I am from the South visiting Uncle Ho's Mausoleum.

Eyes filled with tears looking at the national flag

In each person's life, not everyone has the honor to go to Hanoi to visit President Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum. No matter who they are, businessmen or workers; artists or the poor; ordinary people or high-ranking officials, every time they visit Uncle Ho's Mausoleum, they all have the same feeling: respectfully bowing in admiration before his spirit.

We - the people of the Southern Citadel of the Fatherland - are also in that sacred and emotional mood.

Soldiers march to the front of the Mausoleum to perform the flag-raising ceremony every morning. Photo: Mai Thang

A new day begins at the historic Ba Dinh Square with the national flag-raising ceremony at 6:00 a.m. From 5:50 a.m., the loudspeaker from the square announces: "It's time for the flag-raising ceremony. People in the square area are requested to stop all activities and turn towards the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum for the solemn flag-raising ceremony." Surely all the people exercising in this area will turn towards the Mausoleum and stand solemnly.

The majestic music of “Marching under the flag” resounded throughout Hanoi: “The dawn has broken, the green mountains stretch far and wide, the Fatherland is vast and peaceful”. A platoon of guards in neat, uniformed uniforms marched with their guns to the flagpole and performed the flag-raising ceremony.

Joining the crowd of Hanoians, we headed towards Uncle Ho's Mausoleum. The solemn and sacred sound of the national flag was moving.“The Vietnamese army marched, united in saving the nation, their footsteps echoed on the long, bumpy road…”.From within my veins surged boundless love for Vietnam. In that moment, each person had a different range of emotions, but there was a common mood of respectful gratitude to the national hero Ho Chi Minh. Silently thanking him for bringing peace and happiness to Vietnam. Proud of the Vietnamese people's steadfastness in fighting against foreign invaders, steadfastness in building a peaceful country; loyal to friends around the world.

Performing the flag-raising ceremony every morning. Photo: Mai Thang

It was even more touching when the stream of people began to enter the Mausoleum to pay their respects to Uncle Ho. Thousands of footsteps on the stairs every day, millions of visitors every week, hundreds of international delegations from all continents visiting Uncle Ho every year, but all were quiet, gentle, and slow when walking around Uncle Ho's coffin. In that quiet, still, and sacred atmosphere, there was the choked sob of a young teacher; there were the emotional tears of a young volunteer. And we - the naval soldiers returning from Truong Sa, DK1 - raised our hands to our hats to salute Uncle Ho with tears in our eyes with boundless emotion.

The flag lowering ceremony began at 8:00 p.m. the same day. The loudspeaker announced: “It is time for the flag lowering ceremony. People in the square area are requested to stop all activities and turn towards President Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum for the solemn flag lowering ceremony.” Without anyone telling them, thousands of people in the capital who were taking a walk and visitors from all over the country automatically retreated behind the third grass square, standing solemnly with their eyes towards Uncle Ho’s Mausoleum. The flag lowering ceremony began. The majestic song “Uncle Ho is still marching with us” was played from the direction of the Mausoleum. A platoon of uniformed guards marched from afar to the front of the flagpole and performed the flag lowering ceremony.

Mr. Tran Van Loi - former major officer of DK1 platform, from Luu Son, Do Luong, Nghe An shared: "This is not the first time I have visited Uncle Ho's Mausoleum, but every time I walk around his coffin, I always feel deeply moved. Each person has different emotions, but we all share a sincere heart of gratitude to Uncle Ho. Every time I visit Uncle Ho, I feel more proud and love my country."

Returning to the South, I miss Uncle Ho endlessly.

Saluting the national flag at Ba Dinh Square is not only a national ceremony, but also a sentiment of the entire nation towards President Ho Chi Minh. That ceremony has become the pride of the people of the Capital, a noble symbol of the Vietnamese people's respect for the country, and the pride of the Vietnamese people towards international friends.

Flag-raising ceremony. Photo: Mai Thang

Every day, the people of the capital and visitors from all over the world witness the solemn and sacred flag raising and lowering ceremony at Ba Dinh Square, but not everyone knows exactly how many soldiers are in the army that performs the flag raising and lowering ceremony. Some say it is a powerful army, others say it is a guard platoon, but almost no one knows exactly how many people are in that army.

An officer of the Mausoleum Command said that the army that performs the flag raising and lowering ceremony at Uncle Ho's Mausoleum every day consists of 34 soldiers. That is the first number of soldiers of the Vietnam People's Army, the predecessor of which is the Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Army. The 34 soldiers performing the flag raising and lowering ceremony have sacred meaning. They are the first soldiers of our Army that Uncle Ho founded and trained. The soldiers wearing the noble title of Uncle Ho's Army are always by Uncle Ho's side. Both when Uncle Ho was born and marched to fight, and when he passed away to the eternal world.

Hundreds of people doing morning exercises stand at attention and salute the flag in front of the Square. Photo: Mai Thang

There is one thing that not everyone is familiar with, which is the use of music in the morning flag-raising ceremony with the song “Marching Under the Military Flag”. The lyrics of the song urge the troops to march:“The dawn has broken/ the green mountains stretch far and wide/ the homeland is vast and peaceful../ these thousands of hearts beat in unison with thousands of songs in the rice waves/ the stars twinkle on the military flag”.This is the trumpet signaling a new day with the morning sunlight, as if urging the hearts of the Vietnamese people to live and act according to Uncle Ho's teachings and dedicate their youth to the country...

Closing a day at the historic Ba Dinh Square is the music "Uncle Ho is still marching with us". The solemn and passionate lyrics seem to urge more than 90 million Vietnamese people on the path to building a prosperous country.. “Tonight on the march to the front, the army marches on Uncle Ho's path/ the whole army follows him like a waterfall/ let's wave high the red flag Uncle Ho gave us…”.

Whether day or night, whether far away at sea or on deserted islands, whether in urban or rural areas, millions of people as one move forward on the path chosen by the Party and Uncle Ho. Although the road ahead may be full of thorns, and the front may be full of sacrifices, the Vietnamese people are determined, the Vietnamese will is steadfast, and the Vietnamese Party shines with glory. During the war, the Vietnamese people united to go to the front, "Charging to liberate the capital and sweeping away the invading army."

In peacetime, we unite to fight to build the country, eliminate poverty, increase wealth, and build a prosperous country. Although Uncle Ho has passed away, he is still in everyone's heart. His great thoughts on national liberation and building a "decent and beautiful" country will forever accompany the Vietnamese people.

We returned to the South of the Fatherland with pride in Hanoi, pride in President Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and admiration for the land and people of the thousand-year-old culture of Hanoi. I heard in my heart the lyrics of the song "Ba Dinh Moon". Lyrics“I came from the South to visit Uncle Ho's Mausoleum/ and saw in the mist the endless rows of bamboo/ tomorrow when I return to the South, tears will flow/ tomorrow when I return to the South, I will miss you endlessly”absorbed into the liver and intestines.