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| Leveraging technology to spread the nation’s heroic history is how young people express their patriotism in the digital age |
Being Enthusiastic
Meeting at Chin Ham Historical Site in An Cuu Ward on an April afternoon, Luong Viet Hai, a former student of the University of Tourism, Hue University, shared with us stories of the site’s heroic past as we made our way around the complex.
Viet Hai said: “The site was originally built by the French colonialists as an arms depot before being turned into a detention facility for revolutionary cadres and soldiers. Structurally, the bunkers were constructed of solid concrete in a semi-military style, partially submerged and partially above ground, encircling Thien Thai Mountain. Each bunker was used to hold prisoners by classification. Today, bunker No. 8, comprising 20 cells, has been restored, while others just remain in traces”.
Though it was not his first visit, each step down the staircase shaded by pine trees leading to bunker No. 8 still left Viet Hai with a sense of awe and deep respect. The young man from Binh Dien shared emotionally: “Although I had prepared myself through documents beforehand, it was only when I stood inside the cramped, dark cells and saw the reconstructed models of prisoners once held here that I could truly begin to grasp the brutality of what was known as a ‘hell on earth’ ”.
Those real-life emotions have provided rich inspiration for Hai to produce his TikTok series “Hue and Historical Stories”. The 2000-born content creator shared: “For nearly 3 years, I’ve committed myself to exploring historical sites. Since 2025, I’ve made more trips to gain deeper insight into these ‘red sites’. Through these short videos on social media, I hope to present historical narratives in a more concise and relatable way, making them easier for everyone to access”.
Viet Hai’s journey has taken him across many historic sites steeped in the nation’s legacy, from Chin Ham Historical Site to A Bia Hill in A Luoi 2 Commune, from Tien Cong Cave in A Luoi 1 Commune to the Ho Chi Minh Museum, which preserves thousands of valuable documents and artifacts related to President Ho Chi Minh.
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| Luong Viet Hai introducing Chi Ham Historical Site |
Striking a Chord in the Heart
Tran Thi Ngoc Tram (Thuan Hoa Ward), a young viewer, shared her feelings after watching Viet Hai’s TikTok videos: “I was truly surprised to bump into the contents about Hue’s history while scrolling on TikTok. Instead of fleeting trends that come and go, Hai’s short films about Chin Ham relic site and A Bia Hill have touched the hearts of viewers. Looking at the cramped cells and the brutal remnants of war, I feel deep admiration for the courage and unyielding spirit of our forefathers. This makes me, as a young person, realize the need to live more responsibly and more worthy of the sacrifices made by previous generations”.
Not alone on this journey, many young people in Hue have been contributing in their own ways to spreading the city’s noble historical values. Beyond Luong Viet Hai, other names such as Trang Thuong Hue and Hoang Trinh Phan have also been persistently promoting Hue’s culture and history, attracting hundreds of thousands of views while sharing heroic stories about Hue Ancient Capital.
Planning a new journey this summer, Luong Viet Hai is set to visit historical sites and share his personal experiences at Tri - Thien - Hue Party Committee tunnel base in Huong Tra Ward and A So airfield in A Luoi 4 Commune. Through vivid and relatable footage and meaningful historical storytelling, Hai and his peers are using digital tools to explore history more deeply, gain a better understanding, and foster a stronger sense of pride in their heritage and social responsibility. This also reflects how patriotism is expressed distinctively and creatively in such a way by young people in the digital age.