09:43 April 30, 2025

The parade passed Ben Thanh market.

Performed by: Phan Diep

09:38 April 30, 2025

Tens of thousands of people packed Le Loi Street waiting for the parade to pass.

Performed by: Pham Huu

09:27 April 30, 2025

Joy and pride of a unified country, peace forever

PHOTO: PHAM HUU

PHOTO: UYEN NHI

PHOTO: NGOC DUONG

PHOTO: UYEN NHI

08:59 April 30, 2025

Marching on April 30 in the arms of the people

PHOTO: PHAM HUU

PHOTO: PHAM HUU

PHOTO: PHAM HUU

PHOTO: CAO AN BIEN

08:56 April 30, 2025

Helicopter and fighter jet formations parade, drop heat traps in the sky of Ho Chi Minh City

Performed by: Uyen Nhi - Han Han

08:25 April 30, 2025

Vietnam's weapons at the April 30 parade

This year's parade formation gathered many modern weapons and equipment, such as STV-215, STV-022, STV-380, MP5A3 submachine guns..., bulletproof helmets integrated with electronic optical devices (including flashlights, night vision binoculars, thermal imaging cameras...), communication equipment, K59 bulletproof helmets, K56 bulletproof armor produced by Factory Z117 (under the General Department of Defense Industry, Ministry of National Defense).

Female soldiers of the Vietnamese peacekeeping force, wearing the characteristic green beret, holding STV-215 submachine guns.

PHOTO: NHAT THINH

08:22 April 30, 2025

The atmosphere of the parade celebrating the 50th anniversary of the country's reunification

Female special police officers wearing moss green digital camouflage uniforms, equipped with MP5A3 rapid-fire submachine guns

PHOTO: NGOC DUONG

The airborne special forces unit recreates the image of an elite force, specializing in airborne landings, deep penetrations and special operations. The airborne special forces wear tactical helmets (with flashlights and goggles), carry STV-215 rifles and wear ultra-short wave radio transceivers.

PHOTO: NGOC DUONG

The female commando force group recreates the image of the resilient, silent children of the Saigon commando force during the resistance war. The female soldiers wear field uniforms, equipped with bulletproof helmets with integrated night vision devices, bulletproof vests and STV-215 submachine guns.

PHOTO: NGOC DUONG

The naval officer block represents the core force protecting the sovereignty of the sea, islands and continental shelf of the Fatherland. The officers wear white kepi hats and white gloves, in a solemn formation.

PHOTO: NGOC DUONG

08:19 April 30, 2025

Parade on Le Duan Street

Leading the parade is a model car with the National Emblem of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The national emblem is mounted on the image of a Lac bird spreading its wings, representing the spirit of independence, the will to rise up and the great solidarity of the 54 ethnic groups of Vietnam.

PHOTO: INDEPENDENCE

08:11 April 30, 2025

Helicopter squadron participating in the April 30 parade from the cockpit perspective

Helicopter squadron participating in the April 30 parade from the cockpit perspective - By: Mai Thanh Hai

07:59 April 30, 2025

Planes enter Ho Chi Minh City to participate in the parade

PHOTO: INDEPENDENCE

PHOTO: INDEPENDENCE

07:56 April 30, 2025

General Secretary To Lam, on behalf of the Party and State, awarded the title of Labor Hero to Ho Chi Minh City.

During 50 years of construction, protection and development, Ho Chi Minh City has always received special attention from the Central Government and support from localities nationwide. The solidarity, efforts and determination of the Party Committee, government, army and people of the city have been recognized by the Party and State and awarded many noble prizes.

Ho Chi Minh City is located in the key economic region of the Southeast, always maintaining its position as the economic locomotive of the country. Although accounting for only 0.6% of the area and 8.6% of the labor force of the country, Ho Chi Minh City contributes the most to the gross domestic product, accounting for 16% of the country's economic scale, 26 - 27% of the total budget revenue and the gross regional domestic product (GRDP) per capita is 1.7 times higher than the whole country.

20 years ago, Ho Chi Minh City was honored to receive the title "Heroic City".

07:45 April 30, 2025

Helicopter squadron is entering Ho Chi Minh City to celebrate the grand ceremony.

The helicopter squadron has taken off and is entering Ho Chi Minh City - By: Mai Thanh Hai

07:39 April 30, 2025

Cannon firing at Bach Dang wharf to celebrate 50 years of national reunification

Cannon firing at Bach Dang wharf - Performed by: Dao Ngoc Thach

07:32 April 30, 2025

General Secretary To Lam: Vietnam has achieved great achievements

General Secretary of the Central Party Committee To Lam reads a speech commemorating the 50th anniversary of national reunification.

PHOTO: NHAT THINH

07:12 April 30, 2025

Leaders of countries, political parties and international friends attended the ceremony.

Senior leaders and international friends attend the April 30th celebration

PHOTO: NHAT THINH

Attending the ceremony were General Secretary To Lam, former General Secretary Nong Duc Manh; President Luong Cuong, former Presidents Nguyen Minh Triet and Truong Tan Sang.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, former Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung; National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, former National Assembly Chairmen Nguyen Van An and Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, Standing member of the Secretariat Tran Cam Tu; Mr. Do Van Chien, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front.

Politburo members: Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen; General Phan Van Giang, Minister of National Defense; General Luong Tam Quang, Minister of Public Security.

Also attending were Politburo members, former Politburo members, Party Central Committee Secretaries, former Party Central Committee Secretaries, revolutionary veterans, heroic Vietnamese mothers, People's Armed Forces Heroes, Labor Heroes, armed forces generals, veterans, frontline laborers, forces participating in the Ho Chi Minh Campaign, and people with meritorious services to the country...

Also attending the ceremony were leaders of countries, political parties and international friends: Mr. Thongloun Sisoulith, General Secretary, President of Laos; Mr. Samdech Techo Hun Sen, President of the Cambodian People's Party, President of the Senate of the Kingdom of Cambodia; Mr. Salvador Valdes Mesa, Vice President of the Republic of Cuba; Mr. Ipatau Vadzim, Vice President of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Belarus; Mr. Bui Kim Giai, Minister of Demobilized Military Affairs of China; and Foreign Ministers of several countries.

Attending the event were leaders and representatives of the Communist Party of Italy, the United States, France, Japan, India, ambassadors, international organizations, defense attaches of various countries in Vietnam and many international friends who had supported the Vietnamese people in the struggle for national liberation...

06:50 April 30, 2025

Former senior leaders attend the ceremony to celebrate the country's reunification on April 30

From left to right: Former National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Van An; former Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung; former President Truong Tan Sang; former President Nguyen Minh Triet

PHOTO: NHAT THINH

In front of Ben Thanh market, thousands of people watched the 30.4 ceremony - By: Phan Diep

06:37 April 30, 2025

Senior leaders and international friends attend the April 30th celebration

The April 30 ceremony was attended by leaders and former leaders of the Party, State, National Assembly, Government and international friends. In the photo from left to right: General Secretary To Lam; General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith; President Luong Cuong; President of the Cambodian People's Party and President of the Senate of the Kingdom of Cambodia Samdech Techo Hun Sen; Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh; Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man

PHOTO: NHAT THINH

06:35 April 30, 2025

Leaders of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia attended the celebration

PHOTO: NGOC DUONG

06:30 April 30, 2025

People watch the celebration from Bach Dang wharf park

05:53 April 30, 2025

International delegation enters the ceremony area

PHOTO: NGOC DUONG

05:52 April 30, 2025

Veterans were assisted by young soldiers to the ceremony area.

PHOTO: NGOC DUONG

05:04 April 30, 2025

Image from Le Duan Street before the parade

Military generals participate in the parade

PHOTO: NGOC DUONG

Female soldiers of the military band appeared in the parade on April 30

PHOTO: NGOC DUONG

Female soldiers of the military band appeared in the parade on April 30

PHOTO: NGOC DUONG

The military ceremonial troupe performing gun dances was present at the main grandstand to practice before the opening ceremony.

PHOTO: NGOC DUONG

04:49 April 30, 2025

Wanting Uncle Ho to 'witness' the pride of the nation

Early morning of April 30, on Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, Ho Chi Minh City, among the crowd eagerly waiting for the 50th anniversary of the country's reunification, Mr. Huynh Van Van (29 years old, teacher, in Binh Chanh District) attracted attention when he brought a wooden portrait of President Ho Chi Minh with a fairly large size of 80 x 150 cm.

Mr. Van shared that the painting was a work he had commissioned many weeks ago, with a special thought: "I wanted to bring Uncle Ho's portrait to the ceremony as a way to remember and express my deep gratitude. This is a moment that only happens once every 50 years, I want Uncle Ho to 'witness' the pride of the nation today."

Mr. Huynh Van Van brought a wooden painting of President Ho Chi Minh.

PHOTO: MY DIEP

04:34 April 30, 2025

Types of aircraft participating in the April 30 parade in Ho Chi Minh City

This year's parade also had the participation of 23 aircraft from the Air Defense - Air Force, Ministry of National Defense, including: 7 Su-30MK2 fighters. This is a modern multi-role fighter aircraft , performing aerobatic flights, dropping heat traps in the sky of Ho Chi Minh City.

Su-30MK2 fighter jets participate in the April 30 parade in the sky of Ho Chi Minh City

PHOTO: TRINH HA

Along with that were 6 Yak-130 training and combat aircraft; 10 military helicopters (Mi-171, Mi-17, Mi-8), flying in a 3-4-3 formation, flying the Party flag and the national flag, flying over the ceremony area and the center of Ho Chi Minh City.

Helicopters flying the Party flag and the national flag flew over the Bitexco building area, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City on the day of the April 30 parade rehearsal.

PHOTO: TRINH HA

Actively preparing for many months, peaking from the end of 2024 and from mid-April 2025, the forces participating in the parade have been diligently practicing, conducting many joint training sessions to perfect their formations and movements. The official joint training sessions took place on April 18 and April 22; the state-level preliminary rehearsal was held on April 25 and the full rehearsal was held on April 27.

The April 30 parade to celebrate the 50th anniversary of national reunification has the Party flag and the national flag.

PHOTO: NGOC DUONG

The grand parade and march event to celebrate the 50th anniversary of national reunification (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025) was organized by the Party Central Committee, the National Assembly, the President, the Government, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and Ho Chi Minh City. Ho Chi Minh City played the leading role in implementing and coordinating with the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and relevant agencies to carry out specific activities.

The national parade and march opened at 6:30 a.m. The forces departed from the intersection of Le Duan - Nguyen Binh Khiem, moving through the main stage in front of the Independence Palace - Reunification Hall (District 1, Ho Chi Minh City). At the end of this schedule, the parade and marching groups divided into 4 directions to move to the assembly point at 23/9 Park, Tao Dan Park, Hoa Lu Stadium, Le Van Tam Park (District 1). During the parade and march, there was a 21-shot cannon firing at Bach Dang Wharf Park (District 1) at around 7 a.m.; helicopters flying the Party flag, the national flag and Su-30MK2 fighter jets performed dropping heat traps on the parade and marching area and the sky of Ho Chi Minh City at around 8 a.m. on April 30.

Thanhnien.vn

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/dieu-binh-304-o-tphcm-ky-niem-50-nam-dat-nuoc-thong-nhat-185250429152729848.htm