The “Echoes of the Triumphal Song” exhibition at Hoa Lo prison marks the 71st anniversary of the capital’s Liberation Day on October 10.

The exhibition reenacts Hanoi’s proud and fiery past. (Photo: Hoa Lo Prison Relic Site)

Three paths through the exhibit retrace Hanoi’s journey to liberation.

The first path, “Steadfastness and Perseverance,” portrays the winter of 1946, when Hanoi’s army and people responded to President Ho Chi Minh’s call to resist French colonial rule.

On display are archival documents and artifacts about the revolutionary soldiers who were imprisoned in Hoa Lo and their enduring indomitable spirit even behind bars.

Hanoiians, armed only with improvised weapons, held off the enemy for 60 days and nights.

The second path, “Hanoi –The Day of Triumphant Return,” follows the days leading up to liberation. After the Geneva Agreement was signed, the French prepared to withdraw, but not quietly. For 80 tense days, they sought to disrupt life, lure people south, and sabotage infrastructure. Yet Hanoi held firm.

Under the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh and the Capital Takeover Committee, Hanoi’s people and soldiers united to safeguard factories, schools, and hospitals.

On October 10, 1954, the Liberation Army marched to Hanoi to a sea of flags, music, and joyful tears. (In the photo: A tailor shop hurriedly sews national flags.)

On the historic morning of October 10, 1954, Hanoi’s streets burst into color with flags and flowers. Banners and lanterns adorned the city. Crowds poured into the streets, singing in celebration.

Artifacts glorify the Liberation Day of Hanoi, October 10, 1954.

A young person looks at the exhibited photos.

Foreign visitors learn about Hanoi’s 60 days and nights of resistance in 1954.

The third path, “The Essence and Charm of Hanoi,” features the capital’s rich history and culture.

Modern Hanoi blends history and progress. Traditional specialties and crafts continue to shape the city’s unique charm.

Hanoiians are writing a new chapter in the golden history of the “Heroic Capital” and “City for Peace.” (In the photo: A re-enactment of Hanoi’s residents hanging flags to welcome the Liberation Army. Photo: Hoa Lo Prison Relic Site)

Seven decades after its liberation, Hanoi continues to rise – proud, resilient, and forward-looking – preserving its traditions while spreading a message of peace, friendship, and global integration.