On the morning of September 2, 2015, a grand meeting and parade to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the August Revolution and Independence Day was held at Ba Dinh Square, Hanoi.
At 7.00 am, the program officially began with a torch relay ceremony. The traditional revolutionary flame, symbolizing the eternal vitality of the Vietnamese people, was moved by outstanding athletes to Ba Dinh Square from the Ho Chi Minh Museum.
The torch was finally handed to Lieutenant General Trieu Xuan Hoa, Hero of People’s Armed Forces, to light up the torch tower. The flame on the tower flared up in strong feelings of thousands of participants in the meeting and parade.
At 7.05 am, military ceremonial troops started a flag hoisting ceremony in the imposing music of the national anthem of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. All the participants at Ba Dinh Square eyed the national flag in the color salute ceremony. At the same time, 21 cannons fired one after another from the Ancient Royal Citadel of Thang Long.
All former and incumbent high-ranking Party, State, Assembly and Government officials were seen on the grand stand. They included Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, former Party General Secretaries Le Kha Phieu and Nong Duc Manh; State President Truong Tan Sang, former State Presidents Le Duc Anh, Nguyen Minh Triet and Tran Duc Luong; National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung and former National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Van An; Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai; and representatives of other Central agencies.
Also on the grand stand there were international guests, including Lao Vice State President Bounnhang Vorachith, Member of the Politburo of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Men Xom On, Member of the Central Standing Committee of the Cambodian People’s Party.
Right after the color salute ceremony, State President Truong Tan Sang delivered the opening remarks. In his speech, he highlighted the great victories and achievements obtained by the Vietnamese people under the leadership of the Party over the past 70 years since the August Revolution and Declaration of Independence. He also stressed that the nation was in an important revolutionary period, facing both major opportunities and challenges. He called on all Vietnamese people to bring into full play the national glorious traditions and national unity and continuously make special effort to develop the country and firmly defend the Fatherland.
After the opening speech, the grand parade was followed. Lieutenant General Nguyen Quoc Khanh, Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Commander of the Parade Steering Board ordered the participating forces to start the parade in Ba Dinh Square.
Following are pictures of the meeting and parade:
Source: qdnd.vn