Thousands of spectators line Ho Chi Minh City streets as military forces rehearse for reunification parade

Military forces from Vietnam and neighboring countries marched through downtown Ho Chi Minh City on Friday night, cheered on by thousands of spectators, as part of the rehearsal for Vietnam’s 50th reunification anniversary parade.

Military and police forces parade along Le Loi and Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Streets, where street corners were packed with people watching the joint training.

According to the plan, after the joint parade passed the stage, the groups were divided into four directions to their assembly points. This was done to avoid congestion and ensure that the march allowed for interaction with the public along the streets.

The Lao army, consisting of 121 soldiers, marched along Nam Ky Khoi Nghia and Le Loi Streets towards Tao Dan Park, their designated assembly point.

They then returned to their hotel in Binh Duong Province that borders HCMC. Thousands of onlookers cheered as the Lao soldiers passed by.

Behind them, over 100 Cambodian soldiers, who had spent eight days in Vietnam and undergone training in Binh Duong, made their way towards the assembly point.

Their presence left a lasting impression on the people of Ho Chi Minh City with their camaraderie and unity.

Almost a kilometer away, officers representing the five branches of the military paraded along Nguyen Hue Walking Street, passing the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee headquarters and heading toward Bach Dang Wharf.

Despite heavy rain in the area beforehand, many spectators waited patiently for the parade to pass.

Despite enduring hours of training in challenging weather conditions and traveling long distances, the military personnel march in perfect formation and spirit.

After this training session, the forces will have another rehearsal on April 27, ahead of the official parade on the morning of April 30, which will feature over 13,000 participants.