Lao troops participating in the parade celebrating the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification on April 30, 2025. Alongside Cambodian and Chinese delegations, this was the first time foreign militaries were invited to a national-level parade in Vietnam.                                                                                                          --Photo VNA/VNS

Five countries invited to join parade on 80th National Day ceremony

HANOI (VNS) -- Vietnam’s National Defence Ministry has invited the military of five countries – Russia, China, Laos, Cambodia, and Belarus – to join the parade in the ceremony marking the 80th August Revolution Day and National Day on September 2 in Hanoi.
The ministry has also sent invitations to defence ministers of eight countries of Russia, China, Laos, Cambodia, Cuba, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan to attend the ceremony, according to Deputy Minister, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien.
So far, Cuba has responded to the invitation, confirming that the Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba will attend the ceremony.
Laos and Cambodia have also expressed their support for the initiative to send military forces to participate in the parade at the celebration, as per Vietnam’s invitation.
The invitation of military units to participate in the parade is a gesture of friendship, solidarity and close bonds between the people and army of Vietnam and its traditional allies.
The move also reaffirms Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralism — being a reliable partner and friend to all nations.
Previously, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 2025), the defence ministries of China, Laos and Cambodia sent military personnel to take part in Vietnam’s military parade.
On the same day, the defence ministry held a meeting with agencies and units to implement the construction of a monument dedicated to the soldiers from foreign countries who supported Vietnam during its resistance wars, to be located at the Vietnam Military History Museum.
This commemorative project carries great significance, paying tribute to foreign military experts and soldiers who assisted Vietnam in its wars of national liberation.
The memorial complex will include a general symbol commemorating the support and sacrifices of foreign military experts, made of bronze and designed by Vietnam; separate monuments honouring military experts from the Soviet Union/Russia, China, Laos, Cambodia and Cuba, also made of bronze that will be either designed and constructed by the respective countries or by Vietnam upon request; and a greenstone relief designed and built by Vietnam.
The area surrounding the monument will be landscaped with trees and grass lawns.
Chien has instructed that construction progress be expedited. The first group of statues must be completed before August 15, while the entrance and central exhibition area should be finished by August 10.

(Latest Update July 11, 2025)