Hanoi, the thousand-year-old capital, turned into a “sea of crowds, flags, and faith” during the National Day parade on September 2 morning.

The formations of tanks and armoured vehicles are welcomed by crowds.

Across the country, millions tuned in, vibing with the marching columns in a sacred moment to recall sacrifices etched into the history, savour the hard-won peace of the present, and renew a quiet confidence in what lies ahead.

The night before, Hanoi was already buzzing. Streets to the historic Ba Dinh Square and the parade routes were packed with local residents, tourists and people who came from the northern mountainous, central and southern regions, drawn to catch this historic spectacle in person.

Among them were war veterans, their weathered faces lit with resolve, who had secured priority seating but chose instead to keep vigil through the night along the streets encircling Ba Dinh Square.

Exhaustion was no match; for them, the day was not merely a celebration but a living testament to independence, a reminder of the privilege of peace.

As the official ceremony began and the national anthem echoed, spectators of every generation, from the elderly, veterans decorated with medals, to children soaking it all for the first time, stood tall, eyes locked on the national flag.

Without cue, the crowd began to sing, hands pressed to hearts, their voices rising in a chorus so raw and resonant that it brought tears to many eyes.

Each step of the soldiers’ march and martial rhythms echoing through Hanoi’s streets struck a deep chord among spectators, igniting a profound sense of national pride.

The disciplined formations of military units crossing Ba Dinh Square was more than a display of Vietnam’s military strength, but also embodied an unyielding spirit, a message delivered with quiet confidence to foreign leaders and officials among the spectators as well as international friends.

Eighty years have passed, but the heroic song of the Autumn of Independence still echoes, urging each generation of Vietnamese to continue.

The sea of people today joining in the march is a powerful proof that: the strength of the nation does not lie far away, but lies in millions of hearts sharing the same aspiration.

From Koeln to Hanoi: German man’s deep love for Vietnam’s parades

In the last 16 years German man Jean Paul has visited Vietnam 15 times, four of them just to watch military parades.

The best spots to catch Hanoi's National Day parade on September 2

Hanoi is preparing for a massive parade, one of its grandest spectacles ever, as the capital marks the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day.

Chinese troops to join Vietnam's 80th National Day parade

The Chinese delegation has accepted Vietnam's invitation to participate in the military parade marking the 80th anniversary of National Day on Sept. 2 and is expected to arrive in Hanoi next week.

Hanoi traffic adjusted for second full-dress National Day parade rehearsal

The second full-dress rehearsal for the military parade and march celebrating the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution (August 19, 1945 – 2025) and National Day (September 2) will start at 8:00 pm on August 24.

 

Ha Noi to distribute cakes and water to people watching parade marking National Day

Ha Noi will prioritise front-row positions for war veterans, the elderly, women, and children to watch the parade; and will provide drinking water, rations, and instant cakes to serve citizens and tourists attending the activities celebrating the 80th anniversary of National Day in the capital.

 

Russian troops land in Hanoi for Vietnam's 80th National Day parade

A Russian military delegation landed at Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi on Wednesday to join rehearsals for Vietnam's National Day celebrations, one of the country's largest and most symbolic parades in decades.