The train loudspeaker sounded, the A80 soldiers quickly lined up to board the train. On their shoulders were backpacks, in their hands were all sorts of souvenirs sent by the people - boxes of cakes, bottles of water, and even small, cute souvenirs.
Small, pretty gifts printed with the red flag and yellow star, carefully wrapped in small zip bags, were given by "fans", simple but meaningful. They became spiritual gifts to bring along on the journey back to the unit.
Standing out among the green uniforms, a soldier brought a teddy bear onto the train along with his backpack and military uniform. That seemingly small gift became a different highlight among the familiar items of the soldier, both strange and familiar, the appearance of the gift was like a wrapping of the feelings of the people of the Capital sent along with the footsteps returning to the unit.
In the waiting area, soldiers held teddy bears to their chests and posed for photos with their comrades. The simple scene highlighted the special gifts they brought with them back to their units.
Through the glass window, the soldiers leaned closer, their hands raised in a V shape, hearts facing outwards. The simple gesture shortened the distance between the inside of the train and the platform. Nguyen Thi Hien Luong, who had been at Hanoi station since 10 a.m., prepared small gifts and took the opportunity to ask for souvenir autographs from the soldiers of the Militia and Self-Defense Force. For Luong, this was a way to preserve beautiful memories after many days of following and cheering for the soldiers on the occasion of National Day, September 2.
Among the crowd lingering on the platform, there were still private but warm moments. A soldier from the male Self-Defense Militia took the opportunity to take a photo with his girlfriend before boarding the train. Comrade Xuan Hoc said that his girlfriend had come from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi since August 29 to cheer him up. For nearly a week, she had accompanied him from the Cultural Village - where the soldiers practiced - to the rehearsal, the National Day celebration on September 2 and today to Hanoi station, to see him off back to his unit. Hoc shared that his girlfriend's presence during the past days of practice was a great source of encouragement for him.
Before the train left the station, the soldiers gathered in the compartment to take a group photo. At that moment, Vi Tran Duc - a soldier of the male militia and self-defense force shared: "I feel very sad to leave Hanoi after three months of training at the Cultural Village. Now each person will return to a different place. After the parade on September 2, we mainly did the preparation work to return to the unit. Unfortunately, time was short so everyone could not sit together and share more with each other."
As the train was about to depart, young people pressed themselves against the glass windows to check in with the soldiers in the train compartment. From inside, beaming faces leaned in, hands holding up hearts. Some soldiers even used their phones to write messages of thanks to everyone who had given them gifts and said goodbye on this special morning.
The train whistle sounded, signaling the time to say goodbye, and the train cars slowly left the station. From inside the train, the soldiers still pressed their bodies against the glass doors, waving their hands in greeting. On the platform, arms also waved back as each train car moved further away.
The brief moments left a lasting impression, the sound of goodbyes, the eyes following until the train disappeared. The small gifts, souvenir photos and the lingering waves on the platform became special marks, ending the proud journey of the A80 soldiers in the Capital on the occasion of National Day, September 2.
