​The streets are full of colors of flags and flowers; in front of each house, there is a red flag with a yellow star fluttering... The image of Vietnam during the holidays to celebrate the 47th Anniversary of the Liberation of the South and the National Reunification Day has left beautiful impression in the hearts of international friends.

The sacred flag raising ceremony on the historic April, 30^th

Leang Tepkannitha (Cambodian nationality), who is a sophomore at Hanoi University of Civil Engineering, is interested in learning about the history of countries. Leang said “ April 30 is a major Vietnamese holiday, marking the fall of Saigon government, ending the Vietnam War and leading to the liberation of Vietnam's Southern area.

Ms. Leang Tepkannitha from Cambodia

Ms. Leang Tepkannitha, a Cambodian student, was impressed with the flag raising ceremony at Ba Dinh Square on April 30.

Leang's deep impression on April 30 is the images of all the streets of the neighborhood where she lives are covered with red flags. Hanoi becomes brilliant with flags, flowers, banners and posters to celebrate the national holiday. For Leang, the flying of the flag is very important, reminding the Unification Day of Vietnam, showing solidarity, national pride, love of peace of Vietnamese people.

Leang remembered about the flag raising ceremony at Ba Dinh Square she saw for the first time on April 30. She said, since the early morning, the people of the capital travelled to Ba Dinh Square to witness the sacred flag raising ceremony. At 5:30 a.m., loudspeakers began to ask everyone to stop all activities around Uncle Ho's Mausoleum and solemnly prepare for the flag raising ceremony. The ceremony team departed from behind Uncle Ho's mausoleum in the heroic music. Right after the command to salute the flag, the Vietnamese national anthem sounded, and the flag was raised in the wind by soldier of the Red Flag team. The flag was raised slowly to the top of the 29m flagpole and flew solemly and beautifully until the national anthem is finished.

The ceremony didn't last long, but the solem atmosphere made Leang extremely emotional. "Definitely from that moment, I fell in love with Vietnam a lot more!", she said.

Khamla Intaphom (Laos nationality), a student at the Academy of Journalism and Communication, said that in 2021, due to influence of the pandemic, travel should be limited. However in 2022, he feels the fresh atmosphere of the major holidays of Vietnam when there are beautiful red flags with yellow stars, posters and banners on the streets. Khamla Intaphom plans to visit a close friend in Vietnam whose father is a soldier.

Ms. Sengphachanh Vanlaserm (Lao nationality) will go to Ha Long Bay with her class. “Vietnam has a lot of beautiful scenes, friendly and attentive people, increasingly clean and convenient treets. I'm about to finish my studies in Vietnam and will soon return to my hometown to work, so I won't miss it," she said.

On this day, Mr. Khamphet Heugoudom (Lao nationality) often explored Hanoi. He and his Lao friends came to visit Uncle Ho's Mausoleum, Hanoi Museum, Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Hoa Lo Relic... Maikheun Boualaphanh excitedly said that he would go to West Lake or Sword Lake. Meanwhile, Thittaphone Leuansakda was invited to her friend’s house on the occasion of April 30.

Explore, enjoy and experience the beauty and culture of Vietnam

As an English teacher in Vietnam for 5 years, Mr. Pablo Arteaga (Uruguay) has experienced and participated in many big holidays in Vietnam.

Mr. Pablo in Lai Chau with Hmong children.

When asked about April 30, he excitedly said that it is Vietnam's major holiday, marking the Liberation of the South and National Reunification Day. Pablo shared, everyone in his neighborhood and his work place is busy preparing for this holiday, there are many flags, flowers and banners on the street full of a joyful atmosphere.

On this day last year, Pablo had a trip to Lai Chau with his friends, discovering the life of the Hmong people. This year, Pablo and friends will go to Cat Ba. He looks forward to discovering and experiencing many places of Vietnam.

Coming from Cuba, Ms. Eli Alfonso has lived and worked in Hanoi for 6 years. Eli said, Vietnamese friends told her that April 30 is a special day for Vietnamese people to celebrate the National Reunification Day, to remember the merits of their predecessors, who sacrificed themselves for independence and freedom of the nation.

“These days, when I go out on the street, I see a lot of banners and posters. Especially in the area of ​​​​Lenin flower garden, I see the greetings of April 30 and May 1 made by beautiful and brilliant flowers," shared Eli Alfonso.

Having been in Vietnam for 5 years, participating in a number of VTV programs such as "When in Rome, do as the Roman do", "Vietnam Discovery"..., Yazan Safi (Syrian nationality) said: I feel the pride of Vietnamese people about this day, you can see the joyful and brilliant atmosphere on the streets.

On the Liberation of the South and National Reunification Day of Vietnam and Labour Day this year, Yazan will go to the Y Ty highland of Lao Cai province. Yazan has been to Y Ty a few times and found this place to be very green, poetic. As a person who likes to experience different cultures, Yazan finds it especially interesting to discover the customs and habits of the ethnic people here.

As for Travis Vetr, an American guy who fell in love with Vietnam at first sight, despite being very busy, he still felt the bustling and eager atmosphere of everyone on the occasion of April 30. This is a holiday that Mr. Travis feels that Vietnamese people are as happy as they are in Tet. They arrange time to return to their homeland. He added, on these days his students feel extremely excited when participating in meaningful outdoor activities.

Positive energy on April 30

Meghan Frisch (US nationality) has lived in Vietnam since 2012 and married a Vietnamese man.

Meghan Frisch has lived in Vietnam for 10 years.

Meghan finds it interesting to see the red flags hanging in front of the gates on the occasion of April 30. Having witnessed the parade to celebrate the historic day, Meghan shared: "I see the respect and affection that Vietnamese people have for their country. On usual days, Hanoi is always bustling and busy. However, on the April 30th national holiday, the morning in the city is quite fresh and peaceful. Life seems to slow down a bit. After that, the traffic becomes busier when Vietnamese people ride motorbikes into the city center ​​to wave a red flag with a yellow star to show their love for their country. People seem to have a lot of positive energy that day," Meghan shared.

Meghan and her family decided to stay in Hanoi to enjoy the holidays. In the past few years, her family likes to go to the city center on the morning of April 30 to watch the parade. Then they go for a walk around the quiet streets of the city, which are usually very busy and crowded, to experience slower paces of life on this particular day.

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