Among the female special police unit, Phan Thi Nhung and Le Thi Huyen Trang are among the few who have participated in the parade twice. 21-year-old Huyen Trang took part in the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory (2024), while Nhung marched in the 50th anniversary of National Reunification.

Both are now part of the formation for the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day.

Phan Nhung (left) and Huyen Trang in the ranks of the female special police unit. Photo courtesy of the subjects.

Phan Nhung (left) and Huyen Trang in the ranks of the female special police unit. Photo courtesy of the subjects.

Nhung, originally from Vung Tau, trained at the Hoa Lac campus of the Vietnam National University. The intense heat of northern Vietnam posed a significant challenge for her, especially since the female special police unit carries 7 kg of equipment, including armor, guns, and helmets, increasing their exertion considerably.

The physical training phase was the most demanding. The team would march 7 km under 40°C heat, their clothes soaked with sweat, their legs heavy. Nhung often struggled to regulate her breathing. "But overcoming these challenges showed me that seemingly impossible things can be achieved with effort," she said.

Huyen Trang had experience from the previous parade, but because she joined training later and missed the initial physical conditioning, she fainted on the training ground. "That moment highlighted the camaraderie, the encouragement from instructors, the care from the medical staff, and the bond between teammates," Trang shared.

Both soldiers agree that the saluting motion is the most crucial and difficult, requiring precise coordination of hands, feet, body, and face. The challenge is amplified by the large scale of the 80th-anniversary formation, with 16 people in each row, where a minor error can disrupt the entire unit.

To achieve the required poise, strength, and composure, each soldier receives individual coaching and peer feedback during practice. "It's tough, but we are determined to live up to the 'steel roses' moniker of the police force," Huyen Trang stated.

Minh Duc (right) and his fellow officers from the Logistics - Technical Department of the People's Police on the training ground in Hoa Lac, July 2025. Photo courtesy of the subjects.

Minh Duc (right) and his fellow officers from the Logistics - Technical Department of the People's Police on the training ground in Hoa Lac, July 2025. Photo courtesy of the subjects.

Weather, intensity, and technique are also challenges for male soldiers. Dinh Minh Duc, a 4th-year student at the People's Police Academy and a member of the Logistics - Technical officer corps, described training 6-7 hours daily since late May, regardless of scorching sun or pouring rain.

Initially, the stiff leather shoes rubbed against their toes, causing blisters and bleeding. After each session, Duc and his comrades soaked their feet in ice water to reduce swelling, applied ointment, and bandaged their toes for the next day's training. They learned to soak their shoes in water and then dry them in the sun to soften the leather and to tape vulnerable areas to prevent chafing.

There were days when exhaustion overwhelmed them, and some collapsed on the field. "Often, we marched not with our legs, but with our will," Duc recounted.

Nguyen Danh Thai, a student at the People's Police Academy and member of the security officer corps, vividly remembers a sudden downpour during training. The entire team was drenched but maintained their formation and chanted commands. "In that moment, fatigue vanished, replaced by emotion and a sense of unity under the flag," Thai recalled.

Do Viet Quoc Anh, a captain serving in the Border Guard Command, describes his four months of training at Hoa Lac as "a time of fire." Initially, he and his fellow border guard officers rolled up their trousers to ensure straight knees during drills. Along with formation practice, they ran 3,000 m, did push-ups, and endurance exercises to maintain their physical condition under the intense summer sun.

Exhaustion was common, but surprisingly, sunburn was a major concern. Female soldiers wore gloves and face coverings, leaving the men to rely on sunscreen. This led to some humorous situations.

"It helped with the burning, but we were as dark as burnt wood, only our teeth visible when we smiled," Captain Quoc Anh joked.

The young soldiers became skincare enthusiasts. Minh Duc described waking up at 3 a.m. to apply sunscreen before their 4 a.m. training session. Duc brought seven tubes of sunscreen and is almost finished with his fifth. "It felt like applying cement. I'm sure no one else used as much sunscreen as I did," he said.

Despite their sunburnt skin, the soldiers wanted to look their best when marching before the public. Before each rehearsal, they helped each other with their appearance. Many of the men even applied foundation and other cosmetics, creating a lively atmosphere reminiscent of a backstage dressing room.

The female special forces unit waves to the crowd on Van Cao Street during the rehearsal on 27/8. Photo: Tung Dinh.

The female special forces unit waves to the crowd on Van Cao Street during the rehearsal on 27/8. Photo: Tung Dinh.

Marching before the public transformed the hardships of training into cherished memories. The soldiers shared that the cheers and encouragement from the crowds during rehearsals and previews boosted their morale.

"Hearing shouts like 'So handsome!' and 'Go, Vietnam!' made all the hardship disappear," Minh Duc said. "Everyone wished the route was longer to connect with and perform for the people even more."

Only 48 hours remain before the main ceremony on Ba Dinh Square. Phan Thi Nhung, a female special police officer, admits to feeling nervous. This is likely her last time marching with the special forces, making the experience bittersweet.

"This is a sacred moment and will be the most wonderful memory of our youth," Nhung reflected.

Phan Duong