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The 40-year-old South Korean says he has lived in Vietnam since the beginning of this year, and has since joined crowds to celebrate the national football team’s victory and flown to HCMC to attend the April 30 Reunification Day pageant.

Jeong traveled from Bac Ninh Province to Hanoi for the “To Quoc Trong Tim” (Nation In My Heart) concert on Aug. 10. He wanted to buy a ticket from the black market out of fear that his passport would be rejected at the gate. “Luckily the organizers accepted my passport instead of an ID card and let me in.”

Before the event he picked out patriotic clothes and accessories to look as Vietnamese as possible. The image of a giant Vietnamese flag fluttering above tens of thousands of people chanting “Vietnam Ho Chi Minh” with their hands on their chests stood out the most, he says.

“I chanted along. I was so happy and lucky to be a part of this.

“This never happens in South Korea. People usually just take the day off on National Day there. In Vietnam, people can celebrate national events for days or a whole month and still be excited.”

Japanese national Kaneya Manabu, 44, has lived in Hanoi for nine years and often rides his motorbike through flag-filled streets to enjoy the festive spirit on occasions like Reunification Day and National Day.

He says this year’s National Day feels different: Cafes, malls and neighborhoods are covered with national flags and people wear the ao dai and conical hats to take photos at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

“Thousands line the streets to cheer for the military during rehearsals for the National Day pageant.”

The former police chief in Saitama Prefecture says in Japan people are not allowed to take photos with police officers or soldiers, and so pay little attention to rehearsals or national events.

“Vietnamese people offer water and food and treat soldiers like idols. It’s surprising.”

Cam Hang, 27, his friend, says Manabu has been learning Vietnamese songs to prepare for the national concerts.

He asked Hang to guide him through the Vietnam Military History Museum in Hanoi, and joined the virtual reality exhibition “Tro Ve Thoi Khac Thieng Lieng” (Back to the Sacred Moment) to relive the historic moment when President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence on Sept. 2, 1945.

Foreigners blend in the atmosphere of 2/9 in Hanoi

Many foreigners are drawn to Vietnam’s culture through traditions such as ancestor worship, hospitality and patriotism, according to Cultural Atlas, a multicultural information platform run by Australian TV network SBS.

A 2023 report by ABroader.org said 80% of foreign visitors describe Vietnam’s culture as “optimistic” with a “strong sense of community.” They are most impressed by the country’s cuisine, festivals and historical events.

Interest has grown as Hanoi hosts programs for the 80th National Day, including pageants, marches, concerts, and fireworks displays.

For the past week shops selling patriotic items such as red-and-gold T-shirts, national flags and conical hats on Hang Ma Street in the old quarter have attracted scores of foreign customers.

Bich Lien, a shop owner there, says since early August the number of foreign buyers has doubled or tripled compared to last year.

“They are often surprised and delighted by the streets lined with flags. Many stop to shop and take photos. Some even buy ao dai to enjoy the festive spirit with the locals.”

Hoang Giang, owner of a photo studio in Thanh Xuan District, says visitors from Russia, Indonesia and the Philippines have booked photo shoots at sites such as the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Vietnam Military History Museum and Hoan Kiem Lake over the past week.

“They send us videos of Vietnamese people checking in at these places during National Day and want us to capture similar memories for them. I was surprised because we have never had international clients before.”

Kaneya Manabu, 44, of Japan (third from left) and Cam Hang (second from left) attended the “To Quoc Trong Tim” concert on Aug. 10, 2025. Photo by courtesy of Kaneya Manabu

After six months in Vietnam, Jeong Jonghyeok says he is moved by how Vietnamese help each other through hard times. He saw Vietnamese join hands to support areas hit by storm Wipha and asked to join a volunteer relief team traveling to Dien Bien Province.

“When I saw Vietnamese donate more than VND300 billion (US$11,000) in just five days to support Cuba, I contributed too. This is something people in other countries should learn from Vietnam.”