The 21-year-old from Luxembourg arrived in Hanoi in early August for his second visit to the city and says it felt “like winning the lottery” as it coincided with Vietnam’s National Day celebrations on Sept. 2.
He was stunned to see a parade rehearsal around Hoan Kiem Lake that featured hundreds of military vehicles and the crowds cheering along the streets. After looking up information online and asking Vietnamese about the events, he was determined to grab a seat at the first rehearsal at Ba Dinh Square.
“I waited six hours for the event to begin.”
To get a good view he took a ride-hailing bike and then walked through streets off-limits to vehicles. Along the route he was touched by the gesture of people offering him water and national flags and even their spots so that he could watch.
The sight of the crowd singing the national anthem and chanting “Vietnam Ho Chi Minh” as military formations passed gave him goosebumps.
“In my country, National Day is about honoring the royal family and promoting unity. In Vietnam, it is a deeply historic and political event that marks the birth of an independent nation after years of colonization.”
Kenzo, 21, a tourist from Luxembourg, waits in line for six hours on Hung Vuong Street in Hanoi to watch troops rehearsing for the National Day parade on Aug. 21. Video by courtesy of Kenzo
Albert, 44, a visitor from the Netherlands, waited for three hours at Hoan Kiem Lake for the parade rehearsal to start at 5 p.m. on Aug. 21. He was struck by how many people wore shirts made from the national flag or ao dai. He filmed and shook hands with soldiers during the rehearsal, a rare experience in the Netherlands, he said.
“What moved me most was seeing many elderly veterans in uniform saluting each formation as it passed. The connection between generations was overwhelming.”
He understood the event was an occasion for the people and the military to express affection, solidarity, and pride in their nation’s celebration.
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Italians Salvatore Bosco (left) and Eugenio Grosso Sgarrillo watch the parade rehearsal on Thanh Nien Street in Tay Ho Ward, Hanoi, on Aug. 21, 2025. Photo by M.N |
On the afternoon of Aug. 21 central Hanoi was flooded with people waiting for the National Day parade rehearsal. Many foreigners dressed in T-shirts made from the likeness of the national flag waved flags and shouted “Vietnam.” They could not hide their amazement and admiration for the atmosphere and patriotism on display.
After the first rehearsal, Hanoi expat groups buzzed with posts asking how to navigate road closures and sharing tips on the best viewing spots. In the “HaNoi Expats” Facebook group with over 50,000 members, foreigners shared photos taken with crowds and soldiers and said they wanted to join future events.
On TikTok, videos tagged “Vietnam parade” and “Military parade Viet Nam” drew hundreds of thousands of views.
Major events often give the tourism sector a boost. During the 50th Reunification Day on Apr. 30, 2025, HCMC welcomed 120,000 international visitors, up 122% compared from a year earlier.
The 80th National Day is now fueling a tourism boom in Hanoi. According to travel platform Booking.com, Hanoi has topped the list of destinations most searched by domestic travelers for the Sept. 2 holidays.
Agoda says accommodation searches in Hanoi are up more than 44 times from the same period in 2024.
Noi Bai International Airport expects a record number of passengers during the holidays, with 110,000 passengers likely on peak days, including 44,000 international travelers.
Preliminary and final rehearsals will be held on Aug. 27 and Aug. 30. The official celebrations and pageant will take place on the morning of Sept. 2 at Ba Dinh Square.
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Anis Espoir, 32, of Algeria is eager to watch Vietnam’s 80th National Day pageant in Hanoi. Photo courtesy of Anisespoir/TikTok |
In Da Nang, Algerian Anis Espoir, 32, booked the earliest flight to Hanoi to catch the rehearsals. He said videos posted by Vietnamese on social media about the 80th National Day events convinced him not to miss them.
“Algerians and Vietnamese supported each other in their struggles for independence from French colonial rule. That is why I want to be in Hanoi on Sept. 2, standing with my Vietnamese friends.”
Kenzo said for the upcoming rehearsals he plans to dress in a national flag T-shirt and bring food, drinks and a mat to wait for the parade. He is also looking for other events and museums with historical and military artifacts to learn more about Vietnam.
These days, Albert enjoys riding his motorbike through streets lined with national flags and soaking up the holiday atmosphere with locals. “Loudspeakers play inspiring revolutionary songs on every street. I wish time would slow down.”
