After the parade, 27-year-old Tran Hong Phan from Hung Yen proudly displayed dozens of her grandfather's commendations, badges, and medals online. Her post, captioned "My grandfather fought in the 81-day battle to defend Quang Tri Citadel," garnered tens of thousands of likes and comments from strangers expressing gratitude and well wishes.

Phan explained that her decision to share her grandfather's story stemmed from witnessing the respect and admiration shown towards veterans during the National Day celebrations. While she had always known her grandfather was a veteran, she hadn't fully grasped the historical significance of his service.

Her grandfather, 78-year-old Captain Vu Van Nga, enlisted at 19 and served in the Artillery Command, 351st Division in Quang Tri from 1967. He often shared stories of fierce battles, including the Battle of Khe Sanh in 1968 and the 81-day defense of Quang Tri Citadel in the summer of 1972.

"This is the first time I've participated in a trend with such pride and emotion. I was surprised by how many people were interested in my grandfather's wartime experiences," Phan said.

Inspired by the online response, she interviewed her grandfather, meticulously documenting his stories to gain a deeper understanding of his sacrifices and the heroic past.

Veteran Vu Van Nga, 78, in Hung Yen today (left) and a photo from his youth during wartime (right). Photo: Family provided

Veteran Vu Van Nga, 78, in Hung Yen today (left) and a photo from his youth during wartime (right). Photo: Family provided

A handwritten letter from Hang Hue's grandfather to her grandmother in 1966. Photo: Family provided

Vu Van Nga's badges and medals.

Nga looks at his commendations and achievements from the war.

Comrades from Nga's unit with whom he has lost contact and hopes to reconnect.

Nga's commendation for participating in the 81-day battle to defend Quang Tri Citadel.

This trend of young people sharing wartime relics, photos, and stories of veteran relatives has flourished online after the 80th National Day celebrations. A quick survey by VnExpress found over 5,000 posts on this topic on TikTok, attracting millions of views and tens of thousands of shares. Many expressed regret that their grandparents had passed away and couldn't participate in the celebrations.

Vo Minh Thanh, a psychology expert and lecturer at Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, believes this is a natural response to major events like the 50th anniversary of reunification and the 80th National Day, reflecting young people's interest in and gratitude for their history. "This isn't just about showing off. It's about pride, a yearning to connect with their roots and historical values, and honoring the sacrifices of their ancestors," Thanh said.

He added that having a relative who was a veteran was once considered commonplace. Now, there's a desire to be involved, to connect with these historical events, and to have their relatives' contributions to the nation's peace recognized.

A video posted by 31-year-old Hang Hue from Ha Tinh, showing her grandmother reading her late husband's wartime letters, has also garnered over a million views and thousands of comments.

Hue's grandfather, martyr Vo Van Mau, enlisted in 1960 and died in Quang Tri in 1970. Throughout the war, he sent letters home to support his family.

Reading these letters gave Hue a deeper understanding of the pain of separation experienced by millions of families during the war. The last letter her grandfather sent was in 1968, two years before his death. His unit later sent his death notice and belongings to his family.

"During wartime, our grandparents participated in the national resistance movement. In peacetime, we honor their patriotism by learning about history, sharing it with our children, and spreading it to fellow Vietnamese with pride," Hue said.

A handwritten letter from Hang Hue's grandfather to her grandmother in 1966. Photo: Family provided

Phan's goal extends beyond sharing her grandfather's story; she hopes to use social media to help him reconnect with his wartime comrades. "He still has their photos. His greatest wish is to find out about them, whether they are alive or have passed away," she said.

Nga Thanh