On the morning of April 30, in the atmosphere of the whole country celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification Day, Con Market - the long-standing traditional market of Dong Hoi City - was also covered in red. Flags and banners were hung up very early. Joy was radiant on every face.

The sellers prepare their stalls more beautifully, the buyers are also more cheerful and bustling. Happiness and pride spread throughout the market space. In the red color of the national flag, Con market seems to "wear a new coat". Red flag shirts with yellow stars, simple but prominent slogans are hung in front of each stall.

According to Ms. Tran Thi Duyen, a vendor at Con Market, to join in the atmosphere of celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and the Reunification of the country, the vendors of fresh food stalls contributed money to buy banners and slogans to decorate their stalls, and then bought red flags with yellow stars themselves. "On big holidays, I also make my stalls a little more beautiful, not just during Tet. With flags and slogans, I suddenly feel excited, and feel like I am also contributing to the common joy," Ms. Duyen excitedly said.

The market was also more crowded, the atmosphere was bustling and lively all morning. Everyone smiled more easily, asking each other a few questions about the holiday. When the market was over, the traders organized a cultural exchange program. The morning market on April 30 was no longer simply a place for trading, but a place to start a new day of a big holiday with the most simple, natural and intimate things.

The bustling atmosphere is not only in the market. On all the central streets, such as Quang Trung, Tran Hung Dao, Hung Vuong, Ly Thuong Kiet... everywhere are covered with flags. Households, coffee shops, offices, schools all decorate together, making the whole city look like it is wearing a new, brilliant coat. Vehicles are bustling. Pedestrians are leisurely. Everyone can feel the festive atmosphere spreading in every corner and road.

At Ho Chi Minh Square, from early morning on April 30, the footsteps of locals and tourists were bustling. In the brilliant colors of flags, groups of families and young people eagerly poured in to capture beautiful moments next to the statue of President Ho Chi Minh with the people of Quang Binh. Many children wore traditional ao dai, holding small flags in their hands, beaming in front of the camera lens, taking pictures.

The festive atmosphere permeates every frame. Everyone wants to capture something of the holiday, not just a photo, but a sense of pride and connection on a shared happy day.

Ms. Dinh Thi Phuong, a tourist from Hai Phong City, shared that coming to Quang Binh on the occasion of April 30th, being immersed in the atmosphere of the big holiday is a special experience. From the streets decorated with flags and flowers, the bustling squares, to the coffee shops... every place contributes to creating a brilliant and emotional picture to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification.

Choose sports to pay tribute to history

While the city was still sleeping, at 3 o'clock on April 30, more than 100 members of the Quang Binh Runners Club quietly set off from Ho Chi Minh Square, starting a meaningful running journey called "Long run thong nhat - Celebrating the country's unity".

Participants will choose a meaningful distance of 30.4km or 50km. No trumpets, no stage, no noisy cheering, just the sound of hurried footsteps echoing in the heart of the city. The meaningful route takes runners through many historical and cultural landmarks of Dong Hoi.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Nhu Quynh, Club President, shared: “We chose the 30.4km and 50km milestones to both challenge our physical strength and to mark the meaning of the Southern Liberation and National Reunification Day. This is a special way for runners to celebrate the great holiday. The activity attracted club members in Dong Hoi and spread to other localities in the province. Many brothers and sisters who were far away from home for the holiday also participated in the event. In particular, club members who are studying and living in other provinces and cities also responded from afar.”

Along each route, athletes stopped to take souvenir photos in front of historical sites as a way to connect sports, history and gratitude. In addition to physical training, the running journey was also a choice of a gentle, positive and profound way to express patriotism.

Like Quang Binh Runners, the Quang Binh Swimming-Biking-Running Triathlon Club also organized activities for its members on this occasion. Athletes swam 1.5km on the Nhat Le River, cycled 40km and ran 10km.

The event is a way for sports lovers to celebrate the festival in their own way, and is also an opportunity to remind them of solidarity and the will to overcome difficulties - which sports always aim for. Each participant carries within them the pride of contributing to a meaningful day.

Young people join the festival

In the wave of innovative approaches to history, many coffee shops in Dong Hoi have contributed to making the holiday more lively and culturally colorful. Coffee shops such as Nup (Tran Quang Dieu Street), Mo (Huu Nghi Street)… have been decorated with colorful flags and flowers for many days in advance, becoming meaningful “check-in” spots.

From early morning on April 30, these coffee shops opened live TV programs to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification Day for customers to watch. Mo Coffee Shop also organized screenings of historical films, such as: The Scent of Burning Grass, Saigon Special Forces... to let customers relive the heroic atmosphere of the past through old films.

The cozy space of the cafe and the special movie screenings suddenly became a place to connect generations. All of this created an experience that was both relaxing and meaningful. Mr. Nguyen Minh Tam, owner of Mo Cafe, affirmed that decorating the cafe and showing historical movies was to arouse and spread patriotism and national spirit to everyone, especially the younger generation. It is truly precious that young people have supported and welcomed it enthusiastically.

Many students visit the shop to drink coffee and watch documentaries attentively. This shows that young people are not indifferent to history, but just need to create a space to approach it in a more intimate and natural way.

Tran Vi Phuong Thao from Dong Son Ward (Dong Hoi City) said that coming to the restaurant on this special occasion made her feel even more special. “I feel touched and proud. I think this is a great way for young people like us to approach history,” Thao said.

Closing the day of April 30th was a brilliant fireworks display at Ho Chi Minh Square. Thousands of people and tourists had flocked here early. Small flags, LED lights, children on their parents' shoulders cheered as the fireworks lit up the sky. Everything was like a song of joy echoing the past but also sparkling with faith in the future. Each generation, although expressing joy and excitement differently, shared the same flow of pride.