It was only after someone explained that the 29-year-old knew it was a rehearsal by the Air Force for Vietnam’s 50th anniversary of national reunification on April 30.

Vietnamese national flags decorate the Tran Nhat Duat apartment complex in District 1, HCMC.

"This is a milestone that really impressed me," he says.

Having lived in HCMC for six years he was aware that April 30 and Sept. 2 are major holidays in Vietnam, but this was the first year he truly felt the festive energy sweeping through the city.

Since early April, streets and alleys across HCMC—particularly in Thao Dien in Thu Duc City, where Bisset resides—have been lined with flags and banners.

His favorite coffee shop even added a themed beverage: salted coffee topped with cream art resembling the national red flag with a yellow star.

Over at Bach Dang Wharf in District 1, visitors have been flocking to take photos with historical artillery displays and soldiers on guard.

Unlike previous years, when many of Bisset’s Vietnamese colleagues traveled or returned to their hometowns for the holiday, this year they are staying in the city to watch the military parade.

"It’s not hard to see that people are genuinely excited, eagerly awaiting a grand celebration," he says.

According to Cultural Atlas, a program broadcast by Australia’s SBS that provides culture-specific information, foreigners like Bisset are often drawn to Vietnam’s traditional values—respect for ancestors, hospitality and patriotism.

A 2023 report by ABroader.org said 80% of foreign visitors admire Vietnamese culture, describing it as "optimistic" and rooted in "strong community spirit." Travelers are particularly impressed by the country’s cuisine, festivals and historical observances.

This year such admiration has grown as HCMC hosts national-level celebrations featuring parades, air shows and fireworks to mark 50 years since the South’s liberation and national reunification on April 30, 1975.

Russian expatriate Victor Vladovich, who has called HCMC home for 18 years, believed he had seen all there was in Vietnam. But since late March he says he has witnessed "a different Vietnam" as preparations kicked into high gear.

One time on Nguyen Hue Street he saw young volunteers helping elderly veterans cross the road to take photos at holiday-themed exhibits.

Another time he saw a young girl place flowers before a statue of a national hero, asking her father curious questions about the country’s history.

"It was moving to see a child so eager to understand her heritage," Vladovich says.

He is deeply touched by how younger generations honor those who went before them.

At a local market, he encountered a vendor who had decorated her stall with a handmade banner crafted by her grandson for a school play celebrating Reunification Day. For her, the holiday was not just a national event; it was part of the family’s story. She proudly hung the banner in a place of honor in her stall.

Vladovich also heard from a Vietnamese friend about his grandmother, a war survivor who still keeps a small diary. The final entry, boldly highlighted, reads: "Reunified!"

Though the official celebrations have yet to begin, Vladovich finds the city already buzzing with excitement. Posters line main roads, patriotic music fills public squares and historic sites like the Independence Palace and War Remnants Museum are packed with visitors. University students have even begun posting videos about peace and unity on social media.

"They’re spreading pride and appreciation for peace," Vladovich says.

He recently toured an exhibition in District 1 highlighting HCMC’s achievements in education, healthcare and the economy in the past five decades.

Indian expatriate Rajesh describes the atmosphere in HCMC as "brimming with energy," with Vietnamese national flags lining the streets and fluttering proudly throughout the city.

Russian expatriate Victor Vladovich (far L) and his Vietnamese colleagues on a recreational trip.

He says the rehearsals for cultural performances, air shows and parades remind him of India’s Independence Day on August 15 every year, when the prime minister hoists the national flag at the Red Fort in New Delhi and citizens participate in parades.

What impresses Rajesh the most, however, is the way Vietnamese youth are embracing the occasion. Since early April they have decorated their homes and cafés, and produced TikTok videos and Instagram Reels celebrating peace and national pride.

Many have made trips to Cu Chi District, home to the Cu Chi Tunnels, a key site in Vietnam’s wartime history, to learn more about the past and the stories of veterans.

"The Vietnamese spirit of patriotism and gratitude is shining through," Rajesh adds.