On Vo Chi Cong street, hundreds of people stood on the overpass and in high-rise buildings to film and greet the convoy of vehicles carrying equipment and parade troops. Photo: Hieu Luong

At 4:30 p.m., a convoy of wheeled military artillery and special vehicles left the My Dinh F1 racetrack, traveling over 10 km to Ba Dinh square. Along the route, hundreds of citizens and tourists watched and cheered as the Air Defense-Air Force's S-125-VT air defense missile system passed by. Photo: Pham Chieu

Artillery soldiers gave heart signs and waved to people along the road. Photo: Hieu Luong

Tanks and armored vehicles lined up on Quan Thanh street, awaiting the parade. Crowds of people wearing red shirts and national flag stickers lined the sidewalks, taking pictures and cheering. Photo: Pham Du

People filmed tank and armored vehicle soldiers on Nguyen Tri Phuong street. Photo: Pham Du

Nguyen Van Sang, an artillery soldier, took a few minutes to see his wife and children after nearly 5 months away from home. Do Thu Huyen brought her nearly one-year-old son from Hai Phong to Hanoi to meet her husband at 9 a.m. "Even though it was just a short meeting, our family was very happy," she said. Photo: Thanh Hang

People took souvenir photos with tank and armored vehicle soldiers on Thanh Nien street. Photo: Pham Du

A child had a souvenir photo taken with special forces soldiers. Photo: Thanh Hang

Special police officers waved to people on both sides of the road as they proceeded to Ba Dinh square. Photo: Pham Chieu

Nong Quang Duy (19 years old) brought a self-drawn portrait of soldier Nguyen Huu Cuong to give to him. Photo: Tung Dinh

Hai Nam (6 years old) high-fived soldiers from the Fire Prevention and Fighting and Rescue and Rescue unit as the group moved from Thuy Khue street to the Thanh Nien intersection. His mother, Bui Thi Hue, said the two of them traveled from Son Tay town to the inner city at 2 p.m. to watch the rehearsal. "Nam really likes firefighters, so he was very happy to meet them," she said. Photo: Thanh Hang

Soldiers took the opportunity to meet their relatives and girlfriends at the Thanh Nien intersection. Photo: Thanh Hang

Young people high-fived and cheered the Veteran contingent marching on Quan Thanh street. Photo: Gia Chinh

The first rehearsal took place at Ba Dinh square at 8 p.m. today, with over 16,300 soldiers from 43 standing units and 18 marching units, along with 6 units of military artillery vehicles, 8 units of special police vehicles, and military forces from Russia, Laos, and Cambodia.

Reporting team