The program Hanoi – The Heroic Anthem of the Streets, organized by the Hanoi People's Committee in collaboration with Vietnam Television, took place on the evening of October 10 at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel World Heritage Site. This event was a special highlight in the series of activities commemorating the 70th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Capital (October 10, 1954 - October 10, 2024)and recreated the heroic journey of Hanoi. The event was attended by Comrade Nguyen Trong Nghia – Member of the Politburo, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Party’s Committee of Communcation and Education; Comrade Bui Thi Minh Hoai – Member of the Politburo, Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, Head of the Hanoi National Assembly delegation; Comrade Pham Quang Nghi – Former Member of the Politburo, Former Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee; Comrade Vo Thi Anh Xuan – Member of the Party Central Committee, Vice President of Vietnam; Comrade Nguyen Thi Thanh – Member of the Party Central Committee, Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly; Comrade Nguyen Thi Tuyen – Member of the Party Central Committee, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee; Comrade Tran Sy Thanh – Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee, along with other Party and State leaders, Hanoi officials, historical witnesses, and members of the public.
Perhaps no other city in the world has inspired as many songs of praise as Hanoi. Hanoi – The Heroic Anthem of the Streets blends music and storytelling to evoke memories of the Capital’s heroic yet graceful historical days, while celebrating the continuation of the current generation’s efforts to preserve peace, nurture creativity, and uphold the cultural essence of Hanoi’s streets. It aims to ensure that Hanoi remains a city of peace, a creative city, and the capital of a Vietnam that is rising into a new era.
In the program, viewers saw archival footage from France and interviews with international experts about the French colonialists' plans to reoccupy Vietnam as early as 1946, along with vivid footage of the 60-day-and-night battle to defend the Capital. The program also recreated images of the evacuating crowds, trucks carrying precious machinery and equipment out of the city. During the fierce years of the American War, tens of thousands of Hanoians volunteered to join the fight, and the streets bade farewell to those heading to the most dangerous battlefields. Hanoi continued writing its anthem alongside the nation’s struggle against the U.S.
The highlight of the program was the emotional stories told by historical witnesses of that time. For them, the emotions of those days in Hanoi remain as vivid as ever. One such witness is Meritorious Artist Phung De, who was only a 13-year-old militia boy at the time. He recalled the last days in Hanoi, when each person had only 20 bullets left, food supplies lasted only for just five days, yet no one wanted to leave, and they were ready to die for Hanoi. Another witness is Mr. Hoang Quan Tao, head of the urban committee for document dissemination, who was once imprisoned in t Hoa Lo Prison. He is a testament to the determination, resilience, and steadfastness of the revolutionary soldiers behind enemy lines. Or there’s Ms. Pham Thi Vien, a 22-year-old female militia member from the Mai Dong Mechanical Factory, who, with a white mourning scarf tied on her head, stood strong beside the artillery, defending Hanoi’s skies and helped bring down the F.111A plane on the night of December 22, 1972.
October 10, 1954, marked the historic day when Hanoi officially became the liberated capital of a nation newly recognized by the world for its sovereignty and independence. The story of October 10—a day of national glory and freedom—was retold through archival footage, interviews with witnesses, music, and film clips, giving the audience a deep sense of pride and historical inspiration. Notably, in Hanoi – The Heroic Anthem of the Streets, the historic flag-raising ceremony at 3 PM on October 10, 1954, at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, was re-enacted, accompanied by the performance of Tien Quan Ca by singer Tung Duong and the Thang Long Orchestra, evoking powerful emotions in the viewers.
In addition to meticulously crafted reports and excerpts from valuable documentaries, music served as the central emotional thread throughout the program. One of the most impressive connections was the use of 3D Mapping technology. Images of a capital both elegant and heroic were recreated at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, a place of deep historical significance to the thousand-year-old city. Additionally, the musical tone of Hanoi – The Heroic Anthem of the Streets changed through various emotions—from the powerful, triumphant notes of Nguoi Ha Noi and Ha Noi Niem Tin Va Hy Vong, to the tender, soulful mashup of Huong Ve Ha Noi and Ao Mua Dong, and even the pure, innocent sounds of Em Be Ha Noi. These were performed by renowned artists such as Hong Nhung, People’s Artist Tan Minh, Meritorious Artist Dang Duong, Trong Tan, Pham Thu Ha, Ta Quang Thang, Dong Hung, Mai Tuyet Hoa, and the OPlus group. The segments were masterfully arranged, blending the continuity of music with stage sets, projection technology, and the performances of numerous artists to create a powerful anthem of the streets—a symphony of sound, sight, and emotional depth, highlighting the rich history of the capital.
From the triumphant victory of October 1954 to the Hanoi - Dien Bien Phu in the Air victory 18 years later, these milestones stand as the defining moments of their eras, conffirming the sacred role of the Capital, Hanoi, as the pioneering force that bore the responsibility of fulfilling the nation’s glorious historical missions. These missions have been preserved and built upon by successive generations of Hanoians throughout various periods of history. Over the past 70 years, Hanoi has increasingly demonstrated its vibrant and radiant vitality. The city boasts proud achievements in all walks of life, while maintaining the enduring flow of its thousand-year cultural essence through every street.
The seamless blend of sacred cultural values of the past with the heroic qualities of modern times, combined with deep international integration, has shaped the unique characteristics of the thousand-year-old capital—The City for Peace. Hanoi is now striving towards the goal of becoming a "green, smart, modern" city by 2030, a dynamic and efficient hub with strong regional and international competitiveness, fully completing its industrialization.
