Ho Chi Minh City gears up for Reunification Day celebrations with military parade, 30 fireworks shows

Officials from Military Region 7 and the Ho Chi Minh City Command provided updates on key events leading up to the grand celebration during a press conference held in the city on Thursday.

Massive parade rehearsals

Colonel Nguyen Nhu Truc, deputy chief of political affairs of Military Region 7, confirmed that 23 key events are planned by the Ministry of National Defense.

The major parade rehearsals are scheduled for April 11 and 15 in southern Dong Nai Province’s Bien Hoa City, followed by preliminary and final reviews on April 18 and April 22 in Ho Chi Minh City.

The formal parade on April 30 will involve 32 military contingents, with Military Zone 7 managing the training for seven units featuring both male and female troops.

Meanwhile, the Ho Chi Minh City Command will organize five marching delegations consisting of 85 units, representing military, police, youth, and civilian forces.

City-wide fireworks extravaganza

Tran Van Trung, chief of political affairs from the Ho Chi Minh City Command, announced that the city will hold two preview fireworks shows on April 19 and 26 at Saigon River Park in Thu Duc City from 9:30 pm to 9:40 pm.

The main fireworks extravaganza will take place on the night of April 30, from 9:00 pm to 9:15 pm, at 30 locations across the city, including two high-altitude shows at Saigon River Tunnel in Thu Duc City and Ben Duoc Martyrs Memorial Temple in Cu Chi District.

The remaining 28 sites will feature low-altitude fireworks across districts including Binh Tan, Can Gio, Go Cap, and landmarks such as the Reunification Palace in District 1, Thanh Da Peninsula and the city’s tallest building Landmark 81 in Binh Thanh District, and Dam Sen Cultural Park in District 11.

Additional festivities and public viewing

To ensure wide public access, the city will deploy 10 large LED screens in the downtown area, and 22 additional LED screens across districts and Thu Duc City, allowing thousands to watch the live parade and events.

The city will also host other notable events in celebration of Vietnam’s 50th Reunification Day, such as a national-level scientific conference set for April 17, a music gala entitled ‘Dat Nuoc Tron Niem Vui’ (A Country Full of Joy) held at the Reunification Palace on April 20 that will feature over 1,000 performers.