The entire nation is in the grip of patriotic fervor as citizens celebrate Vietnam’s most important historical milestone - National Day (September 2).
A four-day holiday that runs from Friday to Monday allows the citizens to celebrate the day with a variety of programs.
In the capital city of Hanoi, a street bike parade based on the theme “Ao Dai connecting Hanoi Tourism and Heritage" was held from 5:30 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. on Friday, featuring women and men wearing the national traditional dress.
The parade passed through streets with many important landmarks like the Ba Dinh Square, Tran Quoc Pagoda, Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square and Thang Long Imperial Citadel.
It was the opening activity for a series of events within the framework of the “Hanoi Tourism Ao Dai Festival 2023.”
The southern economic hub of Ho Chi Minh City will have two fireworks displays to celebrate the occasions – a high-altitude one at the Thu Thiem Tunnel in Thu Duc city and a low-altitude display at the Dam Sen Cultural Park in District 11. The 15-minute shows will begin at 9 p.m. Saturday.
A special music gala will be held at Nguyen Hue pedestrian street in District 1 from 8 p.m. the same day. The show will present songs praising the country, President Ho Chi Minh, the city, youth and love, featuring both veteran singers like meritorious artist Ta Minh Tam as well as young, famous singers like Hien Thuc and Nguyen Phi Hung.
A hot air balloon show will be held Saturday morning above the Thu Thiem Tunnel in District 2.
The popular Nguyen Hue pedestrian street will be lit up with thousands of LED lights during the four-day holiday.
The city will also organize several music and art performances for people and workers at industrial parks and export processing zones and in outlying districts.
In the northern highlands town of Sa Pa in Lao Cai province, celebrations of the historic days include a flower festival on Fansipan mountain, dubbed as the Roof of Indochina.
Next to the cable car station on Fansipan is a 15,000-square meter purple flower hill; and at an altitude of more than 3,000 meters on the top of the mountain, there are more than 20,000 square meters of blooming red crocosmia.
Near the cable car station stands May, a miniature village that brings together the cultural quintessence of five ethnic minorities in the northwest region. A cultural exhibition at the village, called "Dreams in the Clouds," is another event that celebrates the National Day.
In Moc Chau district, Son La province, the National Day will be marked by a week-long series of cultural, sports and tourism events.
The events, lasting until Monday, will include a cultural camp competition for ethnic groups; ethnic cuisine displays; a group dance competition, and a tour to experience artificial snow on the Japanese walking street at 9:30 p.m. every day. The northwest market fair in the Ban Ang pine forest tourist area with entertainment activities and silent firework displays is also likely to attract visitors.
Celebrating the National Day holiday, the Hue Monuments Conservation Center in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue will offer free admission to Vietnamese citizens from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on September 2.
This is in addition to an art program held Friday evening and a traditional boat race on the Perfume River on Saturday.
The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Binh Thuan province is organizing a street culture week in Phan Thiet town from August 27 to September 3.
The south-central province also plans an art exchange themed "Seas and Islands – the Heart of Vietnam"; events to introduce tourism products, cuisine and street music; and a fireworks show Saturday evening at Bikini Beach square in Tien Thanh commune, Ham Thuan Bac district.
In the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, the Vung Tau BeerFest 2023 will take place during the weekend. The event will last 10 hours, from 8 p.m. on September 2 to 6 a.m. on September 3, serving beers from Japan, South Korea, Thailand, America and Germany.
Meanwhile, in the Mekong Delta’s Can Tho city, the 2023 National Motorcycle Racing Championship will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the Can Tho Stadium; and the third national composite boat racing championship will take place from September 3 to 4 on the Cai Khe canal in Ninh Kieu district.