People flock to Ho Chi Minh City center to wait overnight for reunification parade

Starting at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, thousands of people gathered at Bach Dang Wharf to secure their spot for the parade.

Many brought cushions, food, and drinks, determined to stay up all night for the event.

"As soon as I finished work, I rushed here to find a spot, eager to see the soldiers march tomorrow morning," said Tran Vy, an office worker from District 7.

At the intersection of Le Loi and Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, hundreds of people also arrived early to claim their spots.

Groups of people gathered to sing together, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.

The sidewalks along the parade route were filled with people waiting, their anticipation palpable.

Many people gather on Le Duan Street in front of the Independence Palace, the main venue of the march which will be joined by 13,000 people from different military, police and cilivian forces. They brought tarps, personal belongings, and food, ready to spend the night and secure their place for the next morning.

As evening fell, the crowd on Le Duan Street grew, with many people from other provinces joining in. However, after learning that access to this route would be limited, some left to find a more convenient location to watch the parade.

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Traffic Police Department, to serve the 50th reunification anniversary celebration, more than 20 routes in District 1 will be closed to vehicles and pedestrians from 3:00 a.m. to noon on April 30.

Veteran Do Thi Ly, 64, from the central province of Thanh Hoa, and her comrades pose for photos on Le Duan Street.

Knowing that this area would be closed to traffic, Ly said she wanted to capture the atmosphere of the preparations, before heading to another location to watch the parade.

Nearly 2 km away, Nguyen Hue Street also attracted a large crowd of people waiting to see the parade.

Many people reserved seats with cardboard signs that read "taken," marking their spots for the parade.