It was joyfully moment when millions of capital residents welcomed the victorious armies back to liberate Hanoi, 61 years ago (October 10^th, 1954 – October 10^th, 2015). After the August Revolution, Hanoi together with the whole country determined to protect fledgling revolutionary government intensely. In October, 1946, the French troops captured Hai Phong, attacked Lang Son and provoked Hanoi. In respond to the "Appeal for national resistance" of President Ho Chi Minh on December 19^th, 1946: "We want peace, we must make concessions. But the more we tolerate, the more French colonist encroach because they want to invade our country again. Never! We would rather sacrifice all than lose the independence and be slaves", all of Hanoi people simultaneously stood up to fight against the enemy in order to gain initiative during the war.

Over the 9 years of resistance, with the persistent fighting strength as well as wisdom and brave "inflexible, determined", "no fear of rain, lack of food" our army and people achieved a great victory at Dien Bien Phu "Illustrious five continents, earth tremors", French had to sign the Geneva agreement to withdraw troops and recognize the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

According to the Resolution (September 17th, 1954) of the Government Council, the Hanoi Political Military Committee was founded which the command of Major-General Vuong Thua Vu-commander of Pioneer Force was the Chairman and doctor Tran Duy Hung was the Vice Chairman. The Political Military Committee was responsible for receiving and controlling the city. The High Command ordered all of the units that took over Hanoi must absolutely comply with the policies and disciplines of the government, show great vigilance and be willing to defeat compeletely enemy's plots and attacks. The Pioneer Force was assigned to take over Hanoi by the Party Central Committee and the Government. On October 9th, our military entered the inner city through different directions from suburbs, taking over the train station, Presidential Palace, Don Thuy area, Hoan Kiem Lake, Residency… At 4 p.m, the French Union forces left the city and moved to North of Long Bien bridge. At 4.30 p.m, our forces completely controlled Hanoi. Welcome gates, slogans were put up across streets and red flag with a yellow star flied over all the buildings.

Early on October 10^th, 1954, Hanoi people dressed up together with flowers, flags and Ho Chi Minh pictures, they lined up in specific groups of officers, students, workers and residents going to the locations where troops were going to pass.

From the suburbs, each army troop entered the inner city through different gates with a sacred mission to take over the Capital. The first group of vehicles was led by major general Vuong Thua Vu – Chairman of Hanoi Political Military Committee and Doctor Tran Duy Hung- Vice chairman of Hanoi Political Military Committee. As exactly as 8a.m, the Western military force led by Nguyen Quoc Tri – a regiment commander – a military hero, started to entered the city from Quan Ngua. The soldiers had paraded through Kim Ma, Hang Day, Cua Nam, Hang Bong, Hang Dao and entered the South gate at 9h45.

At 8h45, the Southern military force including the 88 and 36 Regiments commenced from Vietnam Campus paraded through Bach Mai, Hoan Kiem Lake and stationed in Don Thuy.

From 9h30 p.m the motorized and Artillery group departed from Bach Mai, passed across Hue street to Hoan Kiem Lake, crossed Hang Dao, Hang Ngang, Dong Xuan market, turned into Cua Bac street to enter the Capital. People shouted for joy and waved flags. Hanoi was filled with joy, lyrics and singings to welcome the victorious army to return.

At 3 p.m, the toot of Opera House emerged; dozens of residents of Hanoi solemnly took part in the flag-raising ceremony which held by the Political Military Committee at the Cot Co stadium. That was the first time the flag flied on top of the flagpole in Hanoi. Peace, independence returned to the Capital of heroic fatherland. At this historic flag-raising ceremony, all of Hanoians silently listened to the major general Vuong Thua Vu- the Chairman of Hanoi Political Military Committee read the call of President Ho Chi Minh for Hanoians on the Capital Liberation Day, every sentence, every word has penetrated into Hanoians' hearts "Eight years ago, the government had to leave the capital to fight for the country's independence. Though far apart, but the Government always stayed beside the compatriots. Today, thanked to our solidarity, our brave troops, we won the peace and the government returned to the Capital with the people. From thousand miles away, now we gather in a home, it was overjoyed ... "

61 years has passed since October 10^th, 1954 but the glorious spirit of the early days of Hanoi Liberation Day has become a historical day, a glorious point in the struggle to defend the national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Through the ups and downs of the time, Hanoi was from a war-ravaged in the past, but now it is changing day by day. Currently, Hanoi is ranked at No.7 of 63 provinces in the implementation of administrative reform. Regarding the application of IT State Agencies' activities, it took the second rank of the 63 provinces. Hanoi has been voted as one of the cities in top 5 in the total 20 most attractive cities in Asia in term of tourisms ... To deserve its role as a center of economy, culture, science and education in the nation, Government and the people of Hanoi are trying to build a more developed, modern and peaceful capital as its honor "A thousand years of civilization" ./.

By Dang Dien

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