On the morning of March 4, at the National Military Training Center 4, the Vietnam People's Army conducted a large-scale parade rehearsal in preparation for the 50th anniversary of national reunification.

A total of 5,400 officers and soldiers participated in two main segments: a ceremonial performance by the Military Honor Guard before the anniversary celebration and the official military parade and march on the day of the event.

The rehearsal was held both in person and online, connecting various regional military commands.

The military parade rehearsal involved forces from the Ministry of National Defense across four key training sites.

The first site, at National Military Training Center 4, included units from Military Regions 1, 2, 3, and 4, the Navy, the Air Defense-Air Force, Corps 12, and specialized forces such as the Armored Corps, Special Forces, Communications, and the Military Honor Guard. Participants also included flag formations representing the Communist Party and the nation, female military musicians, officer units from the Army, Navy, Air Defense-Air Force, Coast Guard, and specialized female officer groups in Communications, Military Medicine, and UN Peacekeeping. Infantry, armored, special forces, northern militia, and Red Flag units also took part.

The second site, at Military Region 5, included cyber warfare forces, paratrooper commandos, and male maritime militia forces.

The third site, at Military Region 9 and Corps 34, involved Army officers, Border Guard officers, representatives from five key military wings, logistics and technical officers, and electronic warfare units.

The fourth site, at Military Region 7, featured the ceremonial honor guard, military bands, Coast Guard officers, self-defense militia units, Liberation Army soldiers, female commando forces, and female southern guerrilla units.

Directly overseeing the rehearsal, General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Chief of the General Staff and Deputy Minister of National Defense, commended the dedication and discipline of the participating officers and soldiers.

He noted that while the full-scale rehearsals began on February 18, unit selections and training had been ongoing since December 2024, including forces from the 70th-anniversary Dien Bien Phu Victory parade.

He urged all forces to perfect their formations and execution, strictly adhering to military drill regulations. He emphasized the need for commanders to closely monitor performance, correct errors, and conduct evaluations for each unit, individual, and squad. Ensuring absolute safety for personnel and equipment during training was also a key directive.

As part of preparations, military leadership is coordinating logistics and movement plans for the forces traveling to Ho Chi Minh City, where the official anniversary parade and march will take place on the morning of April 30 along Le Duan Street in District 1. Special attention is being given to housing, weather conditions, and nutrition for the troops during training.

Additionally, the narration accompanying each formation in the parade will be carefully crafted to reflect the history and traditions of each military branch and unit, including key teachings from President Ho Chi Minh.

Tran Thuong & Pham Hai