Senior Lieutenant General Nguyễn Tân Cương speaks at the conference. — VNA/VNS Photo Hồng Pha

Việt Nam will hold military parades and marches on important upcoming national holidays, said Senior Lieutenant General Nguyễn Tân Cương, Chief of General Staff of the Việt Nam People's Army and also Deputy Minister of National Defence.

At a conference on Thursday afternoon, he stated that the holidays include the 80th Anniversary of the Việt Nam People's Army Foundation, the 35th Anniversary of the National Defence Festival and the 80th National Day.

The military parades will be held solemnly, safely and economically.

The participating forces will demonstrate the unity and regularity of the people's armed forces. They will also express the nation’s cultural identity and desire for peace.

In addition to the parades and marching forces, there will be torch relays, fireworks and air force displays.

The training process is divided into three stages before the official events.

Agencies and units must get ready according to their planned tasks.

They must strictly control the airspace, sea areas, border gates and border lines to ensure safety for the celebrations.

Senior Lieutenant General Cương directed relevant organisations to urgently begin preparations, especially assigning manpower, weapons and equipment to begin practice drills.

He requested the General Department of Logistics and the Military Supplies Department to research costume designs and propose them to the Minister of National Defence for consideration.

He also asked the Việt Nam Defence Industry to research and produce combat helmets for the forces.

Units with military artillery forces must soon have training courses, and search for spaces that are suitable for practising.

Senior Lieutenant General Cương required the Department of Military Training to receive comments at the conference and seek opinions from central and local departments and ministries to complete the plan for the parades.

The plan will first be submitted to leaders of the Ministry of National Defence, then the Prime Minister for approval. — VNS