'Journey in Uncle Ho's footsteps' and the moments that touch the heart
Not only a large-scale sporting event, the race "Journey in Uncle Ho's footsteps - For the security of the Fatherland" taking place in Nghe An is also a journey back to the historical roots, where patriotism, gratitude and the desire to contribute converge, to follow in his footsteps.
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Race "Journey following Uncle Ho's footsteps– For the security of the Fatherland” is not only a large-scale sports activity, but also a journey back with the heart, back to the roots of the nation, to the ideals and love for the Fatherland passed down through generations. More than 2,100 athletes gathered in Nghe An, creating a bustling atmosphere, spreading the noble sports spirit and the resilient and enduring Vietnamese spirit. Among them, 15 local police delegations with 143 athletes participated - people who not only ran with their feet, but also carried with them the memories of the land where they came from and the pride of the industry they are serving.
Sharing about the program, Major General Le Xuan Duc - Thematic Research Board assisting the Minister of Public Security emphasized: In the stream of people participating in the race, there are the footsteps of athletes from Cao Bang - the first place to welcome Uncle Ho back to the Fatherland in 1941, where the Viet Bac base was formed; from Bac Giang - where Uncle Ho stopped 5 times during the resistance war; from the Mekong Delta - the resting place of Mr. Nguyen Sinh Sac, President Ho Chi Minh's father; and from Ho Chi Minh City - the city named after Uncle Ho, which has just solemnly held the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification... All gathered in their hometown Nghe An, so that each step today is truly the footsteps of "following Uncle Ho", both literally and figuratively in the most sacred sense.
For Major General Le Xuan Duc, the success of the tournament does not lie in the numbers, but in the touching moments: A veteran over 70 years old, still quietly striding in his military uniform, holding the national flag firmly in his hand; a 5-year-old child holding his mother's hand to complete the 5 km run just to "follow in Uncle Ho's footsteps"; or 2 female athletes supporting each other to the finish line after a challenging 21 km race...
Those images, simple yet profound, are proof of one thing: Patriotism exists in every step, every breath, every silent gaze that follows along the journey.
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The 21km women’s race at the “Journey in the footsteps of Uncle Ho – For the security of the Fatherland” race ended with an unforgettable image: Two athletes holding hands and racing towards the finish line, amidst the cheers of the audience. It was not a breathless chase as usual, nor a sprint to decide the winner, but a quiet and profound ending – demonstrating the true spirit of solidarity, humanity and nobility in sports.
On the track that day, young talent Hoang Thi Ngoc Anh (born in 2006) - a member of the Vietnamese athletics team, had a dramatic two-horse race with amateur star Doan Thi Oanh (from Vinh Phuc province). Ngoc Anh entered the race at high speed, clearly showing her intention to win the championship. "I was quite surprised when the leading group had the appearance of Doan Oanh with her inherent perseverance and resilience. But because the weather today was quite harsh, I decided not to take risks, keeping a steady pace to reach the finish line safely", Ngoc Anh shared. When only a few meters from the finish line, the two athletes suddenly ran parallel and held hands. At the same time, Doan Thi Oanh proactively slowed down, allowing Ngoc Anh to break the ice and reach the finish line first. "Because the race is named afterJourney following Uncle Ho's footsteps, so we want to show a noble and united sports spirit," Ngoc Anh explained about the handshake between the two athletes.
In the end, Ngoc Anh finished with a time of 1 hour 23 minutes 51 seconds, 2 seconds ahead of Ms. Oanh. But for many people, what remains is not the distance, but the moment when two generations together overcome the limit - not by arguing, but by respecting each other. An image that is true to the spirit that this journey wants to aim for: sharing, continuing, together for something greater than ourselves.
On the sidelines of the tournament, Ms. Doan Thi Oanh shared: “For me, this is a special race, it takes place in Uncle Ho’s homeland and carries a very meaningful message during the historic May days. I joined with my husband and brought my young son along, so that he could set foot on the sacred land of talented people - where Uncle Ho was born. I hope my child will nurture a spirit of patriotism, learn and practice following his example.”
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Among thousands of athletes participating in the "Journey following Uncle Ho's footsteps - For the security of the Fatherland" race, Le Dinh Anh Tu is one of the most well-known faces. Not because of his performance, but because of what he silently puts into each step of his run. A native of Thanh Lien commune, Thanh Chuong district, currently living, studying and working in Da Nang, Anh Tu - affectionately nicknamed "Xoi Xeo" in the runner community is loved by many people not only for his positive spirit but also for his ability to "draw maps" - creating unique drawings right from the running route.
Looking ahead to the 30/4 Festival, before participating in the tournament, Tu successfully “drawn” a running track simulating the tank number 390 – a historical symbol entering the Independence Palace. On April 30, he continued to complete the running track in the shape of a red flag with a yellow star and the words “April 30 – Vietnam”. Previously, on the occasion of National Day September 2, 2023, Tu made the online community admire when he was able to draw an entire map of Vietnam – complete with Hoang Sa and Truong Sa using only his feet and a positioning map.
To create images that are both proportional and aesthetically pleasing, Tu had to spend a lot of time researching the terrain and adjusting the route so that each stroke matched his idea. “There were drawings where I had to ask permission from the locals to run through their yards and gardens. At first, everyone was surprised because they didn’t understand what a stranger was doing running into their house. But when they heard me share my desire to draw the Fatherland with my own feet, everyone happily supported me,” Tu recounted, his eyes sparkling with emotion.
For Tu, running is not only to stay healthy and compete, but also a way to tell stories. “Run to remember, run to draw, run to be proud” – that is the motto that the 23-year-old man always maintains. Each running step is a word of gratitude, a way to connect with history, to live more worthy of the sacrifices that his ancestors left behind. It is also that spirit that has urged Tu not only to contribute to building the running movement in Da Nang and Nghe An, but also to cherish becoming a physical education teacher – someone who sows the seeds of training awareness andnational pridefor future generations
Race“Journey in the footsteps of Uncle Ho – For the security of the Fatherland” is the first large-scale sports activity directed by the Ministry of Public Security, the People’s Committee of Nghe An province, the Vietnam People’s Public Security Sports Association in coordination with the VnExpress electronic newspaper. The activity aims to celebrate the 135th birthday of the great President Ho Chi Minh, the 80th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Public Security Force. This is also the first activity in a series of activities taking place in Uncle Ho’s hometown this May.