Leading the military vehicle unit was the armored force, including T54 and T55 tanks, BTR wheeled armored personnel carriers, and infantry fighting vehicles.

On 5/8, the army and police participated in the second full rehearsal for the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day (A80).

The army's parade contingent included command vehicles, the military flag unit, 26 marching units, 11 stationary units, and six military vehicle units. The police contingent included command vehicles, the police flag unit, 17 marching units, seven stationary units, and eight specialized vehicle units.

For the first time in 40 years, since the National Day parade on 2/9/1985, the parade formation featured military vehicles, including armored forces.

The artillery unit included 130 mm M46 howitzers, missiles, and SU-122 and SU-152 self-propelled guns.

The air defense vehicle unit featured the S-125 VT air defense missile system, a modernized version developed by Viettel.

The naval unit included the VCM-B coastal missile system, researched and produced by Viettel.

The female signal corps unit, under the Signal Corps, wore combat helmets instead of soft caps and carried radio backpacks.

The male chemical warfare unit, under the Chemical Corps, returned to the parade after 10 years, having trained since mid-April.

The electronic warfare unit, from Army Corps 34, traveled from southern Vietnam in mid-June, enduring nearly two months of training during Hanoi's hottest summer months.

The temperature dropped to around 35 degrees Celsius with a gentle breeze, following days of intense heat in northern Vietnam. Compared to the mid-July rehearsal, some units' uniforms were updated to reflect their roles.

The honor guard, representing the navy, army, and air force – the core forces of the Vietnam People's Army – wore formal uniforms and boots, compared to their regular uniforms in the 17/7 rehearsal. They also shifted from carrying rifles to presenting arms and saluting. The unit leader carried a sword.

The male cybersecurity and high-tech crime prevention officer unit was under the Mobile Police Command.

The female peacekeeping officer unit represented Vietnam's "blue helmets." Over 10 years, Vietnam has sent thousands of personnel to UN peacekeeping operations in challenging locations like South Sudan, Abyei, and Central Africa.

The female traffic police officers wore face masks for sun protection after the rehearsal. With training occurring during the hottest summer months, organizers prioritized flexible training schedules to ensure the well-being of participants.

On 2/9, Vietnam will hold the 80th anniversary celebration of the August Revolution and National Day at Ba Dinh Square, Hanoi, where President Ho Chi Minh declared independence on 2/9/1945.

The parade will feature ground, mechanized, air, and naval forces. A naval parade will be held for the first time in Khanh Hoa province, with the participation of the Navy, Coast Guard, Border Guard, and Military Zone 5. The Navy will play a central role with Kilo 636 submarines, surface ships, naval aviation, and other specialized units.

Giang Huy