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| Young people proud with the national flag. Photo: Le Hoang |
The day we rebuilt the house, my mother was cleaning and took out two items from inside a pillow, gently caressing them for a long time. At first glance, they looked like two old scraps of fabric, but when unfolded, they turned out to be a national flag embroidered with thread, its corners frayed and its colors faded, and a double-sided black-and-white embroidered portrait of Uncle Ho. Both were worn by time, small enough to fit in the palm of a hand. My mother said that though they looked so small, they had passed through years of war and symbolized the love for the homeland of the generations before us.
During the brutal years of the war against America, when enemy raids and searches were relentless, my grandfather somehow obtained a national flag and a portrait of Uncle Ho, which he hid inside a wooden rice bin. Whenever he heard on the radio about a major national event or a battlefield victory, he would wait until nightfall, quietly took out the flag and portrait, looked at them for a moment, then hid them again. My mother recalled that at that time, if American soldiers discovered anything linked to the communists, they would not hesitate to shoot the entire family. Yet in the garden there was still a secret bunker for soldiers to shelter, while the rice, money, and goods my grandparents earned were regularly sent into the jungle to supply the revolution. The eldest daughter joined the guerrilla forces, and the younger son served as a courier.
My grandfather was a gentle and quiet man, yet proud that his whole family gave their most precious things to the revolution. Even his youngest sister, whom he cherished most, devoted her youth to the Homeland before turning eighteen, facing the enemy’s guns with defiance - “ready to sacrifice, never surrender.” That moment became both a deep wound and a fierce source of pride in the heart of such a simple farmer. Though he did not directly take up arms, he expressed his patriotism in another way: silently, humbly.
In March 1985, upon hearing that Hue was holding a grand ceremony to mark the 10th anniversary of its liberation, my grandfather visited his children and grandchildren. He struggled to climb up the Citadel surface to watch the majestic military parade along the streets. Then he stood silently for a long time, gazing at the flag flying over the Ky Dai and broke into tears. For the first time in my life, I saw him cry. Only when I grew older did I understand the meaning of those tears of joy for independence under the shadow of the national flag.
When his daughter married and settled in the city center, my grandfather entrusted her with those two precious items, as if sending a message of guidance and remembrance.
No matter the circumstances in which they were born, or their size, every national flag carried the longing for independence and freedom. Through storms of bombs and bullets, through ever-present danger, the national flag was safeguarded - protected even at the cost of life itself. Countless other flags were created in prisons and in the midst of struggle, reminding soldiers to remain steadfast, to keep their full faith in the Party and in Uncle Ho, and to look toward the day of final victory. As long as there is a flag, the nation endures, and the Homeland remains by our side.
Even in times of hardship, the red flag with the golden star became a savior for many. The story of how the national flag “saved” the villagers of the Ta Trach region during the historic floods of 1999 is still recalled by the elders as a cherished memory.
At that time, when floodwaters covered the villages, many households from Buong Tam hamlet, former Duong Hoa commune (now Phu Bai ward), fled together to Da Trang hill to escape the rising waters. By the third day of being surrounded, everyone was trapped in hunger and cold. During this period, relief helicopters dropped supplies at Khe Bun Bridge, but most of the food fell into the stream. The water was so swift and dangerous that no one dared to approach the area…
While taking shelter on Da Trang hill, the villagers came up with an idea: they tied the national flag to a long pole and waved it as a signal. Thanks to that, the helicopter changed direction and dropped loaves of bread and packs of instant noodles for the people. The flag, soaked and heavy with rainwater, shone more brilliantly than ever! That moment was etched into the memory of the weary crowd, waiting anxiously in hope. With the food supplies, they could hold on a little longer and send provisions down to the families still trapped in the flooded lowlands.
Mrs. Vo Thi Thanh, one of the witnesses, recalled: “It was the days I followed my father and brother into the jungle during the resistance that I remembered how to wave the flag to draw attention. When the helicopter finally landed and the door opened, a soldier stepped out, spreading his arms to embrace the elderly and children, offering comfort. He wept, and the villagers wept too. In that moment, we realized we were not alone.”
Amid the fury of nature, not far away in Luong Mieu 4 hamlet, a red flag with a five-pointed golden star appeared atop the house of the late Le Xuan Hung, Chairman of the Duong Hoa Veterans’ Association. It stood out brightly against the gray, storm-filled sky. The flagpole was a tall, curved bamboo stalk, and below it, more than a hundred people shouted and waved for help. A helicopter arrived, circling overhead before dropping instant noodles, loaves of bread, and rations. In that moment, the flag became an invisible thread connecting life and humanity in the most difficult and unforgettable of times.
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| The flag that once flew over the Ky Dai in Hue was carefully folded and sent to National Assembly delegate Ta Van Han for display |
Having passed through war and aided people in times of hardship, the flag remains a source of pride for generations, witnessing unforgettable moments across many regions. One such flag from the Ky Dai in Hue - 12 meters long, 8 meters wide, with a golden star and 4 meters high - became an artifact on display at a community library in the North. Through a letter from Mr. Ta Van Ha, a National Assembly delegate of the XV Congress, Legislature and Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Culture and Society, the Hue delegation of the National Assembly helped give him the flag, one deeply imbued with the spirit of April 30 and May 1 of the people of Hue.
In his letter, Mr. Hạ wrote: “Beyond legislative, oversight, and decision-making functions in important matters under its purview, the Committee for Culture and Society has always placed emphasis on spreading and promoting culture, education, and training; as well as educating and disseminating the noble historical and cultural values of our nation, of the Party, and of our people in the process of defending and building the country. In recent years, I have actively campaigned for and coordinated the establishment and strengthening of the ‘Community Library’ model in my hometown. To enrich the library’s content and activities, I humbly request your assistance in obtaining a flag that once flew over Ky Dai in Hue (with the exact time it was flown recorded). If it were a flag raised during major national holidays such as April 30 or September 2, it would be especially precious. The flag will be carefully preserved and displayed in a glass cabinet at the library, for young people to read, learn, and admire.”
In addition to the flag from the Ky Dai in Hue, Mr. Ha has collected many other flags from landmarks such as the Lung Cu flagpole, Ca Mau, Co To Island, Hien Luong Bridge, the summit of Phan Xi Pang, Ly Son Island, and the Spratly Archipelago. He shared that the idea of gathering flags flown at historic and symbolic sites across the country had long been in his heart, and over the years this valuable collection has steadily grown.
“Each flag is a vivid symbol of a glorious milestone in our nation’s struggle for independence and unification, a testament to the aspiration for peace, territorial integrity, and the steadfast will of the Vietnamese people. Collecting these flags is also a way of linking geography with the flow of history, reflecting a citizen’s responsibility to preserve heroic memories, to inspire patriotism, and to educate future generations about the value of independence, freedom, and the great spirit of national solidarity,” Mr. Ha affirmed.