Starting at 6 PM on 1/9, roads around Ba Dinh Square were closed, 4 hours ahead of schedule. Many residents and tourists scrambled to find ways to reach their viewing spots for the parade.

Hanoi Railway Station, situated on Le Duan Street—a main parade route—became a gathering point for thousands. The station platforms, waiting areas, and main hall were packed. Lam Hoang Khanh Ngan and her group traveled 270 km from Cao Bang to Hanoi, using various modes of transportation and finally walking over 5 km to reach the station.

Khanh Ngan's group on Le Duan Street. Photo: Anh Tu

Khanh Ngan's group on Le Duan Street. Photo: Anh Tu

"Roads are blocked everywhere. We booked a hotel 1 km away but don't know how to get there," Ngan said.

Ngan's group wasn't alone. Many international tourists were also stranded. Lyna, a German tourist, was stuck on Kham Thien Street due to the Le Duan Street closure. Her hotel was only 3 km away, but unreachable. "I'm very tired. I have to drink water to stay hydrated. I'm constantly checking the map, but there are no viable options," Lyna shared.

Mobile police and traffic police set up a double barricade to control people and vehicles on Ngoc Ha Street leading to Ba Dinh Square. Photo: Thanh Tung

Mobile police and traffic police set up a double barricade to control people and vehicles on Ngoc Ha Street leading to Ba Dinh Square. Photo: Thanh Tung

100 meters away, 65-year-old Christopher and his daughter, near the train tracks on Kham Thien Street, couldn't find their way back to their hotel near Hanoi Railway Station. "I'm impressed to see thousands of Vietnamese people willing to sleep on the streets to wait for the parade. I don't have the energy to wait until morning, but I'll definitely find a way to see it," he said, while navigating the dense crowd.

On Ba Trieu and Hang Khay Streets, security barricades were erected early. Liam Beirne, a British tourist who had been in Hanoi for a month, was surprised by the afternoon closures of streets leading to Hoan Kiem Lake. He used a map to find his way, and said he was accustomed to Hanoi's bustling streets. He wasn't bothered, viewing it as an opportunity to explore the city on foot. He planned to take a motorbike taxi back to his hotel in Tay Ho that evening and, if possible, watch the parade and fireworks from a nearby street the next morning.

At the Hai Ba Trung - Quang Trung intersection, Max and Olgh, Polish tourists, faced a similar predicament. Unaware of the road closures, they couldn't walk back to their hotel 2 km away. They had a bus to Ha Giang scheduled for 9 PM and worried about missing it, hoping to find a way back in time.

The Trang Tien - Hoan Kiem area was strictly controlled, with access limited to veterans and those with priority passes. Elsa and Jules, Belgian tourists on a three-week trip to Vietnam, said they wandered around the area for almost an hour without finding a place to sit, and now returning to their hotel was also difficult. "Hanoi's people are friendly and always give directions enthusiastically. But I don't understand why I keep circling back to the same spot," Jules laughed.

Elsa and Jules (female) on Hai Ba Trung Street on the evening of 1/9. Photo: Phuong Anh

Elsa and Jules (female) on Hai Ba Trung Street on the evening of 1/9. Photo: Phuong Anh

Rachelle (pink shirt) and Elisabeth, Australian tourists, arrived in the Trang Tien area at 6 PM on the advice of their hotel staff. "If we didn't go early, we would definitely be blocked," Rachelle said. Unable to enter the main area, they chose to sit on the periphery and weren't upset. "Vietnamese people go to see the parade, and we go to see them go to see the parade—this is much more interesting," Elisabeth said. Rachelle emphasized "Amazing! Amazing! Amazing!" to describe the atmosphere.

Rachelle and Elisabeth on Trang Tien Street on the evening of 1/9. Photo: Phuong Anh

Rachelle and Elisabeth on Trang Tien Street on the evening of 1/9. Photo: Phuong Anh

"In Vietnam, peace has the color of the red flag with a yellow star, present on clothes, flags, scarves... even on houses," Rachelle said, impressed by the red and yellow colors filling the streets.

From the morning of 31/8, many tourists from other provinces flocked to Hanoi, prepared to eat simply, forgo showers, and sleep on the streets for two days to secure good spots for the parade. That afternoon, many had already "camped out" on Hung Vuong Street—one of the best vantage points—to secure their positions for the 2/9 parade. Meanwhile, those arriving in Hanoi on the evening of 1/9 struggled to access the parade routes.

La Thi Thuy, a resident of Thanh Oai, said her family left at 5 PM and reached Kham Thien Street around 6:30 PM, only to encounter roadblocks. "I was prepared for crowds, but I didn't expect the roads to be closed so early. Now we can only wait and hope to find a way through," Thuy said.

Nguyen Toan Dat from Hai Phong and his 13 family members waited for almost an hour at the Quang Trung - Hai Ba Trung intersection, unable to reach the parade viewing area. He had also brought tarps and food to camp out overnight. "I'll wait a few more hours. If I can't get in, I'll have to give up on seeing the parade," he said.

Tomorrow, Vietnam will hold a parade commemorating the 80th National Day at 6:30 AM in Ba Dinh Square. The ceremony will involve a full display of forces, including ground, mechanized, air, and naval units. The parade will consist of nearly 16,000 people, including 43 marching blocks, 18 stationary blocks, and 14 blocks of military and special forces vehicles from the Army and Police.

Reporting team