Troops and equipment gather for national day parade rehearsal

Three hours before the parade rehearsal, military and police forces converged on Ba Dinh square on Sunday 27/8, greeted by the cheers of thousands.

The Party and national flags are practiced on Ba Dinh Square. The state-level parade rehearsal is scheduled for 8 p.m. tonight, with over 16,300 troops in 43 marching blocks, 18 stationary blocks; six military artillery vehicle blocks, eight special police vehicle blocks, along with military forces from Russia, Laos, and Cambodia. Photo: Duc Dong

The Royal Cambodian Army and Lao Army march on Ba Dinh Square. The two forces arrived in Hanoi over 10 days ago at the invitation of the Ministry of National Defense to prepare for the A80 parade. Photo: Duc Dong

The Lao Army wears the same uniform as the first rehearsal on 21/8.

Police units enter Ba Dinh square, forming up before the rehearsal. Photo: Duc Dong

At 4:40 p.m., T-54 tanks and their upgraded versions T-54B and T-55 moved along Thanh Nien road towards Ba Dinh square. These "steel fortresses" are operated by a four-person crew and equipped with cannons and anti-aircraft machine guns. Photo: Thanh Hang

An XCB-01 infantry fighting vehicle of the Armored Force moves on Nguyen Tri Phuong street. This is a modern weapons system, crewed by three (commander, driver, gunner) and able to carry eight infantry soldiers. It is capable of raiding and destroying key enemy targets. Photo: Thanh Tung

Leading the main battle tank column is the upgraded T-54B number 565, moving on Nguyen Tri Phuong Street towards the assembly point. Hundreds of people lined the streets, waving and cheering as the convoy passed by. Photo: Thanh Tung

Armored soldiers are busy preparing for the rehearsal. This combat branch is a key assault force of the Vietnam People's Army, formed in 1959 with the 202nd Tank Regiment – the first tank regiment. Since then, the force has developed into numerous regiments and battalions, participating in many campaigns and battles in the southern battlefield. Photo: Thanh Tung

At 4 p.m., ballistic missiles, surface-to-surface missiles, wheeled military artillery vehicles, and special vehicles left the My Dinh F1 racetrack for Ba Dinh square. Hundreds of people cheered along the route as the convoy passed. The photo shows the Scud-B ballistic missile crew. Photo: Pham Chieu

The S-125-VT air defense missile system, researched and upgraded by Viettel, moves towards Ba Dinh square. Photo: Pham Chieu

Nearly four hours before the rehearsal, convoys carrying soldiers headed towards Ba Dinh square, welcomed by crowds of people. In the photo, female soldiers from the Communications unit form a heart shape in response to the public's affection. Photo: Tung Dinh

Senior Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Thanh Luan, instructor in charge of the Chemical Warfare unit, carries red and yellow starred headbands to give to people along the parade route. Photo: Tung Dinh