Among the veterans moving into the square was Le Van Phong from Quang Ninh, who fought in the resistance war against the United States. He said he and his delegation had arrived in Hanoi on September 1 and were impressed by the careful reception and the high level of security at the event.

Veteran Le Van Phong with his comrades. 

He shared his feelings with great pride: "We are touched to witness the patriotism of people everywhere. I never thought I would live to return here, and now to be part of the 80th National Day celebration makes me truly happy and proud."

Nguyen Ngoc Thanh, born in 2001 and working for the Hanoi Power Corporation, was also present. His shift began at 2 a.m., but he had already arrived the night before to avoid difficulties with movement. He said the corporation organized training and assigned clear tasks to ensure smooth coordination with other units during the event.

He shared: "As a young person, I feel proud and happy to be trusted to take part in such a once-in-a-lifetime event. I will do my best to complete my assignment and contribute to the overall success of this celebration."

Nguyen Thi Thu Anh, an employee of the Hanoi Urban Environment Company, also contributed to preparations. She explained that staff had been trained, provided with full protective equipment, and assigned clear working shifts. The company divided its work into three shifts: from 4:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., and from 5 p.m. until all trash was cleared.

She noted that sanitation had visibly improved over the days, with streets becoming cleaner and public awareness increasing. She expressed hope that citizens and visitors would join hands to keep Hanoi clean, beautiful, and civilized during the celebrations.

In the press section, Chansavanh Vongphet from the Lao National Television's Vietnamese-language news desk said his delegation had been in Vietnam since August 27. 

Locals during the event. 

They attended the parade rehearsal on August 30, the special amnesty event on September 1, and also toured Hanoi on a double-decker bus. He was deeply impressed by the atmosphere in Hanoi, where people of all ages, from the elderly to children, gathered from early morning to line the streets.

He added that the Lao press delegation, together with journalists from Cambodia, Japan, South Korea, Canada, and the United States, was warmly welcomed and provided with good working and living conditions. 

For him, the highlight was attending the parade and witnessing Vietnam's armed forces and modern equipment firsthand. He emphasized that the participation of 120 Lao officers in the parade reaffirmed the solidarity and mutual support between Vietnam and Laos.

Journalist Hien Chi of Hanoimoi newspaper also joined the event. She proudly shared that this year, three members of her family, including her daughter and her brother's child, all took part in the celebration. Despite working and studying in different fields, they shared the same pride and gratitude for the sacrifices of earlier generations that brought peace today.

She recalled that all three of them had arrived at different designated points from 2 a.m., passed through strict security checks, and were fortunate to meet each other in the crowd to capture a commemorative photo. She said the photo was especially meaningful because it was taken at historic Ba Dinh Square on this memorable 80th National Day.