Tens of thousands gather for parade celebrating 70th anniversary of liberation of Vietnam’s Hai Phong City
In a jubilant and patriotic atmosphere, tens of thousands of residents and visitors flocked to the area surrounding Hai Phong Opera House in Hai Phong City on Sunday morning to witness a grand parade and mass march commemorating the 70th anniversary of the northern Vietnamese city’s liberation (May 13, 1955 - May 13, 2025).
The event, held as part of Hai Phong City’s Liberation Day celebrations and the 2025 Red Flamboyant Flower Festival, featured a spectacular march involving 2,900 participants, including armed forces, workers, farmers, intellectuals, young people, women, local enterprises, major corporations, and foreign investors who live and work in the port city.
From the early hours of the morning, thousands of spectators lined the streets, many traveling from nearby localities to be part of the historic celebration.
The roads leading to the opera house were packed with people eager to witness the display of unity, pride, and national spirit.
Nguyen Thi Mien, a resident of Vinh Bao District, shared her excitement, saying that she learned about the parade via social media, so she and her family set out at 5:00 am to ensure they would not miss the occasion.
This was not just a joyful event that filled them with pride for their transforming city, but also a valuable opportunity to teach their children about history and tradition, she said.
Many people donning a T-shirt printed with a Vietnamese national flag join the grand parade in Hai Phong City, northern Vietnam.
Among the spectators was Nguyen Thi Huyen, a student from the Vietnam National University-Hanoi.
She expressed her delight at having joined a local friend for a food tour and the parade.
“Having just watched the grand parade in Ho Chi Minh City on television, being here in person gives me an even deeper sense of national pride and Vietnamese resilience,” she remarked, referring to the military parade and civilian march in the southern city on April 30 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the liberation of southern Vietnam and Reunification Day.
A grand ceremony for the 70th anniversary of Hai Phong's liberation and the official opening of the Red Flamboyant Flower Festival will take place at the square in front of the Political-Administrative Center, located in the north of the Cam River New Urban Area at 8:00 pm on May 13.
To mark the momentous occasion, Hai Phong will light up the skies with both high- and low-altitude fireworks at six locations across the city.
The grandstand area near Hai Phong Opera House is full of spectators.
Veterans and young people watch the parade.
An art performance during the parade in Hai Phong City, northern Vietnam.
Tieu Bac - Tien Nguyen / Tuoi Tre News