This year's celebration of the 27th anniversary of Foundation Day (the creation of Vietnam) were unnaturally quiet in Hanoi - because, say the North Vietnamese, U.S. bombing raids over the capital made public festivals too dangerous.

Instead, every house hoisted the national flag of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, and posters all over Hanoi called for citizens "to continue to the end the bitter fight against the United States imperialists".

A formal Foundation Day reception was given by President Ton Duc Thang at his official residence. Amongst the guests were Soviet Ambassador Mr. Shel Bakofu and senior North Vietnamese officials, including Defence Minister, General Vo Nguyen Giap.

President Ton Duc Thang, who is now over 80, said at the gathering that North Vietnam would continue the war in association with the peoples of Khmer and Laos, and "would not compromise with the enemy no matter what happens."
In Washington, officials are still waiting for news of the three captured American pilots Hanoi has promised the release as a Foundation Day gesture.