Hanoi, August 22, 2025 — The Europe Today: The first joint rehearsal for the grand military parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day (coded mission A80) was held at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 21, at Ba Đình Square in Hanoi.
Tens of thousands of residents warmly welcomed the participating forces as they marched through the capital’s streets. For the first time since the 40th National Day celebrations in 1985, heavy military equipment, including armored tanks and artillery vehicles, reappeared on the historic square.
The rehearsal was attended and inspected by senior leaders, including Politburo members Nguyễn Trọng Nghĩa, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Head of the Commissions for Information and Education and for Mass Mobilisation; and General Phan Văn Giang, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission and Minister of National Defence. Also present were General Nguyễn Tân Cương, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army and Deputy Minister of National Defence, along with representatives of the Ministry of Public Security and other central agencies.
Nearly 16,000 officers and soldiers from the Army and Public Security forces took part, showcasing modern weaponry and equipment such as armoured vehicles, self-propelled artillery, rocket artillery, missile systems, electronic warfare vehicles, UAVs, radar systems, and the domestically developed Trường Sơn missile system and XCB-01 infantry fighting vehicle. The formations demonstrated precision, discipline, and high combat readiness.
Specialised vehicles of the Public Security forces also joined the parade, ranging from mobile command and riot control units to armoured vehicles, convoy escorts, and rescue and relief vehicles, reflecting ongoing modernization efforts.
This year’s parade also includes participation by foreign military contingents from Russia, Laos, and Cambodia. The groups have been training in Vietnam ahead of the official celebration on September 2.
The A80 parade will feature marching contingents, mechanised and airborne formations, naval forces, and mass organisations representing the unity and diversity of the Vietnamese people, along with workers, farmers, veterans, youth, women, and overseas Vietnamese.
The final full-dress rehearsal is scheduled before the official celebration, which is expected to be one of the largest national events in recent decades.
