Sacred flag-raising ceremony on Fansipan peak

Standing at an altitude of 3,143m above sea level, Fansipan Flagpole was inaugurated in January 2017 with a special design to honor the beauty of Vietnam. The flagpole is 25m high, built of monolithic green stone, sturdy against harsh weather conditions.

The honor guard appeared to the sound of ceremonial music, and visitors stopped everything to watch.

The structure consists of three parts: the base, the foot of the column and the column body. The square base of the column, 1m35 high, is decorated with delicately carved reliefs depicting the beauty of famous landmarks such as Ha Long, the Northwest, the Central Highlands, etc., while also recreating typical images that represent the cultural and historical traditions of the nation.

Every detail is refined.

The base of the flagpole is designed in an octagonal shape with a diameter of 3m and a height of 4.29m. The body of the pole has a perfectly circular cross-section, the largest diameter is up to 0.5m, the height is 18.68m, balanced, sturdy, symbolizing strength and longevity.

The soldiers were carefully selected and trained.

Surrounding the project is a 400m² space, ensuring safety, anti-slip and also creating a space for visitors from all over to gather, close to each other and to nature. This is an ideal place for visitors to stop, enjoy peaceful moments, calm down, and admire the national flag flying on the "roof of Indochina".

For each soldier, although honored to perform the ceremony many times, the emotion always overflows.

The national flag on the top of Fansipan is custom-made with a size of 4.5mx3m from special material to withstand harsh weather, regardless of sun, rain or strong winds at the top.

The national flag is held before being raised high.

The construction of the Fansipan Flagpole at an altitude of 3,143m is a miracle. Due to the terrain and climate, most of the construction materials were transported by hand under very harsh conditions.

The movements are solemn and beautiful.

This meaningful project was completed in the winter days of late 2017, with heavy rain, cold wind, and sometimes temperatures down to -2 degrees Celsius, but all those on duty were dedicated and quietly working with the strength of faith and determination.

The national flag was slowly raised.

The flag-raising ceremony on Fansipan peak took place solemnly, demonstrating loyalty and respect for the Fatherland and for generations of Vietnamese people who fought and sacrificed to protect independence and freedom.

As soon as the honor guard appeared to the ceremonial music, everyone present on the top of Fansipan stopped what they were doing and looked in the same direction. The honor guard’s preparations were rigorous and meticulous down to the smallest detail.

Solemn in emotion.

Before being raised, the national flag is folded neatly and carefully preserved. Each soldier has his own task in the flag-raising ceremony, but they all have to coordinate smoothly and rhythmically to raise the national flag high.

Domestic and international tourists all head to Fansipan Flagpole.

The wind on Fansipan peak often blows very strong, so the honor guard must practice seriously to master each movement and have enough health and skills to undertake this sacred duty.

The moment the national flag was slowly raised, fluttering in the vast and majestic space, made the scene even more majestic. In that atmosphere, every domestic and foreign tourist present felt a surge of pride.

This will be a proud and memorable memory.

In particular, for every Vietnamese person, it is impossible not to be moved and moved by the resilient and indomitable motherland, by the brave and heroic spirit of our nation. The national flag flies in the wind, in the mist, the National Anthem echoes among the clouds and mountain winds. An intense emotion, leaving an indelible mark in the soul of every person.

The red flag with yellow star flies proudly.

For young people, witnessing the flag-raising ceremony on Fansipan peak for the first time in their lives, they all feel the responsibility to believe in, preserve and promote the heroic traditions of the nation, building their homeland to become increasingly prosperous.

The mist gradually cleared to reveal a deep blue sky.

The flag-raising ceremony on Fansipan peak brings a solemn and peaceful moment, arousing national pride and self-esteem. The national flag flutters amidst strong winds and swirling clouds, symbolizing the nation's resilient strength.

A feeling of peace and serenity welled up.

After the flag was raised and the national anthem ended, the melody of the song "Marching on Fansipan Peak" by musician Xuan Quynh continued to play, continuing the flow of emotions. At this time, visitors could leave, take photos, and chat with each other in a warm and friendly atmosphere.

This was the first time Mr. Toan and Ms. Thao conquered Fansipan peak and the most memorable memory for them was attending the flag-raising ceremony.

The above song was honored to win the A prize at the 2nd National Music Festival in 2023 organized by the Vietnam Musicians Association. Musician Xuan Quynh once shared that he always cherished composing songs with heroic and proud melodies, praising the Fatherland and the border land of Lao Cai, but because he had not found an idea, everything remained just a plan.

During a trip with a working delegation to the top of Fansipan on a Monday morning, witnessing the special ceremony of raising the national flag and listening to the national anthem, inspiration came to the musician.

Tourists still watch the national flag fluttering in the sky.

The song by musician Xuan Quynh opens with the lyrics: "The Vietnamese army marches, fighting endlessly for the people." These are also two lines from the song "Marching Song" which has become the National Anthem. Immediately after, the command: "Attention! Salute the flag!" is heard. This is a command only performed during the flag-raising ceremony, bringing the listener into a solemn state as if they were participating in the flag-raising ceremony.

Fansipan Peak has become a source of inspiration for many works of diverse themes and genres.

The chorus resounds with lyrics imbued with love for the homeland and country: "The marching song resounds throughout the ninth heavens/ In the vastness is the bright red flag/ In our hearts, thousands of songs resound forever/ Oh, how sacred every inch of our homeland is". When performing the song, in addition to writing in the marching style, the leading group, the musician combined the chasing part, the harmony part, and vocal parts to make the melody more heroic and resonant. The song was written in one night, but to complete it, the musician spent a whole month because of many worries and thoughts to take care of his "brainchild".

For international visitors, who witnessed the solemn ceremony for the first time, the emotions were no less special. They felt the sacredness and emotion in that atmosphere. They were silent, admiring the majestic natural beauty of Vietnam, and empathizing with the strength of a heroic nation. For them, this was an unforgettable experience, opening their eyes to a country with a rich culture and a heroic history.

Every person, no matter where they are, no matter what culture they come from, feels closer to each other and will probably carry that feeling as part of the ideal beautiful memories in their life's luggage.