On 10 October 1954, Ho Chi Minh, the leader of the Viet Minh and a symbol of Vietnam's quest for independence, made a triumphant return to Hanoi following the withdrawal of French troops.
This moment marked the culmination of decades of resistance against colonial rule and the victory of the First Indochina War, solidified by the Geneva Accords earlier that year.
As the city’s residents flooded the streets, waving flags and welcoming their leader, Ho’s arrival in the capital symbolised the dawn of a new era—one where Vietnam would begin its journey as an independent nation, though still facing the looming challenges of internal division and the spectre of future conflicts.
