Saigon – the city I love

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"Not enough moss on each brick

It seems that the more stormy the leaves become, the younger they become.

Three Hundred and Odd Years on the Shore

Forever young Saigon"

On April 30, 1975, when the red flag with yellow star was flying on the roof of the Independence Palace, announcing victory, there was a Southern woman over 80 years old who traveled from Vinh Long to Saigon, joining the liberation army to find her two beloved children who had gathered in 1954. That person was my grandmother.

Although the Military Administration had recorded my father's and my uncle's names and promised to inform my grandmother as soon as possible, my grandmother was still worried and returned home with tears in her eyes.

More than 20 years have passed, with so many changes and losses. Independence and freedom have been exchanged for the blood and bones of many heroes and martyrs. “Mother’s eyes are tired waiting for her child, the bird flies back to the mountain, it’s dark”…

And yet my father and uncle really came back. Like many other Uncle Ho soldiers who had gone through two wars, they returned in weather-beaten uniforms with simple backpacks and rubber sandals. Grandma hugged them and sobbed, “My children!”

That year, my family had a very big Tet, a reunion Tet in our homeland Vietnam under the same flag. The nostalgic song “in the South, you have a lot of coconuts, in the South, you have a lot of pineapples…” from my father’s story became true.

My father took my brothers and I on the old roads he had passed through, the splendid and luxurious city of Saigon was so beautiful with its tall buildings, busy streets with people and vehicles, bustling shopping areas,...

Saigon, where I had a peaceful childhood with my parents and siblings in a small house on Tran Hung Dao Street, where I once went to school with many beautiful dreams: Hong Bang School, Hung Vuong School, University of Medicine and Pharmacy with stone benches in the school yard still smelling of frangipani flowers.

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50 years have passed, we have grown up and matured with the city named after Uncle Ho. The names of a historical period Hoai Nam, Toan Thang, Quyet Tien, Truong Son, Thong Nhat, Huu Nghi, Hoa Binh that our ancestors gave to our generation seem to entrust the immortal belief in the day when the country would be united. Because of that immortal belief, our ancestors sacrificed and devoted their whole lives to the cause of national liberation and national unification.

Our generation embarked on the construction and development of our homeland . Many outstanding Vietnamese children who studied abroad returned to serve the Fatherland. The outstanding achievements of Ho Chi Minh City include always being at the top in terms of GDP, highest budget revenue, increased labor productivity, effectively performing the role of economic locomotive for sustainable development and improving the quality of life for the people.

The city is expected to become the economic, financial, commercial, scientific - technological and cultural center of Southeast Asia by 2030. The vision is to become the development center of Asia by 2045, with a gross regional domestic product (GRDP) per capita of about 37,000 USD, making it an attractive global destination.

During these historic April days, in foreign affairs activities, the city has enhanced Vietnam-US cultural exchanges to spread humanistic values, connecting cultures to promote friendly relations and cooperation for mutual development.

"Expanding educational cooperation is a key element to the success of the US-Vietnam relationship. By connecting the leading universities of both countries, we are opening up new opportunities for students and researchers to thrive," said US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Evans Knapper.

On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Vietnam - US relations, the "International Academic Partnership Program Vietnam" (IAPP Vietnam) program, implemented in coordination between the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam and the Institute of International Education of the United States, is a new step in the internationalization of training programs and also a stepping stone for universities to firmly enter the international market.

“Talent is the vital energy of the nation”, the city puts all its trust in the young generation of the 4.0 era, digital technology and artificial intelligence standing at the center of the production process and business activities.

Let's promote the unique tradition of Saigon people: bravely facing challenges, intelligent and creative, generous and loyal, generous and practical, proud and elegant but very compassionate to build the country in the process of innovation to keep up with developed countries.

Show your patriotism by trying to study hard to improve your knowledge to serve the people, train your personality to become a good citizen, work hard to have a better life, and join hands to build a prosperous Vietnam./.

Ly Thi Nhat Dinh

Source: https://baolongan.vn/sa-i-go-n-tha-nh-pho-toi-yeu-a193337.html