Hanoi crowds cheer as thousands of soldiers rehearse historic parade

The capital’s streets came alive as 16,000 soldiers from Vietnam and abroad marched in a powerful parade rehearsal.

During the first major rehearsal at Ba Dinh Square, tens of thousands of people flocked to the streets to watch soldiers from Vietnam and international forces practice their parade routines, turning the heart of Hanoi into a festival-like scene.

After months of rigorous preparation, 16,000 soldiers from the military, police, and armored vehicle units, along with military delegations from Russia, Laos, and Cambodia, gathered for a joint parade rehearsal for the first time at Ba Dinh Square.

The formations began their march in front of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and proceeded down Hung Vuong Street, eventually splitting off into four separate directions.

Crowds lined the streets early in the day, with some people arriving as early as 7 a.m. to secure a good viewing spot. The atmosphere was electrifying, as if the national celebration had already begun.

Near Trang Tien Street, soldiers smiled and high-fived spectators standing on both sides of the road.

The longest parade route spanned nearly 4 kilometers, from the Mausoleum to Quan Ngua Sports Palace on Van Cao Street. Despite the heat and exhaustion, the marching formations maintained their proud, disciplined stance, even as sweat drenched their uniforms.

Whenever female parade units passed by, the cheers grew louder, echoing through the streets in support of the "steel roses" representing Vietnam’s armed forces.

Before entering the Quan Ngua Sports Palace, male soldiers from the militia reserve units were handed bottled water by spectators to help them cool down.

On Van Cao Street, soldiers connected with children and waved at citizens, forming heart gestures in appreciation of the warm encouragement from the public.

Nguyen Minh Thu, a member of the military band, received milk and a handheld fan from her best friend, who had come to the finish point to offer support. Despite favorable evening weather on August 21, the long parade route left many participants visibly fatigued.

Before boarding their transport vehicles, some soldiers lingered to take photos with young supporters who had followed the rehearsal until the very end.