Nearly 13,000 soldiers from the armed forces of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia conducted a massive parade rehearsal on the evening of April 22 in preparation for the grand celebration of the 50th anniversary of the reunification of Vietnam. Thousands of Ho Chi Minh City residents turned out in excitement to watch and cheer.

At 8 p.m., around 13,000 members of various military and police units marched along Le Duan Street in Ho Chi Minh City, rehearsing for the official April 30 celebration in front of the Independence Palace. Leading the formation were large banners bearing the image of President Ho Chi Minh and the emblem marking 50 years of national reunification.

Following closely was a custom-built convertible car modeled on the VinFast VF9, used as a ceremonial vehicle to lead the armed forces’ parade formation.

A key highlight of the reenactment was the symbolic image of a tank crashing through the gates of the Independence Palace, as happened at noon on April 30, 1975 - faithfully recreated by soldiers in the parade.

The parade route began near the Notre Dame Cathedral in Saigon, where the formations advanced in step for over 200 meters before transitioning into a formal march past the grandstand on Le Duan Street, directly in front of the Independence Palace. Their synchronized steps were the result of many months of disciplined training.

Notably, the evening rehearsal included contingents from the Lao and Cambodian armies. Each country sent over 100 soldiers, including reserves, to join Vietnamese forces in the parade.

One image captures the Cambodian military unit marching past the grandstand, while another features the commanding presence of the "Five Main Army Columns" formation - symbolizing valor and unwavering readiness to serve and defend the homeland.

Also featured were female special operations officers, marching in tight formation as part of the 38 military and police divisions taking part in the rehearsal. The echo of disciplined footsteps, focused expressions, and precise movements reflected the dedication it took to train through both sun and rain.

The liberation flag fluttered proudly along the parade route, with dense crowds lining the streets, eagerly watching and hoping to meet the soldiers during breaks.

A sea of people gathered in downtown Ho Chi Minh City on the night of April 22 to witness this powerful moment of national pride and international solidarity.

Nguyen Hue & The Bang