13,000 personnel to march through a slew of downtown streets for April 30 Ho Chi Minh City parade

The procession starting at the intersection of Le Duan and Nguyen Binh Khiem streets would go past the Independence Palace and continue through various District 1 streets, Vo Ho Hoang Vu, chief of office of the city Department of Culture and Sports, said.

The main grandstand will be set up in front of the Independence Palace, with the festivities starting at 6:30 a.m.

The 13,000 personnel, from the military, militia, police, and mass organizations, will march past the grandstand and then split into four separate routes to reach their designated assembly points.

Troops practice for the April 30 parade at a military school in HCMC, April 2025. Photo by VnExpress/Thanh Tung

The first will go along Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Le Loi and Nguyen Thi Nghia streets and past the Phu Dong Thien Vuong roundabout, and end at Tao Dan Park.

The second route will take them along Le Duan, Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Le Thanh Ton, and Nguyen Hue streets, passing the Me Linh roundabout and ending at Bach Dang Wharf.

The third will march along Le Duan, Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Nguyen Dinh Chieu, and Dinh Tien Hoang streets and gather at the Hoa Lu Stadium.

The final route will be Le Duan, Nam Ky Khoi Nghia and Hai Ba Trung streets, and finish at Le Van Tam Park.

The multiple routes are meant to allow more people to watch the parade and prevent congestion on roads. For those unable to watch in person, the parade will be broadcast live on television and social media.

Besides, 20 giant screens will be put up on streets such as Le Duan, Nam Ky Khoi Nghia and Nguyen Hue to enable wide public access.

The Independence Palace seen from above. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

The parade will begin with a 21-gun salute to the Vietnamese national anthem.

The Air Defense - Air Force Service will fly Mi-8 and Mi-17 helicopters, Yak-130 fighter aircraft and Su-30MK2 jets in an aerial display.

The Chinese, Laotian and Cambodian militaries have been invited to participate in the parade.