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As the train's loudspeaker blared, the A80 soldiers quickly lined up and boarded. Backpacks slung over their shoulders, and in their hands were various souvenirs given by the locals – boxes of cookies, bottles of water, and other small, pretty mementos.
These small, charming gifts, printed with the red flag and yellow star, were carefully wrapped in small zip bags and given by fans—simple yet meaningful. They became cherished mementos carried on the journey back to their units.
Standing out among the soldiers in their green uniforms, one soldier carried a teddy bear onto the train along with his backpack and equipment. This seemingly small gift became a distinctive highlight among the familiar items of the soldier, both unusual and familiar, its appearance like a package of affection from the people of Hanoi, sent along with his return to his unit.
In the waiting area, the soldiers hugged teddy bears to their chests, posing for photos with their comrades. The simple scene highlighted the special gifts they brought along with their luggage back to the unit.
Through the window, the soldiers leaned closer, their hands forming a V-shape, a heart shape pointing outwards. This simple gesture seemed to shorten the distance between the inside of the train carriage and the platform. Nguyen Thi Hien Luong, who had been at Hanoi station since 10 a.m., had prepared small gifts and was eager to get autographs from the male soldiers of the Self-Defense Militia. For Luong, this was a way to preserve beautiful memories after days of watching and cheering on the soldiers during the National Day celebrations on September 2nd.
Amidst the crowds lingering at the train station, there were still private but heartwarming moments. A soldier from the male militia unit took a photo with his girlfriend before boarding the train. Comrade Xuan Hoc said that his girlfriend had traveled from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi on August 29th to cheer him on. For almost a week, she had been with him from the Cultural Village – where the soldiers trained – to the dress rehearsal, the National Day celebration on September 2nd, and today at Hanoi train station, to see him off back to his unit. Hoc shared that his girlfriend's presence during the training days was a great source of encouragement for him.
Before the train departed, the soldiers gathered in the compartment to take a group photo. At that moment, Vi Tran Duc, a male soldier from the Self-Defense Militia, shared: "I feel very sad to have to leave Hanoi after three months of training at the Cultural Village. Now each of us will return to our respective places. After the parade on September 2nd, we mainly focused on preparing to return to our units. It's a pity that time was so short that we couldn't sit down and share more with each other."
Just before the train departed, young people crowded around the windows to "check-in" with the soldiers inside the train carriage. From within, radiant faces leaned closer, hands forming heart shapes. Some soldiers even used their phones to write messages of thanks to everyone who had given gifts and to say goodbye on this special morning.
The train whistle blew, signaling the end of the journey, and the carriages slowly left the station. From inside the train, the soldiers pressed themselves against the windows, waving goodbye. On the platform, hands waved back as each carriage moved further and further away.
Those fleeting moments left a lasting impression: farewells, admiring glances until the train disappeared from view. Small gifts, souvenir photos, and lingering waves at the station became special memories, concluding a proud journey for the A80 soldiers in the capital during the National Day celebrations on September 2nd.
