The Ministry of National Defense invited military units from four countries—Russia, China, Cambodia, and Laos—to take part in the parade. Troops from Russia, Laos, and Cambodia arrived in Vietnam between August 15 and 20 and joined the first full rehearsal on Thursday evening at Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi, Major General Tong Van Thanh, Deputy Director of the Department of Information and Training under the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People's Army, told the press on Friday.

Chinese soldiers join a military parade to mark the 50th anniversary of Vietnam's national reunification in Ho Chi Minh City on April 30, 2025.

The Sept. 2 parade will begin with a traditional torch relay and ceremonial gun salutes, followed by an air force flyover, and then the military and police parade with 43 formations—26 from the army and 17 from the police—alongside foreign military units, military vehicles, and specialized police vehicles.

A naval parade in Khanh Hoa in central Vietnam will also be broadcast live to Hanoi.

In addition, there will be 13 civilian parade formations. Supporting forces include ceremonial guards on the podium and 29 standing formations, an increase of 11 compared to previous years, along with a 4,600-person formation creating patterns and letters on the podium.

Following Thursday’s first joint rehearsal, the second is scheduled for 8 p.m. on Sunday, a preliminary state-level rehearsal from 8 p.m. Wednesday, the final rehearsal from 6:30 a.m. on Aug. 30, and the official parade from 6:30 a.m. on Sept. 2.

Assessing the first rehearsal, Major General Thanh said the forces demonstrated accuracy, quality, and high morale. "With the strong support of the people, participating forces gained additional strength and energy, fully ready to fulfill their mission," he said.

At the same briefing, Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang said that on the occasion of National Day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will host six high-level delegations from Cuba, Laos, Cambodia, Belarus, Russia, and China. Some of these delegations will also carry out bilateral activities alongside the main ceremony.

In addition, 20 delegations invited by the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will attend, while the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations has invited nearly 100 international delegates, including long-time international friends who supported Vietnam's national liberation struggle.

Hang added that the foreign ministry has organized a delegation of 50 overseas Vietnamese representatives to join the parade. This group is training and sharing the celebratory spirit with people in the country.

The ministry has also invited overseas Vietnamese who have contributed to the country’s development to attend the ceremony from the stands.

Fourth full-dress joint rehearsal held in preparation for National Day parade

The parade and march featured nearly 16,000 officers and soldiers and various modern weapons and equipment, including many products researched and manufactured by Vietnam’s defence industry, such as missiles, infantry fighting vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and radar systems.

 

Men walk 1,700 km from HCMC to Hanoi for National Day parade

After walking for 68 days from HCMC’s Independence Palace, Tu and Duy are determined to make it to Hanoi for the National Day parade on Sept. 2.

Hanoi to close numerous roads for 80th National Day parade, rehearsals

Hanoi police have announced extensive road closures and traffic restrictions in the city center and surrounding areas in preparation for the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day celebrations on Sept. 2.

Schedule of grand parade and march marking 80th anniversary of August Revolution and National Day

The parade and march in celebration of the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day will take place at Ba Dinh Square, Hanoi, on the morning of September 2, 2025.

 

Nearly 16,000 personnel join second parade drill for 80th National Day

Nearly 16,000 officers and soldiers from units under the Ministries of National Defense and Public Security joined the second joint rehearsal for the military parade and march celebrating the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution (Aug. 19, 1945 – 2025) and National Day (Sept. 2, 1945 – 2025) in Hanoi on Aug. 5.