An anonymous man played the song "Imagine" in front of the Bataclan theater on the morning of November 14th (Source: Twitter).

Amidst the sounds of music, singing, rhythmic footsteps, and raised arms of the Parisians and their friends, there were laughter and tears…

There were no formal speeches, only simple words from the hearts of those present: "Paris stands strong," "Paris is united," "Life is stronger than death, that's the natural order of things."

Contrary to what the Islamic extremists hoped—to spread terror among the people—after the attacks, the people of Paris displayed many noble acts of courage, faith, and warm humanity.

Immediately after the attacks, Parisians began spreading the phrase "Portes ouvertes," meaning "The doors are open," on social media to offer accommodation to tourists stranded in the city, even though this could risk terrorists infiltrating the group.

The following day and in the days that followed, despite the ban on large gatherings in public places due to fears of further terrorism, many people overcame their fear to lay flowers and light candles in Republic Square – a site considered a symbol of national unity since the march in January following the attack on the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and subsequent attacks that killed 17 people.

An Australian woman of French descent paints the Tricolor flag on her face (Source: AFP)

They joined voices in singing the national anthem, "La Marseillaise," igniting pride and patriotism.

Thousands of people from across France and international friends also came to commemorate the event outside the Bataclan theater, where the terrorists committed the worst massacre and hostage-taking incident, resulting in the deaths of 89 people.

Many people carried signs that read: "Don't be afraid," "We will still come to see the Bataclan." On the afternoon of November 14th, an artist brought a piano to the Bataclan theater and played John Lennon's "Imagine," a song celebrating peace. It was an act that touched millions of hearts.

Furthermore, at blood donation centers located in hospitals such as Pitié-Salpêtrière, Georges Pompidou, and Saint-Louis in Paris and its suburbs, long lines of people queued to donate blood to help treat those injured in the attacks.

People in Chicago sing the French national anthem, La Marseillaise, in unison (Source: AFP).

That kind of behavior not only strengthened the resolve of the people of Paris in their time of need but also impressed the whole world. Immediately, those acts of kindness received sharing and empathy from officials, artists, and ordinary people all over the world. Everyone expressed solidarity with Paris.

During her concert on the evening of November 14th in Stockholm, Sweden, pop queen Madonna commemorated the victims by singing "La vie en rose" (Life in Pink) in French, while the Irish rock band U2, who were in Paris for a tour, laid flowers in remembrance of the victims in front of the Bataclan theater.

Artists from many international bands sent messages of condolence and expressed their sorrow over the deaths of innocent people. In addition, many iconic landmarks around the world, such as the One World Trade Center in New York (USA), San Francisco City Hall (USA), the Sydney Opera House (Australia), and Wembley Stadium in London (UK), were illuminated in blue, white, and red – the colors of the French flag – to express sympathy and solidarity with the French people and the victims of the bloody massacre.

The photo "Praying for Paris" has been widely shared on social media by the global community.

The message "Pray for Paris" is everywhere.

After three days of national mourning, cultural and recreational activities have begun to resume. Parisians have returned to their daily lives, albeit with greater difficulty and with much physical and emotional pain.

Young woman Emilie Broust, from the suburbs of Paris, shared: "The terrorists wanted us to be afraid and silenced us. So, simply by doing things like continuing to go out, continuing to live as we did yesterday, continuing to have fun on weekends, we have already won."

Meanwhile, French Culture Minister Fleur Pellerin argued that maintaining the closure of entertainment venues would be tantamount to admitting fear and "surrendering" to the terrorists. She also encouraged musicians to continue participating in concerts, stating that when faced with such "barbaric acts," culture is the greatest "shield" and artists are the most powerful "weapon."

For his part, President François Hollande declared that France would quickly overcome the trauma and losses from the attack. "Faced with fear, France knows how to defend itself, and France will defeat the terrorists."

Americans send messages of support to the people of Paris (Source: AFP)

Exactly one week after the terrorist attacks, the Eiffel Tower – temporarily closed following the attacks – shone brightly again in the colors of the French flag. The Place de la République, located about 500 meters from the Bataclan theater, became a meeting point for thousands of French people and international friends who love freedom and justice.

They brought a branch of flowers and a few candles, which they lit in remembrance of those who had passed away. The atmosphere, initially quiet and solemn, later became lively with many songs and hymns.

In many locations in Paris and throughout France, memorial services took place entirely spontaneously, without prior preparation. These simple and moving ceremonies showed that the bloody tragedy had not broken the hearts of the Parisians; the unimaginable brutality of ISIS had become a rallying cry for unity against terrorism across France and globally.

In reality, the recent harsh challenges have only served to further highlight the courage and resilience of the people of Paris, especially their compassion and sharing of noble human values ​​throughout the world, bringing people closer together.

That challenge also conveyed a message of awakening love and transforming pain into strength. All of it came together in a vast circle of compassion, all seemingly saying "No" to acts of terrorism.

The Eiffel Tower still stands tall (Source: AFP)

According to Vietnam+