Proud Melodies: Sounds That Weave a Love for the Homeland

Against the special backdrop of National Day on September 2, “Melodies of the Homeland”  transported audiences on a journey through memories, stories and emotions tied together by a shared love of country. As well as revisiting historic milestones, the programme also explored how people today experience and carry forward that sense of national pride.

One of the programme’s most poignant stories was 94-year-old Colonel and composer Doan Nho's recollection of 2 September 1945. Despite the 81 years that have passed, the image of President Ho Chi Minh reading the Declaration of Independence at Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi on September 2, 1945, has remained vivid in his memory. The historic moment, which marked the birth of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, has stayed with him throughout his career as a composer.

The programme also told the story of 76-year-old Tran Van Thanh, a veteran from Vinh, Nghe An, who rode his motorcycle more than 1,300 kilometres to Ho Chi Minh City in April 2025, completing the journey in 10 days. He was determined to see the country at peace with his own eyes and attend celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South. This year, for  National Day, the veteran once again set out, this time travelling from Nghe An to Hanoi. The sight of him, still healthy and clear-minded, riding his old motorcycle toward the capital with his belongings and the national flag flying behind him, became a powerful symbol of his love for the country.

While Tran Van Thanh expresses his patriotism through his travels, photographer Nguyen A has chosen  to use a camera to document Vietnam’s changing face over time. Having travelled to Truong Sa eight times and across the country numerous times, Nguyen A has met people from  all walks of life, witnessed Vietnam’s transformation firsthand and captured defining moments along the way. Through the eyes of this photographer, whose work preserves time in images, Vietnam emerges not only through historic occasions but also through the simplest moments of everyday life. Each photograph is therefore more than a frame; it is also the artist’s way of preserving the memory of an era.

The September edition of Proud Melodies, entitled “Melodies of the Homeland”, featured six songs that took audiences on an emotional journey through love for the homeland, national pride and the values that connect generations. The programme opened with “Proud Melodies” by Pham Hong Bien, performed by OPlus, the STARLAB Children’s Choir and the K-Ben Dance Company, creating a vibrant and energetic atmosphere. Singer-songwriter Hoang Bach’s “Words from the Vietnamese Heart” offered a warmer, more intimate expression of love for the country, conveying deeply personal emotions.

On a grand scale,  Long Ca's “The Homeland in the Sunlight”  featured Thu Thuy, the K-Ben Dance Company and the Military Ceremonial Unit, presenting a solemn and powerful image of the nation. “The Flag” by Ta Quang Thang continued to evoke strong emotions surrounding one of the country’s most sacred symbols.

“Vietnam, My Homeland” by Anh Khang brought a youthful spirit to the programme, while “My Radiant Vietnam” by Nguyen Tien Duc, performed by Tung Duong together with a children’s choir, brought the show to a close  on a note of  optimism and confidence in future generations.