Vietnam marks 80 years of independence with record-breaking parade
HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam staged its largest-ever national celebrations on Tuesday to commemorate 80 years since revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh declared independence from French colonial rule in 1945.
At dawn, around 40,000 troops and civilians marched through the streets of Hanoi, waving flags and saluting as helicopters and fighter jets roared overhead. The parade, lasting nearly two hours, featured tanks, drones, missile batteries and honor guards, as hundreds of thousands of spectators gathered under the morning sun.
Veterans, students and families filled the capital’s historic center, many staking out spots hours in advance. “This will be my final memory. Don’t forget us,” said Pham Thanh Van, a 78-year-old veteran in full uniform decorated with medals from the Vietnam War. “I feel so proud. Independence brought development and prosperity. It was worth fighting for.”
Vietnamese leaders presided over the parade at the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, joined by foreign dignitaries including China’s top legislator Zhao Leji, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, and Cambodia’s influential former Prime Minister Hun Sen.
“In this sacred moment, we remember our ancestors,” said Vietnam’s President To Lam in his keynote address. “From colony to independent, unified nation, Vietnam has overcome immense challenges to advance toward modernity and integration.”
In a show of solidarity, Chinese and Russian soldiers marched alongside Vietnamese forces. Traditional cultural displays, floral tributes, artillery salutes and goose-stepping police units rounded out the tightly choreographed spectacle.
State media described the event as “unprecedented in scale,” surpassing both the April celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon and the 30,000-strong parade staged for the 40th Independence Day in 1985.
For younger generations, the commemoration carried deep emotional meaning. “I came here 30 hours early just to see this,” said 19-year-old student Vu Thi Trang. “I am grateful for the sacrifices of the past so that we have peace and freedom today.”
Though French cultural influence remains visible in Vietnam’s architecture, cuisine and language, the celebrations highlighted the nation’s independent achievements, particularly its transformation into a manufacturing hub.
France refused to recognize Ho Chi Minh’s 1945 proclamation, but its crushing defeat at Dien Bien Phu in 1954 forced a full withdrawal from Indochina.
“We gained independence through the blood and sweat of previous generations,” said Dang Khoa, a 36-year-old flag vendor. “Today proves their sacrifices were not in vain.”
