Mother Huyen: The old lady sat next to General Secretary To Lam on September 2, everyone's identity is respected

On a historic holiday, the image of a woman with an old face and a gentle smile sitting next to General Secretary To Lam attracted the attention of the whole country. After researching, the identity of this old woman made everyone bow their heads in admiration.

On the morning of September 2, 2025, at the historic Ba Dinh Square (Hanoi), millions of people across the country and the overseas community headed to the 80th Anniversary of the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The program took place solemnly and majestically with parades, parades and special art performances.

Interspersed in that heroic atmosphere, the image of an old woman with white hair, a black scarf, and a red ao dai sitting next to General Secretary To Lam on the podium immediately attracted special attention of the public. That is the Vietnamese Hero Mother Tran Thi Huyen, a native of Ha Tinh.

The heroic mother from the land of Ha Tinh

A leader of the Ha Tinh Provincial People's Committee confirmed that the old woman appeared next to the General Secretary, the Heroic Mother of Vietnam Tran Thi Huyen (born in 1939, residing in Tran Phu ward, Ha Tinh city). My mother's life is associated with losses and sacrifices, but also shining with loyalty and patriotism.

Huyen's mother is the daughter of martyr Tran Hau Truong - a pre-insurgency cadre, who died in 1938 in the struggle against French colonialism, at that time she had just turned 2 months old. Since childhood, she has been orphaned by her father and mother, growing up in the arms of her family and the revolutionary stories passed down, becoming a motivation for her to cultivate a spirit of perseverance.

Not only carrying the pain of losing her father from childhood, Huyen's mother also sent her son to battle twice and then never returned. His mother's two sons, martyr Nguyen Van Duong (died in 1977) and martyr Nguyen Van Cat (died in 1980), fell while on international duty in Cambodia. In a small house in Lien Cong residential group, the altar of his father and his mother's two martyr sons has never cooled the incense smoke.

Huyen's mother currently lives with her youngest son, Mr. Nguyen Van Thuyet and Ms. Nguyen Thi Tham. Local people are still used to the image of an old woman with white hair, a small figure but always keeps a simple and resilient lifestyle, like a shining example for her children and grandchildren and the younger generation to follow.

Huyen's mother and the honor to go to Hanoi to attend the big ceremony

At the age of 86, my mother's health is no longer as flexible as it used to be. However, when she received an invitation to attend the National Day Celebration on September 2, Huyen's mother could not hide her emotions. From 2 a.m., the mother, youngest daughter-in-law and the delegation of Ha Tinh province were present to check in to the stands. The long journey and early hours must have been a challenge for an old woman in her 90s, but her mother brushed off the fatigue, put on a crimson dress, and neatly trimmed her gray hair under a black scarf.

Sitting in the row of honors, right next to General Secretary To Lam, Huyen's mother became a special focus in the majestic scene of the ceremony. When the music of the parade sounded, the heroic troops marched through Ba Dinh Square, my mother burst into tears.

After the ceremony, my mother shared: "I feel that the growth of the country today is the result of so many sacrifices. In that moment, I felt as if my father and two beloved sons were also present, witnessing this glorious moment with me."

Icons that connect the past and present

The image of Huyen's mother sitting next to the General Secretary quickly spread on television and social networks, making people across the country emotional. On one side is the highest leader of the Party, on the other side is the heroic mother - representing tens of thousands of Vietnamese mothers who quietly sent their children to battle and kept their full faith in national independence.

Mr. Nguyen Phi Khanh – Standing Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Tran Phu Ward – expressed: "This is not only an honor for Huyen's mother's family, but also a great pride of Ha Tinh's homeland. That image reminds every cadre, party member and people, especially the younger generation, must know how to be grateful, live responsibly, continue to promote traditions to build a rich, strong and civilized country" .

For the Vietnamese community, the presence of Huyen's mother on the podium of Ba Dinh Square is not only a personal moment, but also a symbolic connection between the generations who have sacrificed their blood and bones and today's generation who are continuing to build the country.

Gratitude from Party and State leaders

In his speech at the ceremony, General Secretary To Lam emotionally mentioned the great merits of his father's generations: "We will forever remember the merits of Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, veterans, war invalids, sick soldiers, families of martyrs, and people with meritorious services to the revolution. It is these sacrifices that have contributed to the independence, freedom and unity of the Fatherland today."

That gratitude, which rang out as soon as Huyen's mother sat next to her, became even more sacred. It is like an affirmation that the sacrifice of my father and two sons, as well as millions of other families across the country, has been engraved by the Fatherland forever.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Tham, her mother's youngest daughter-in-law, was the one who directly brought her mother to Hanoi to attend the ceremony. She shared: "Watching my mother sitting on the stage, I am both sad and proud. My whole life has experienced many losses and sacrifices for the country to have peace. The moment my mother witnessed the big celebration in Ba Dinh Square was an invaluable spiritual reward, not only for her but also for our whole family."

In the locality, many officials and people of Ha Tinh also share the same emotions. They consider that image as a vivid proof of the resilient and indomitable revolutionary tradition of their homeland.

Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Ha Tinh Provincial Party Committee, Mr. Tran The Dung, during his visit to Huyen's mother, also affirmed: "The Party Committee and people of Ha Tinh are always proud of families with meritorious services like Huyen's mother. This is an example for today's generation to follow."

The story of Huyen's mother is not only a painful memory of a family, but also a vivid history lesson. She once told her children and grandchildren: "The sacrifice of my father and brother is the foundation for the family to have today, so we must know how to love each other, keep the house and live worthy of the person who has laid down" .

That is also the message that the image of the mother on the Ba Dinh radio ceremony sends to the younger generation. It is gratitude for past sacrifices, to live more responsibly for yourself, your family and the Fatherland.

Thanh Thuy was honored to participate in the solemn reception, My Tam sang A80 causing a fever JLO15:32:17 02/09/2025In the past few days, the whole country has turned to Hanoi - the place where military parades and parades take place to prepare for the 80th anniversary of the successful August Revolution and the National Day on September 2.