Society - Culture

Da Nang residents, tourists enthralled by virtual journey back to 1945

Translated by THU LE • 02/09/2026 16:19

DNO - On Vietnam’s National Day, September 2, excitement filled APEC Park as large numbers of residents and tourists in Da Nang stepped back 81 years through virtual reality.

2(4).jpg — DNO - On Vietnam’s National Day, September 2, excitement filled APEC Park as large numbers of residents and tourists in Da Nang stepped back 81 years through virtual reality.

The immersive programme “Returning to the Sacred Moment” takes place from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. from September 2 to 4 at APEC Park on September 2 Street, Hai Chau Ward, Da Nang.

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Vinh, Deputy Secretary of the Da Nang Party Committee and Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Da Nang, attended the opening ceremony of the meaningful programme.

Using immersive VR technology, participants can immerse themselves in the atmosphere of Ba Dinh Square in the capital of Ha Noi, joining the crowds gathered before the grandstand and listening to President Ho Chi Minh deliver the Declaration of Independence founding the Democratic Republic of Vietnam on September 2, 1945.

The experience offers visitors an opportunity to gain a vivid sense of the atmosphere surrounding the nation’s first day of independence and freedom.

3(4).jpg — Young people and students take part in the immersive experience. Photo: NGOC HA

Nguyen Thu Phuong, Deputy Director of the Da Nang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, emphasized that history and culture should not be confined to museums and historical sites. They must continue to be transmitted and integrated into contemporary life.

The initiative reflects a broader effort by the cultural sector to develop new ways of communicating history as audiences, particularly young people, increasingly engage with digital and immersive forms of information.

By combining historical storytelling with virtual reality, the programme seeks to bridge the distance between the past and the present, allowing visitors to engage with a defining moment in Vietnam’s history in a more direct, visual and emotional way.

4(3).jpg — Large crowds of residents line up to take part in the VR experience. Photo: NGOC HA

The VR programme is organised by the Voice of Vietnam (VOV), in coordination with the Da Nang Municipal Party Committee and the Da Nang Municipal People’s Committee.

Held to mark the 81st anniversary of Vietnam’s National Day, the Da Nang event offers a fresh and engaging way for residents and visitors, particularly younger generations, to connect with an important chapter of the nation’s history.

The Da Nang programme follows a successful presentation at the Independence Palace in Ho Chi Minh City from August 19 to 21, where it attracted more than 8,000 participants.

“Returning to the Sacred Moment” was first introduced to the public in Ha Noi during the 80th anniversary of National Day in 2025, drawing around 35,000 participants.