The parade celebrating the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a significant national event, a moment when millions of citizens come together. This solemn and sacred event is typically accompanied by images of people dressed in formal, neat attire, reflecting seriousness and respect. Therefore, an image that recently emerged on social media has caused a wave of controversy: a young girl wearing short gym clothes, standing out among the crowd watching the rehearsal.
What seemed like a minor incident quickly divided public opinion into two opposing camps, with one side defending and the other harshly criticizing, raising significant questions about the boundary between personal freedom and social norms in a community event.
Viral Video
Video shared on a forum shows the girl in a tight top and short leggings, typical sportswear. She appears to have no intention of posing or drawing attention, but her outfit starkly contrasts with the many citizens around her dressed in t-shirts, shirts, or even traditional ao dai.

This moment quickly attracted hundreds of thousands of views and thousands of comments
The majority of opinions expressed disappointment and dismay. They believe her actions were disrespectful to the event. However, shortly after, another wave of opinions emerged, providing arguments to defend the girl, making the debate more complex.
Those defending her suggested that her actions might have been an unfortunate accident. They presented a plausible scenario: perhaps she had just come from the gym and was unintentionally caught in the crowd due to traffic redirection. She had no intention of appearing in such attire at such a formal event.
“Put yourself in someone else’s shoes,”
“Maybe she was coming back from the gym and got stuck,”…

They also emphasized that gym wear is a part of modern life. Many people wear gym clothes out shopping, going to the supermarket, or commuting from the gym to home. Judging someone based on their outfit in a random moment is unfair. This argument is based on empathy and trust in the justifications behind what seems like an “unacceptable” action.
On the other hand, the critics do not accept this “accidental” excuse. For them, the issue lies not only in her appearance at the parade area but in her choice to wear such an outfit in public in the first place: “Even if coming from the gym, wearing tight and revealing clothes in public is inappropriate, let alone at a significant event.”



Some even went further, suggesting that this was a deliberate act to “catch views”, creating a shocking image to draw public attention. For them, this action not only disrespects the event but also exploits it to make oneself stand out.
Personal Freedom and Community Standards: An Endless Battle
The incident of the girl wearing gym clothes to watch the parade is not merely a debate over attire. This story reveals the differences in mindset between generations and life perspectives. So far, there has been no official explanation from the girl. However, whether accidental or intentional, the photo has sparked a lively discussion. This is also a valuable lesson about being cautious in our actions, especially when we are part of a crowd and a community.