Following a welcome art performance, precisely at 7 am, 21 ceremonial cannon shots were fired at Bach Dang Wharf to mark the occasion. Thousands of citizens gathered to watch the event, cheering enthusiastically.
The celebration was attended by General Secretary To Lam, President Luong Cuong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man; former General Secretary Nong Duc Manh; former Presidents Tran Duc Luong, Nguyen Minh Triet, Truong Tan Sang; former Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung; and former National Assembly Chairpersons Nguyen Van An, Nguyen Sinh Hung, and Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.
Also present were Permanent Member of the Party Central Committee's Secretariat Tran Cam Tu, President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Do Van Chien, Ho Chi Minh City Party Secretary Nguyen Van Nen, along with numerous current and former leaders of the Party, State, Government, ministries, sectors, localities, Heroic Vietnamese Mothers, war invalids, and relatives of fallen soldiers.
The event saw the participation of leaders from various countries, political parties, and international guests, as well as ambassadors, heads of diplomatic missions, representatives of international organisations, and defence attachés in Vietnam. Many of the guests had previously supported Vietnam’s revolution and development efforts. Nearly 40 international news agencies and media outlets covered the event.
Notable international leaders attending the event included General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith, Cambodian People's Party President Hun Sen, Vice President of Cuba Salvador Valdés Mesa, and Chinese Minister of Veterans Affairs Bu Jingjie.
General Secretary To Lam welcomes Hun Sen, Chairman of the Cambodian People's Party at the ceremony.
Major General Nguyen Van Nghia, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, presided over the parade program.
The parade featured 13,000 participants from 48 formations representing the military, police, and various localities. Military units from China, Cambodia, and Laos also took part in the celebration.
The aerial show included 10 helicopters, six Yak-130 aircraft, and seven Su-30MK2 fighter jets, flying in formation while carrying flags and deploying flares.
Helicopters and fighter jets of the Vietnam People's Air Force open the parade, marking half a century since the liberation of the South and national reunification.
13,000 participants from 48 formations representing the military, police, and various localities participate in the parade.
The 48 formations proceeded past the main stage in front of the Reunification Palace, and then split into four directions:
Route 1: Nam Ky Khoi Nghia → Le Loi → Nguyen Thi Nghia → Phu Dong Roundabout → Cach Mang Thang 8 → Tao Dan Park
Route 2: Nam Ky Khoi Nghia → Le Thanh Ton → Nguyen Hue → Me Linh Roundabout → Bach Dang Wharf
Route 3: Le Duan → Nam Ky Khoi Nghia → Nguyen Dinh Chieu → Dinh Tien Hoang → Hoa Lu Stadium
Route 4: Nam Ky Khoi Nghia → Hai Ba Trung → Le Van Tam Park
To facilitate the grand event, the Ho Chi Minh City Traffic Police Department announced road closures and traffic restrictions in the city centre from 3 am to 12 pm on April 30. To enable citizens to watch the parade and celebrations, the city installed 21 large LED screens at key locations.
Residents followed the festival drum performances through the LED screens, which were strategically placed along major streets for easier public viewing of the 50th anniversary ceremony.
