On September 2, thousands of people gathered in Hanoi to celebrate Vietnam's Independence Day. Hoan Kiem Lake was the site of an impressive 14-minute fireworks display, attracting onlookers and enthusiastic admirers. Participants, dressed in red, applauded fervently, paying tribute to Ho Chi Minh, the founder of the Republic and an iconic figure of independence, who passed away on a day like today in 1969.