Ho Chi Minh City witnessed a spectacular display of national pride on Wednesday as Vietnam marked the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War with a military parade featuring Russian-made jets, marching troops, and thousands of waving red flags, according to Reuters.
Communist Party chief To Lam hailed the 1975 reunification as a “victory of faith” that ended “tyranny” while cementing Vietnam’s independence.
The celebrations commemorated the moment North Vietnamese tanks rolled into Saigon on 30 April 1975, toppling the US-backed South Vietnamese government. The conflict, which killed 3 million Vietnamese and 58,000 Americans, concluded nearly two years after Washington withdrew combat forces.
“Vietnam is one, the Vietnamese people are one. Rivers may dry up, mountains may erode, but that truth will never change,” Lam declared, quoting revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh. The sentiment resonated through crowds singing wartime anthems, though the festivities also highlighted Vietnam’s delicate diplomatic balancing act.
While state media emphasised historical ties to Russia and welcomed a Chinese military contingent in the parade, the anniversary also spotlighted Vietnam’s complex relationship with former foes. US Consul General Susan Burns attended, a notable shift from the 40th anniversary when no American officials were present.
However, the country faces new challenges as Donald Trump’s proposed 46% tariffs on Vietnamese goods threaten the export-driven economy that has flourished since 1995 normalisation. Talks to avert the duties, paused until July, could determine whether Vietnam’s post-war growth—fueled by Chinese components and US demand—can endure.
