Hanoi: Vietnam staged a massive military parade in Hanoi on Tuesday to mark the 80th anniversary of its independence from France. The anniversary was marked by a commemoration that combined remembrance of past struggles with a projection of national strength and unity.
Tens of thousands of citizens filled Ba Dinh Square, the site where revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh proclaimed independence on September 2, 1945. Nearly 16,000 soldiers joined the parade, which also featured honor guards from China, Russia, Laos, and Cambodia.
Military equipment ranging from missiles and fighter jets to helicopters rolled past the crowds, reflecting the Communist Party’s emphasis on defense capabilities and sovereignty.
In his address, Communist Party General Secretary To Lam paid tribute to those who died in the fight for independence and outlined the leadership’s long-term goals.
“Our nation has overcome countless difficulties and challenges. We have transformed from a colony into an independent and unified country, steadily advancing towards modernity,” he said.
Lam reaffirmed the party’s ambition for Vietnam to become a powerful, prosperous, and happy nation by 2045, the centennial of its independence. As part of the celebrations, the government announced a symbolic handout of 100,000 dong ($3.80) to each of Vietnam’s 100 million citizens. President Luong Cuong also confirmed the release of 13,920 prisoners, including 66 foreigners.
France did not recognise Ho Chi Minh’s declaration of independence in 1945. Nearly a decade of war followed before French forces were decisively defeated at Dien Bien Phu in 1954, forcing a withdrawal from Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.
Vietnam was subsequently divided under the Geneva Accords into a Communist North and US-backed South, sparking the two-decade Vietnam War. The conflict ended in 1975 with the fall of Saigon, leading to national reunification under Hanoi’s leadership.
