Nearly 6,000 soldiers, militiamen, and civilians partook in the Sunday rehearsal of a military parade and other ceremonies, to take place in downtown Ho Chi Minh City in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of Reunification Day on April 30.

The two-hour rehearsal began at 7:00 am on Sunday in the downtown area under tremendously strict security.

The rehearsal saw the participation of the country’s top leaders and city officials, including Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Secretary Le Thanh Hai; Defense Minister General Phung Quang Thanh; and Minister of Public Security General Tran Dai Quang.

Almost 6,000 participants showed up at the venue as early as 4:00 am.

Some 1,000 others from the security force, backstage personnel, and media were also present at the event.

Leading the rehearsed parade was a van bearing the country’s national emblem, which was followed by the blocks representing the country’s 54 ethnic groups.

Later came a group of children and teenagers and another van with the photo of the country’s late President Ho Chi Minh. The drilled parade began at the Le Duan-Nguyen Binh Khiem intersection and proceeded to the District 1 People’s Committee office.

They gradually marched past the stage into the front area of the Reunification Palace.

The official parade is set to take place at 7:00 am on Thursday, April 30.

Following the parade and march, a music show will be organized with the performance of over 4,400 artists.

Soldiers taking part in the parade will wear the same military uniforms and use the same military flags of the wings of troops that entered Saigon (the former name of Ho Chi Minh City) on April 30, 1975.

Vietnam was reunified on that date when the U.S.-backed Saigon regime fell.

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