Soldiers from Nghe An province in the parade and march on September 2nd.
In anticipation of the 80th anniversary of National Day on September 2nd, Ba Dinh Square (Hanoi) will witness a large-scale parade and march, bringing together tens of thousands of officers, soldiers, and representatives from all walks of life. Among this magnificent contingent are many sons and daughters of Nghe An province – a land rich in revolutionary traditions, a place that has always produced generations of steadfast young people ready to dedicate themselves to the Fatherland.
From childhood memories to a military career.
Lieutenant Trinh Xuan Tho, an officer at the A Dot Border Gate Border Guard Station (Thua Thien Hue Border Guard Command), is one of the exemplary individuals participating in this parade.
Meeting us after the second training session at Ba Dinh Square, Tho proudly spoke of her hometown. “I was born in Cua Lo, Nghe An – a vibrant coastal region and also a land steeped in revolutionary spirit,” Tho said.
The border guard added that, from a young age, Tho was nurtured by stories his grandmother and mother told him about President Ho Chi Minh and the traditions of his homeland. These simple memories early ignited a flame of patriotism in him, urging him to choose the path of military service.
In 2017, he enlisted in the army, beginning his military journey at the Border Guard Training Center. After enduring arduous training, Tho resolved to pursue a long-term military career, studying at the TC2 Reconnaissance College and becoming a professional officer.
When assigned to participate in the parade, Lieutenant Tho considered it a great honor. He recounted that during training days under the sweltering July sun of Northern Vietnam, with ground temperatures reaching 60 degrees Celsius, sweat drenched their clothes, but the entire unit persevered. The soldiers often encouraged each other: "Today's sweat is tomorrow's pride."
Among the Navy personnel is Captain Ho Van Tam, serving at Brigade 680, Region 3 of the Navy. Born in the sun-drenched central region of Vietnam, Tam grew up listening to military stories from his father, a former naval veteran. Images of ships sailing out to sea and distant islands are deeply ingrained in his childhood memories, becoming the motivation for him to don the white uniform of a naval officer.
Participating in the naval officers' contingent during the parade, Tam was acutely aware of his responsibilities. Nearly 10 months of intensive training away from home, he was supported by his young wife and family, who constantly encouraged and gave him strength.
Tam shared that during the scorching hot days in Son Tay, standing at attention for 4-5 hours straight, their bodies ached and felt numb; only willpower helped them overcome it. Their comrades reminded each other: "If someone falls, someone else will help them up; if one falls, another will step forward."
"The soldiers often joke, 'Stand still so that even if an ant bites you, you can't scratch, and you can't look at a girl walking by.' That's exactly how you develop such composure during training," Tâm said.
During his training days, Tam still remembers the bottles of water and bunches of sweet longan fruit that the locals brought as gifts to the soldiers. The naval soldier said that it was a symbol of the bond and support between the home front and the front lines, even during training.
The homeland is always put first.
Serving in the same unit as Ho Van Tam is Senior Lieutenant Phan Ba Lam, a professional soldier in the artillery corps of the Navy. Lam grew up in the harsh, windswept countryside of Central Vietnam. The image of a naval soldier guarding the sea and islands has long been a symbol in his heart, motivating him to choose to dedicate his life to the military.
Speaking about his feelings upon being summoned to participate in the A80 mission, Lieutenant Lam's eyes lit up with pride. However, his face immediately turned somber. He shared that his wife had just given birth to their second child, but he hadn't had a chance to attend the baby's one-month celebration. Even so, for him, responsibility to the nation always came first.
Lieutenant Phan Bá Lam, a professional soldier, recounted that the biggest challenge during training was the unpredictable weather, but the entire unit worked together to overcome it. After training sessions, soldiers from all three regions treated each other like brothers, sharing everything from a glass of water to family worries, transforming difficulties into a deep bond of camaraderie.
The parade and march commemorating the 80th anniversary of National Day is not only an occasion to remember the contributions of President Ho Chi Minh and our ancestors, but also to affirm the strength of national unity in the new era.
In that lineup, sons of Nghe An province like Lieutenant Trinh Xuan Tho, Captain Ho Van Tam, and Senior Lieutenant Phan Ba Lam not only represent their homeland but also embody the typical image of the young generation of Vietnam: nurtured in tradition, matured through training, and ready to shoulder the tasks entrusted by the Fatherland.
Every step taken across Ba Dinh Square on September 2nd will be a reminder of 80 years of history in building and defending the nation, and a message to international friends: Vietnam remains steadfast in its goal of independence, peace, and development.
