Grand parade marking 50th reunification anniversary undergoes preliminary state-level rehearsal

A preliminary state-level rehearsal for the grand parade commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 1975–2025) was held along Le Duan street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, on April 25 evening.

Attending and directing the rehearsal were Nguyen Trong Nghia, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Chairman of its Commission for Information, Education and Mass Mobilisation, and standing deputy head of the Central Steering Committee for the celebration of major anniversaries and important historical events of the country in the 2023–2025 period; Nguyen Van Nen, Politburo member, Secretary of the HCM City Party Committee, and head of the Steering Committee for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification; and General Phan Van Giang, Politburo member, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission, and Minister of National Defence; among others.

The preliminary state-level rehearsal featured 25 military and militia formations, 17 police formations, and 12 formations of mass organisations.

Notably, the event also saw the marching of military forces from China, Laos and Cambodia.

On the same day's morning, detachments of helicopters and fighter jets also conducted training in the sky above downtown HCM City.

The final state-level rehearsal is scheduled to take place along Le Duan street on April 27 morning.

The grand ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification will be held at 6:30am on April 30, with the participation of around 13,000 people.