According to Dantri reporters, from the night of April 29, major streets such as Nguyen Hue, Le Loi, and Nam Ky Khoi Nghia were crowded with people sitting and waiting for the grand parade on April 30.
Vu Thi Ut, 52, and her family traveled from Thu Duc City to the city centre to wait for the parade. Before setting out, she prepared sticky rice and packed rice balls. While staying up, she shared her sticky rice with many people around her to stave off hunger.
"Before leaving, I prepared everything carefully. Besides food and drinks, I also brought different types of medicine to prevent stomach aches, manage blood pressure, and so on," Ut said.
At Le Loi Street, although people had to inch forward slowly, the atmosphere remained cheerful and full of energy as everyone eagerly awaited the momentous celebration.
Colonel Tran Hong Minh, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Police Department, was present early at the Reunification Palace area, directing forces to ensure security and guiding people to suitable locations to view the parade.
At Bach Dang Wharf — where 21 cannon shots would be fired at 7 am on April 30 — a sea of people and vehicles gathered.
From midnight on April 30, thousands of people flooded the city centre. They rested directly on Nguyen Hue Walking Street, Le Loi Street, and Bach Dang Wharf Park, awaiting the grand parade commemorating 50 years of reunification.
At the same time, cafes and restaurants along Nguyen Hue were packed, most having been reserved days in advance. Many groups gathered and stayed up all night to celebrate and await the solemn ceremony.
Before the official parade day, Ho Chi Minh City arranged multiple parking lots near the event area. Food vendors and shops were allowed to operate overnight to serve the public.
By midnight, the area in front of Ben Thanh Market was completely packed. Hundreds of people laid out mats to rest while waiting for the parade to begin.
Meanwhile, at the Nam Ky Khoi Nghia – Le Loi intersection, the sea of people and vehicles became so dense that moving around became difficult.
At Bach Dang Wharf, a foreign violinist performed, delighting many passersby. Some joined in, clapping along to the melody.