Proudly stepping into the new era

The capital city of Hanoi, the heart of the country, is experiencing historic days celebrating the 80th anniversary of the successful August Revolution and National Day on September 2, with many meaningful activities. People nationwide turn towards the capital city of Hanoi with special affection, joining in the aspiration to rise in a new era.

Nguyen Duc Tinh, a 93 year-old former officer of Regiment 351 (Artillery-Engineer), twice participated in the military parade rehearsal at historic Ba Dinh Square, first in 1955 and again in 1973.

Tinh proudly shared: "I can never forget the first time I participated in the parade rehearsal at Ba Dinh Square on January 1, 1955. At that time, our army and people had just defeated the French colonialists on the Dien Bien Phu front, and the atmosphere was incredibly heroic. No words can fully describe the pride of the entire nation."

Historic parade rehearsals

Recalling the first rehearsal of military parade at Ba Dinh Square on January 1, 1955, Tinh recounted: "Back then, our army's weapons and equipment were very scarce, not as modern and complete as they are now. After 9 years of arduous resistance against the French colonialists and winning the Dien Bien Phu victory, upon returning to Hanoi, everyone was thin and pale. As we marched across Ba Dinh Square, we wore faded green uniforms and canvas shoes, but our hearts were full of pride. In that first rehearsal, our army only had 105mm anti-aircraft guns as the largest caliber, but the quantity was not large. Instead of having all 36 guns for the military parade, 12 were dispatched to Hai Phong to guard against potential enemy provocations.

Modern tank formation during the full-dress joint rehearsal, ready for the grand celebration, military parade, and march to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the successful August Revolution and National Day on September 2.

Meanwhile, Major General Nguyen Van Phuoc, former Head of the Tank-Armored Faculty, Senior Military Academy (National Defense Academy now), was one of those present at the country's first parade rehearsal on January 1, 1955. Major General Nguyen Van Phuoc stated: "In that first rehearsal, I was only 25 years old, very young and full of enthusiasm. In the rehearsal that year, I was assigned the task of commanding the block of emulation soldiers from the entire army to welcome President Ho Chi Minh, the Party Central Committee, and the Government back to the Capital after 9 years of resistance."

 Speaking about the preparation process for his first rehearsal of military parade with his comrades, Phuoc said: After the Dien Bien Phu Victory, we returned to take over Hanoi and were assigned by our unit to be stationed in the Mieu Mon area to train formations for the troop review ceremony on January 1, 1955. After many days of continuous training in Mieu Mon, we then gathered at Tong Airport and Bach Mai Airport for the general rehearsal. The training process for the rehearsal ceremony was very arduous, but Phuoc and his comrades were all highly determined, as they understood that this was a major political event of historical significance for the nation. During the diligent training, Phuoc and his comrades welcomed Uncle Ho and General Vo Nguyen Giap at the training ground three times upon their visits to give gifts to encourage and motivate them.

Eighteen years after the first rehearsal, in 1973, our army organized the second troop review, also at the historic Ba Dinh Square, on the occasion of International Labor Day on May 1. At that time, the Paris Agreement had been signed, peace had been restored in the North, while the resistance war against the American imperialists in the South had lasted 19 years. In this second rehearsal, our army made remarkable progress, with various types of anti-aircraft guns, as well as tanks, missiles, and many other modern weapons.

In 1975, there was also a large-scale rehearsal which took place in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City now) in celebration of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 1975). The rehearsal was held on May 15, 1975, after 15 days of urgent preparation. The rehearsal was attended by thousands of officers and soldiers, who had just undergone the 21-year-long resistance war against the U.S. imperialism for national reunification, and hundreds of thousands of city residents at that time.

  Since the complete liberation of the South and national reunification, only one more parade rehearsal has been organized. That was the rehearsal on September 2, 1985, at the historic Ba Dinh Square, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the successful August Revolution and National Day on September 2. This was a large-scale rehearsal, with the participation of over 30,000 people and many modern weapons such as various types of anti-aircraft artillery, BM-21 rocket launchers, SAM-2 and SAM-3 missiles, T-45 tanks, and AN-26 and A-37 transport aircraft.

"Every officer and soldier constantly strives with high determination to successfully carry out their duties at the ceremony, parade, and march celebrating the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day on September 2. This is a practical action that brings pride to the Fatherland and to each comrade participating in this especially important mission."

General PHAN VAN GIANG, Politburo Member, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission, Minister of National Defense

Stepping into the new era

The military and people nationwide are turning their attention to Hanoi, following the heroic steps of thousands of officers and soldiers from various armed forces, especially the state-of-the-art weapons employed during the military parade and march marking the 80th anniversary of the successful August Revolution and National Day on September 2. This military parade and march is the largest in history in all aspects, and it is also the country's first parade and march in the new era. This is also the first time many modern equipment and weapons are available at the event, such as Su-30MK2 and Yak-130 fighter jets, L-39NG training aircraft, anti-submarine aircraft, MIG combat helicopters, military transport aircraft, S-300 and Spyder missiles, tanks, submarines, surface warships, etc.

This is also the first time that the Vietnam People's Army is introducing to the nation many new weapons that Vietnam has mastered in research, manufacturing, and production, or modernized weapons, such as the Truong Son missile system, the S-125-VT air defense missile complex, and the Redut-M coastal missile complex. Various combat vehicles such as XCB-01 and T54B/T55 infantry fighting vehicles; electronic warfare vehicles, strategic and tactical mobile military communication vehicle systems, UAV unmanned aerial vehicles, etc. Especially, this is also the first time that representatives from the armies of Russia, China, Laos, and Cambodia, countries that once stood side by side with Vietnam in the revolutionary struggle for independence and national reunification, are participating in the August Revolution and National Day commemoration ceremony.

Secretary of the Party Committee, Political Commissar of the Air Defense - Air Force Service, Lieutenant General Tran Ngoc Quyen stated: This military parade and march features the largest number and most diverse types of fighter, training, and transport aircraft ever. These are all modern aircraft that Vietnamese pilots have mastered very well, coordinating smoothly and beautifully at major national events in recent times, such as the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory (2024) and the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (2025). Currently, the forces of the Air Defense - Air Force Service have made thorough preparations, determined to excellently complete their assigned tasks, ensuring absolute safety, and leaving a beautiful impression on delegates, the people, and international friends.

By: Duy Linh - Cong Nghia

Translated by: Mai Nga – Thu Ha