Nearly 5,000 square meters of lawns, flowers, and decorative plants along major roads in Hanoi have been trampled, damaged, or stolen following two mass parade rehearsals held in preparation for the 80th anniversary of Vietnam's National Day.

According to the Hanoi Urban Infrastructure and Technical Management Center under the Department of Construction, the agency coordinated with contractors to inspect the condition of green spaces after the two major parade rehearsals conducted on the nights of August 21 and 24.

The inspections revealed widespread damage in central areas of the city, particularly along parade routes and at Ba Dinh Square. Many lawns, flowerbeds, and ornamental plants were crushed, uprooted, or broken. Some areas were reduced to exposed soil, with missing or destroyed landscaping.

In addition, hanging flower arrangements and potted displays were found displaced or vandalized. Several decorative flower baskets were no longer present on-site, and some structures no longer met aesthetic standards.

As of August 25, the center confirmed that a total of approximately 4,960 square meters of decorative greenery and two floral stands had been either severely damaged or stolen. On August 21 alone, 1,270 square meters were affected, while on August 24, another 3,680 square meters sustained damage.

To restore urban aesthetics, contractors were immediately instructed to remove crushed or broken plants and clean the affected sites. The center proposed that maintenance contractors continue pruning and caring for surviving plants. Completely ruined floral decorations are scheduled to be replanted after the final parade rehearsal on August 30 to avoid further waste.

Following the rehearsal night on August 24, Hanoi Urban Environment Company (Urenco) reported a massive spike in waste volume. By 10:00 PM that evening, the company had mobilized all personnel to perform a rapid clean-up, successfully collecting garbage across all districts by 4:00 AM the next morning.

The amount of trash generated spiked dramatically, with some areas seeing a twentyfold increase. In the wards of Hoan Kiem and Cua Nam, waste volumes were 20 times higher than normal. In Ba Dinh, Ngoc Ha, and Giang Vo, an extra 10 tons of waste were recorded compared to typical daily levels.

To ensure environmental hygiene during the upcoming official military parade and National Day celebrations, Urenco has proposed several public awareness measures. These include messaging to residents discouraging littering and sharing maps of public restroom locations throughout the city. The proposals were submitted to the Department of Culture and Sports and Hanoi Television for wide dissemination through public media and SMS alerts.

During the rehearsal nights of August 21 and 24, thousands of citizens gathered along central streets in Hanoi to witness the pre-celebration events. While these moments were marked by national pride and excitement, several incidents of poor public behavior cast a shadow over the occasion.

Specifically, numerous individuals were seen littering, stepping on flowerbeds, trampling newly planted greenery, pushing through crowd barriers, and engaging in fights and verbal altercations. Authorities noted that these actions severely affected both security and the city's appearance.

In response, local authorities are not only preparing administrative penalties for violations but also calling on citizens to raise their awareness and sense of civic responsibility - especially with the final rehearsal and official celebration drawing near. The 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day remains one of the country’s most sacred and significant events.

PV