Peace is so beautiful!

September arrives, carrying with it the distinct atmosphere of a national holiday. Along the familiar road I take to work each morning, bright red flags adorned with golden stars once again flutter in the wind. Seeing that vivid red, I felt a sudden, indescribable swell of emotion rising within me.

This year, the nation celebrates the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day on September 2, a milestone long enough to remind each of us of the arduous path our forefathers endured, so that today we may live in peace, happiness, and harmony.

Perhaps, when I was a child, I never truly understood the value of peace. Back then, on every national holiday, what I remembered most was barely having a day off from school, going out, and feeling excited to hold a sweet cotton candy in my hands. But as I grew older, listening to my grandparents' stories and rereading pages of history, I came to realize that what we enjoy today, which may seem so simple, was earned through immense sacrifice and bloodshed.

I vividly remember one drizzling afternoon, sitting with my father. He was once a soldier under Uncle Ho. Now nearly seventy, his voice is still warm and unwavering. He told me that on the day he left for the battlefield, my mother saw him off at the riverbank. They didn't dare look at each other for too long, afraid the tears would fall. Through years of resistance and countless times watching his comrades fall before his eyes, he said the only thing that gave him the strength to keep going was the dream that "one day, the country would be at peace, and children could walk to school without fear of bombs or gunfire." Hearing those words, I suddenly felt a chill down my spine and a pang in my chest. It hit me then that peace is not something to be taken for granted, but a dream that once felt unimaginably distant.

And that dream has come true. On the streets, I see children chattering happily in their new uniforms, while parents feel at ease taking them shopping for the new school year. In the evening, families gather, and laughter fills the small kitchen. Those seemingly ordinary moments are, in fact, the precious happiness that generations have sacrificed to protect.

Peace is not only about a nation no longer at war. Peace is also the quiet sense of security when you wake up in the morning, knowing you still have a home to return to, a job to do, and loved ones to cherish. It is when the fields turn green again, with farmers leisurely planting rice seedlings instead of fleeing from bombs and bullets. It is when children's laughter fills the schoolyard, instead of the haunting fear of having to evacuate into shelters.

I once had the opportunity to visit a local martyrs' cemetery. Standing among thousands of graves lined up in solemn rows, I suddenly felt my heart sink, falling into silence, unable to utter a single word.

On the headstones were names and hometowns, yet there were also ones bearing only the words "Unknown martyr," which made my heart tighten with grief. I gently placed a flower on the grave, and suddenly thought: if it weren't for them, those who lost their lives at such a young age, I wouldn't be living in peace today. A surge of gratitude rose within me, mingled with sorrow, leaving behind a lingering ache that has stayed with me ever since.

Sometimes, amid the hustle and bustle of modern life, I hear many people complaining about traffic jams, rising fuel prices, work pressure, or the stress of studying. Those things are indeed troublesome and tiring, but if we compare them with the years of war, when death was always near, when an entire generation had to leave their homes for the battlefield, we realize that today's everyday hardships pale in comparison. It is thanks to peace that we have the opportunity to live a peaceful life, the right to dream, to choose our own future, and to enjoy the simple happiness that previous generations sacrificed their blood and bones to obtain.

Every year, on September 2, the streets are filled with flags and flowers, and people eagerly go out to celebrate and watch the fireworks. Yet amid that joy, I still hope each person pauses for a moment to listen to their own heart and ask: What have we done to be worthy of the sacrifices made by previous generations? It can be the simplest of things, like living with kindness, working diligently, cherishing our families, or preserving a civilized way of life. Peace is not only a gift to receive, but also a responsibility to uphold.

The 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day on September 2 is not only an occasion to reflect on history, but also a reminder for each of us today: Cherish every peaceful moment, be more responsible for yourself, your family, and your country.

I believe that as long as each person holds the word "peace" in their heart, the nation will continue to stride confidently toward a future of happiness, prosperity, and an everlasting Vietnam. Amid the turbulence of today's world, we feel ever more deeply the sacred value of peace, reminding one another: Peace is beautiful.

To preserve peace is also to carry forward the dreams of our forefathers, so that tomorrow, the red flag with the yellow star will continue to fly proudly in the clear blue sky of the Fatherland.

By: Huyen Trang

Translated by: Huyen Trang - Minho