From special supplements to interactive QR codes, from 3D models to vivid film footage, history is not merely retold, but brought to life with today’s youth.
Technology as an extension of memory
“We came out of curiosity but left filled with pride,” said Hoang Thuy Linh, a student from the Academy of Journalism and Communication. This is a sentiment shared by many young visitors to the exhibition. Through platforms like Facebook, Threads, and TikTok, they discovered the special supplement “Ho Chi Minh Campaign”, an edition that goes beyond the printed page, extending into dynamic digital content accessible via QR codes linking to videos, images, and digital effects.
“As young people passionate about history, we were thrilled to immerse ourselves in such a meaningful event. Although it’s the end of term and neither our finances nor schedules allowed us to travel to Ho Chi Minh City to attend the parade, coming here is our way of showing affection and enthusiasm for this momentous national celebration,” Linh shared.
Linh remarked: “Learning about history should not be confined to textbooks. When you can see and feel it directly, the excitement is far greater. Exhibitions like this not only gently and naturally foster patriotism but also serve as an effective source of inspiration for the community, especially for young people.”
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| Dao Quang Duc experiences scanning QR codes on the special supplement by Nhan Dan Newspaper. (Photo: THE DAI) |
Third-year student Dao Quang Duc from Hanoi University of Science and Technology noted that the jubilant spirit of April 30 has spread strongly among the community, particularly among young people. “We deeply feel the patriotic spirit and the genuine attention towards this major national celebration,” Duc said.
Learning about the exhibition through social media and TikTok - familiar channels for the youth - Duc was particularly impressed by how Nhan Dan Newspaper applied modern technology to its special supplement: “Just by scanning a QR code, we could not only read the printed paper but also directly interact with historical content through our phones. It’s a refreshing experience that makes history more accessible, vivid, and engaging for young people.”
He particularly appreciated the 3D models, reconstructed documents, and archival footage shown in the exhibition space, believing these were effective methods to deepen young people’s understanding of history, moving beyond the dry accounts often found in textbooks.
“I hope that in the future, Nhan Dan Newspaper will continue to organise even larger and more engaging events, offering the younger generation more opportunities to connect with national history through modern and creative approaches,” Duc expressed.
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| Nguyen Ngoc Diem checks in with a photo at the interactive exhibition. (Photo: SON TUNG) |
Final-year student Nguyen Ngoc Diem from Hanoi University of Science and Technology shared that, as a young person interested in history, she actively sought information about the exhibition as soon as she heard about it. "By integrating traditional journalism with modern technology, Nhan Dan is proactively bringing history closer to young people, rather than waiting for young people to seek it out,” Diem observed.
According to Diem, elements such as visual content, image effects, and interactive filters have made the supplement more relatable, innovative, and appealing. “This approach is not only effective in terms of communication but also highly educational, allowing young people to proactively engage with, learn about, and spread the love for history in their own way,” she affirmed.
History comes alive in young people’s hearts
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| Teacher Hoang Duc Manh and a friend at Nhan Dan Newspaper's interactive exhibition. (Photo: SON TUNG) |
Teacher Hoang Duc Manh, who teaches music at Mac Dinh Chi Secondary School in Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, said he and his friends rushed to visit the exhibition after learning about it on Facebook. “Luckily, Nhan Dan distributed the supplement at both gates, so I managed to get a copy. The design is beautiful, the content rich, and it carries profound historical value, especially the materials on the Ho Chi Minh Campaign and April 30,1975,” he shared.
Although the exhibition space was not extensive, Manh praised the organisers' skillful and creative arrangement that recreated the flow of history in a vivid and accessible manner. “We could take photos and preserve memories at various display corners. Every detail reflected great care and dedication,” he noted.
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| Young people taking check-in photos at the exhibition. (Photo: SON TUNG) |
Do Tran Phuong Nhi, an event organiser, shared that although she could not attend the military parade in Ho Chi Minh City as she had wished, upon hearing about the exhibition organised by Nhan Dan in Hanoi, she hurried to participate. “The excitement of April 30, buzzing across social media, made me even more eager. Attending the exhibition was my way of joining the nationwide spirit, even from afar,” she said.
Nhi noted that this was not her first encounter with Nhan Dan’s special editions. “During the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory, I also came to receive the supplement. This time, for the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South, I returned to experience and collect these valuable materials,” she shared.
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| Teacher Nguyen Thu Thuy with Nhan Dan Newspaper’s special supplement. (Photo: SON TUNG) |
Young teacher Nguyen Thu Thuy, currently a trainee teacher and a Standing Member of Truc Bach Ward’s Youth Union in Hanoi, shared that with her longstanding passion for history, every major national commemoration fills her with immense pride and gratitude towards the generations who sacrificed for the nation’s freedom.
“We are deeply aware that today’s peace is the result of countless losses and sacrifices of the past. Therefore, paying tribute and remembering the contributions of previous generations is not only the duty of the elderly but also a responsibility for today’s youth,” she said.
Commenting on the interactive exhibition organised by Nhan Dan, Thuy considered it a highly meaningful activity, especially for young people passionate about history and involved in Youth Union work like herself. “For a long time, history has often been approached only through textbooks. But when we can witness images, models, and vivid reconstructions firsthand, emotions are far more strongly evoked. The exhibition has deepened my understanding and love for our nation’s history,” she said.
