Tokyo (VNA) – As Vietnam celebrated its 80th National Day on September 2, Japanese media turned its gaze to the spectacle unfolding in Hanoi, where a grand military parade and vibrant processions served as both a tribute to the nation’s hard-won independence and a testament to the legitimacy of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV).
Nikkei Asia published an in-depth mega story packed with vivid, large-format images and graphics showing Vietnam’s evolution. The story opened with a striking photo of a Vietnamese war soldier, weathered yet resolute, raising the national flag amid a sea of people clad in red shirts and veterans in green uniforms.
The crowds, it observed, filled Hanoi’s streets, radiating pride in a nation that has surmounted decades of war. Party General Secretary To Lam seized the moment to call for the defence of national sovereignty.
The piece flashed back to September 2, 1945 when President Ho Chi Minh declared independence at Hanoi’s Ba Dinh Square, even when French colonial forces still occupied some areas until 1954. After battling France, the US, and later border conflicts, Vietnam has been free of military confrontation since the 1980s.
Vietnam is now one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing economies, with many people feeling their lives better thanks to economic reforms such as Doi Moi (renewal) policy, it noted.
It also quoted General Secretary To Lam, who affirmed that Vietnam wants to be a friend and trustworthy partner of all countries, respects international law and the United Nations Charter, and the peaceful settlement of disputes. Vietnam would make no concessions to any attempt to infringe upon its independence, sovereignty, unity or territorial integrity, and would resolutely safeguard national interests.
The feature captured the fervor of millions who took to the streets to celebrate enduring peace and patriotism. Some even camped out for two days ahead of the parade to secure a spot near historic Ba Dinh Square.
Kyodo News, in its coverage, stressed the Vietnamese Party chief’s remarks on the CPV and Vietnamese people’s pivotal role in driving national progress, and reiterated Vietnam’s ambition to become a “prosperous, strong and happy” country by 2045.
Asahi, another major Japanese outlet, also spotlighted Vietnam’s determination to defend its territorial integrity./.
