How does the homeland live in your heart?

For many Vietnamese, it is the pride of the red blood flowing through their veins, the national flags fluttering across Hanoi, and the sacred image of the Fatherland shining in every corner of the city.

And during National Day, that sentiment is expressed most expressively.

From the streets to schoolyards, from doorsteps to public squares, the national flag flutters proudly.

The glowing red and golden star together paint the capital into a living canvas of patriotism, where unity and love for the country can be felt in every smile, gesture and story passed down through generations.

As the nation prepares to celebrate the 80th anniversary of National Day on September 2, Hanoi has become a sea of red. The Vietnamese flag waves not only above government buildings but also from humble homes, street stalls, offices and motorbikes weaving through traffic.

A few days before the big day, I met Pham Cong Hoan, a veteran in his eighties, who had joined the crowds watching a rehearsal along Thanh Nien and Hoang Hoa Tham streets. His hand trembled slightly as he adjusted the small flag pinned to his shirt pocket. Beside him stood his daughter, forty-year-old Pham Thanh Huong, draped in a red shawl with a golden star at its center, a gift from a close friend.

“I am overwhelmed. Part of me is filled with memories of the battlefield, and part of me is deeply moved by the patriotic spirit of today’s Vietnamese people,” Hoan said softly.

What we sacrificed in the past has now been repaid through the tireless efforts of the Party and the people to build a stronger nation. Seeing the lives of our citizens grow ever more prosperous and happier is the truest reward. The price we paid for freedom has been honored.”

For Huong, the excitement was personal. She wanted to bring her father to witness the parade because she longed to see, with her own eyes, the military vehicles and weapons she had only ever watched on television.

“I am so proud of my father, proud of the Vietnamese army and proud of the Vietnamese people,” she said, her voice rising with emotion.

I love the festive atmosphere as we celebrate 80 years of independence. I can feel the Fatherland in every heart. How I love Vietnam - how proud I am of the name Vietnam.”

Generations apart, father and daughter shared the same spark in their eyes as the military parade rehearsal marched past. “I have carried this flag through my youth and my service. Now she is carrying it into the future,” said Hoan, his voice rough yet steady.

The image of old and young holding the flag side by side speaks to the enduring spirit of the nation.

On these days, time seems to collapse into a single moment where history, memory and hope intertwine as many people, for the first time, see military vehicles, including tanks and other military equipment.

Hanoi’s streets are filled with this spirit. Many families dress in red T-shirts printed with the golden star. People wave miniature flags from sidewalks, while many vendors stick decals of the national emblem on their carts.

Walking down Trang Tien Street, the capital feels like a stage where every corner plays its part in a grand performance of patriotism. The Opera House glows under spotlights during evening rehearsals. The wide boulevards are cordoned off for parade units to practice their formations.

Each drumbeat and each synchronized step echo across the city. They resonate deeply in the hearts of Hanoians.

The celebrations also draw international visitors, who find themselves caught up in the wave of national pride. Louis and Lucile Violette, a couple from France who wore small stickers of the Vietnamese flag on their cheek and T-shirt, recalled how they stumbled upon the parade rehearsal a few days earlier.

“We were very close to it, with a lot of people sitting all around the corner, waving flags and so many children cheering, it was very exciting,” said Louis.

“We got these stickers because we went to the Puppetry Theatre,” they explained, smiling as they touched the tiny flags on their faces.

Lucile Violette told a lady there gave them sweets and then put these stickers on them. “She did it again last week when we came back for another show. It was a gift, and it made us feel part of the celebration.”

The couple had been in Hanoi for ten days, long enough to absorb the festive atmosphere but not quite long enough to witness the climax of the parade on September 2.

“It’s wonderful. I think it’s a privilege to be here for this special day. Unfortunately, we’re leaving tomorrow. We won’t be here for the big day, but it’s emotional to see so many people taking pictures, celebrating together,” said Louis.

For visitors, these simple gestures, flags offered by strangers, the sea of red banners fluttering above every street, become unforgettable memories. For locals, they are symbols of continuity, of unity, of a shared history that stretches from 1945 to the present day.

At night, Hoan Kiem Lake glows in the reflection of the red and yellow banners strung along its banks. Families and group of young people gather along the water, posing for photos. Children run with small flags in their hands. The Old Quarter, usually bustling with commerce, slows down just enough for people to notice the decorations that transform its ancient streets into a patriotic gallery.

Back near Ba Dinh Square, where President Ho Chi Minh proclaimed independence on September 2, 1945, the rehearsals continue. Soldiers march in perfect lines, their uniforms crisp and their faces focused. Above them, the national flag ripples in the night breeze. Illuminated against the dark sky, it sends an unmistakable message: The Fatherland is not only a memory of past struggles but also a living presence carried forward by every generation.

Hoan, watching alongside his daughter, summed it up simply. “The flag is not just cloth. It is the homeland in our hearts.”

As September 2 arrives, Hanoi will once again become a living canvas of red and gold. From the young girl clutching her paper flag to the visitor who treasures a simple sticker, from the veteran who fought for independence to the crowds who gather in awe at Ba Dinh Square and roads, each carries a piece of the Fatherland within.

Together, under the fluttering flags, they remind the world that Vietnam’s greatest strength lies in its history and in the hearts of its people.