One of the major ceremonies during the celebration will be the incense offerings at President Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and the Monument of Unknown Heroes on September 1 by top leaders and former leaders to commemorate the heroes who sacrificed their lives for national independence and reunification.

A parade, expected to attract about 30,000 people, will begin at 7am the next day at Ba Dinh Square in Ha Noi, where late President Ho Chi Minh had announced the historic Independence Declaration on September 2, 1945.

The parade will involve the Viet Nam People's Armed Forces, including the army, public security officers and the militias, as well as civilians such as war veterans, workers, farmers and ethnic minorities, besides other representative groups of Vietnamese people.

Ha Noi will celebrate the anniversary with a fireworks show on the same day.

Several other activities will also be organised on the occasion.

The 70^th anniversary celebrations of the Tan Trao National People's Congress will commence this Sunday at Tan Trao Square in Tuyen Quang Province.

The two-day Tan Trao National People's Congress, held on August 16, 1945, had concluded with the call for a national uprising, later known as the August Revolution, against the Japanese to gain independence. The national flag and anthem were also chosen at the gathering.

A scientific seminar on the August Revolution and Independence Day, along with a book exhibition on the events and another on the socio-economic achievements since 1945 and a National Film Festival Week will also take place in Ha Noi on the occasion.

Special stamps will be released by the information and communications ministry to commemorate the 70^th anniversary of the important occasions.

Other activities such as honouring veterans and heroic mothers, meetings with witnesses to history and talks on local traditions will be organized in localities as well. 

VNS