Hanoi, Sept. 2 (Reuters) – Vietnam celebrated the 80th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence from Colonial Rule on Tuesday, celebrating the largest military parade in decades, unprecedented cash handouts and the release of nearly 14,000 prisoners.
Tens of thousands of people have crowded the city of Hanoi. Most of them were powerful shows of nationalism in communist countries, wearing red shirts and raising the Vietnamese flag.
The parade featured Vietnam’s most advanced military equipment, including a Russian-made MI-171 helicopter, Skoy SU-30 fighter jets and domestically produced drones. Thousands of Vietnamese soldiers and soldiers from China, Russia and other countries participated in the celebration.
Another event at sea featured Russian kilometre-class submarines and frigates.
“We are unshakable in our commitment to protecting the independence, freedom, sovereignty and territorial integrity, all to all sacred lands,” said Lam, Communist Party of Vietnam, when he held the parade.
National leaders and foreign officials, including top Chinese and Russian lawmakers, saw the military procession at Ba Dinh Square on September 2, 1945, where revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh made his historic declaration of independence.
The speech marked the basis of an independent Vietnam after almost a century of French colonial rule and a brief Japanese occupation during World War II, but France did not recognize the new country and fought a decade-long war that ended in defeat in 1954.
The US sent members of its embassy to the parade, and in a statement received email, Secretary of State Marco Rubio celebrated Vietnam’s anniversary and said he has become “a key partner in the Indo-Pacific region and a leader in addressing shared global challenges.”
“I was very happy and pleased, moved deeply to see the marching forces passing by,” said Hoang Thi Huyen, a 42-year-old Hanoi resident, who had camped on the pavement with four other families for nearly two days to secure the spot.
“It was worth the wait. The troops and fighter jets were amazing,” she added.
The road in central Hanoi was blocked for three business days for rehearsals and main parade.
As part of the anniversary celebration, Vietnam announced last week that it will be handing out $100,000 VND ($3.80) each in an unprecedented package that costs $100 million.
Last week, President Luong Cuong announced the major pardons for 13,920 prisoners who will be released before the prison ends, including 66 foreigners.
(Fort 5 Phuong Nguyen, Franksco Gusse
