Vietnamese troops join Russia’s Victory Day military parade for first time

The parade commemorated the 80th anniversary of Russia’s Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

It began at 10:00 am local time (2:00 pm Hanoi time) in a solemn and ceremonial atmosphere and was attended by leaders and representatives from 29 countries.

Military units from 13 nations, including Egypt, China, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Myanmar, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and Vietnam, took part in this year’s parade.

The Vietnamese formation included officers and soldiers from Army Officer Training School No. 1.

Marching in the 8-8 block, the group was led by a color guard of three soldiers carrying the national flag, followed by a formation leader and main unit.

On Wednesday, the Vietnamese unit joined a full rehearsal with Russian forces and other international military contingents.

Vietnam’s marching block was praised by event organizers as one of the most disciplined and visually striking formations during the parade rehearsal.

Later the same day, Deputy Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant General Nguyen Quang Ngoc visited the delegation and offered words of encouragement.

He highlighted the significance of Vietnam’s participation in the Red Square parade, calling it a historically and diplomatically important event.

“This marks a meaningful occasion to promote the image, prestige, and professionalism of the Vietnam People’s Army — a revolutionary, regular, elite, and gradually modernized force — ready to contribute to international efforts for peace and sustainable development,” he said.