to belong to a community," sharing a common pride. Idolizing soldiers is also a way to bring the military closer to the people, helping them appreciate the sacrifices made to maintain peace in the country.

"Participating in activities leading up to September 2nd is commendable, but people also need to maintain security, order, and environmental hygiene," Nam advised.

For Trinh Phuong, the two-month "show hopping" journey is not over yet. She has booked bus tickets for five family members from Nghe An to come to Hanoi to watch the parade and rented a hotel near the parade route for the family's convenience.

"My parents at home are also preparing Ao Dais and red and yellow starred flags to celebrate with everyone during the grand celebration, truly feeling the nation's heroic atmosphere these days," Phuong said.

Nga Thanh - Quynh Nguyen