On the morning of 2/9, Mrs. Huyen entered the VIP seating area, her silver hair neatly tied, a small paper fan in her hand. Beside her, the General Secretary leaned over to inquire about her health and family, and offered her a drink. When her fan fell to the floor, he bent down to pick it up for her.

In a brief conversation before the ceremony, she spoke about her two sons who were killed while on international duty in Cambodia. "The General Secretary listened attentively to every word," she recalled.

86-year-old Tran Thi Huyen, a Vietnamese hero mother from Ha Tinh, attended the National Day parade for the first time, sitting next to General Secretary To Lam on the Ba Dinh podium. Screenshot from VTV's live broadcast. VTV

86-year-old Tran Thi Huyen, a Vietnamese hero mother from Ha Tinh, attended the National Day parade for the first time, sitting next to General Secretary To Lam on the Ba Dinh podium. Screenshot from VTV's live broadcast. VTV

As the announcement played, the ceremony officially began. With the national anthem and a 21-gun salute from My Dinh Stadium, Mrs. Huyen and tens of thousands of people in the stands stood at attention to salute the flag. Attending a national parade for the first time, she held a small flag, her eyes following the majestic formations of over 16,300 soldiers in 43 army units and 17 police units marching past the podium.

Looking up at the sky, she saw formations of the Vietnam People's Air Force fly past in salute. The commentary explained that they were Mi-171, Mi-17, and Mi-8 helicopters carrying the Party flag and the national flag. Following them were CASA 295, CASA 212i, Yak-130, L-39NG, and Su-30MK2 aircraft releasing flares, leaving trails of light against the blue sky.

Simultaneously, images of submarines, guided-missile frigates, DHC-6 seaplanes, and Ka-28 anti-submarine helicopters in Cam Ranh were broadcast live to Hanoi, adding to the grandeur of the ceremony.

"Seeing the troops march past, the planes, the submarines, I was deeply moved. Our country has changed, it has become powerful. It's a pity that my father and my two sons – those who fell – didn't have the chance to witness this moment," she said.

Tran Thi Huyen at her home in Ha Tinh. Duc Hung

Tran Thi Huyen at her home in Ha Tinh. Duc Hung

A week earlier, upon receiving the invitation to the grand ceremony, Mrs. Huyen's eyes welled up. At 86, this was her first time being invited to such an important national event. She said it was not only a rare honor but also a great moral reward after a lifetime of sacrifice and loss.

On 1/9, Mrs. Huyen and her youngest daughter-in-law, Nguyen Thi Tham, traveled with the Ha Tinh provincial delegation to Hanoi. When the car arrived, it started to rain, but she smiled and said, "I'm still happy, still healthy," because in just one more day she would witness the momentous event.

Early on the morning of 2/9, she woke up early to join the delegation for the procedures to enter the stands. On the bus ride to the city center, she saw people from many provinces flocking to the streets, carrying red flags and folding chairs, filling both sides of the road. Many young volunteers distributed water and flags to the people. "I've never seen such a joyful scene," she said.

Tran Thi Huyen was born in 1939 in Thach Ha commune, now Tran Phu ward, Ha Tinh city. Her childhood was marked by great loss: before she was 4 years old, her father, Tran Hau Truong, a revolutionary cadre, was captured and killed in 1938.

Later, she married Nguyen Van Minh and had eight children. In the late 1970s, her two eldest sons, Nguyen Van Cat and Nguyen Van Duong, volunteered for the army, participating in battles to defend the southwestern border and later fulfilling their international duty in Cambodia. Both were killed in action, the elder in 1977, the younger in 1980. "Losing a child once is difficult, but enduring it twice is indescribable," she recalled.

Certificates of merit for martyrs Nguyen Van Cat and Nguyen Van Duong. Duc Hung

Certificates of merit for martyrs Nguyen Van Cat and Nguyen Van Duong. Duc Hung

A few years later, her husband died at the age of 49 from tetanus, leaving her with the burden of raising six children, including a disabled daughter. Despite the overwhelming loss, she persevered, caring for and raising her children to adulthood.

In 2014, she was awarded the title of Vietnamese Hero Mother. Currently, she lives with her youngest son in Tran Phu ward, receiving an allowance and support payments of about 10 million VND per month. In her modest house, the certificates of merit for her father and two sons are displayed prominently in the living room. Every day, she burns incense in their memory, reminding her grandchildren to love one another, maintain family traditions, and live up to the sacrifices of those who have passed away.

Mrs. Huyen is one of nearly 5,000 Vietnamese Hero Mothers still living across the country. All are supported by the government and organizations and invited to attend important events. At the 80th National Day celebration, hundreds of mothers in good health, along with many veterans from all provinces and cities, were transported to Hanoi to watch the parade from the Ba Dinh stands.

After the ceremony, returning to Ha Tinh, Mrs. Huyen was still filled with joy. "No one used to suffer more than me, but now no one is as happy as me because I always receive care from the Party, the State, the government, and my family," she said.