 A
grand military parade and civil demonstration was held at 7 am
on September 2 to mark the August 1945 Revolution and National
Day (September 2) at heroic Ba Dinh Square, where 60 years
ago, President Ho Chi Minh solemnly read the Declaration of
Independence, proclaiming the birth of the Democratic Republic
of Vietnam, and opening up a new era for the Vietnamese
nation.Ba Dinh Square was overwhelmed with a forest of
colourful flags and flowers, bunches of balloons and the
clothes of young people representing 54 ethnic minority groups
living throughout the country.
In the centre of the square was a large national flag and a
platform with a line "The immortal spirit of the August
Revolution and National Day, September 2.
On the two sides of the platform are two large slogans
reading "Long live the Socialist Republic of Vietnam" and
"Great President Ho Chi Minh lives forever in our cause".
Opposite the platform were the symbols of the Party and
national flags, and the line "60 years of the Socialist
Republic of Vietnam." At the four corners of the square
were
four blocs bearing the Party and national flags.
Delegates representing all social strata and more than
3,000 soldiers from different military zones gathered in the
shape of a blazing red flame, which symbolises the
revolutionary tradition of the Vietnamese nation.
Present at the meeting were Party General Secretary Nong
Duc Manh, former Party General Secretaries Do Muoi and Le Kha
Phieu, State President Tran Duc Luong, former State President
Le Duc Anh, General Vo Nguyen Giap, Prime Minister Phan Van
Khai, Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Van An,
President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee
Pham The Duyet, other senior Party and State leaders,
international guests and approximately 13,000 people
representing the national unity bloc.
 Around
10,000 people participated in the public demonstration,
including a guard of honour bloc, armed forces bloc and public
bloc. The parade of the armed forces bloc comprised 15 groups,
including the army, public security and militia. The public
bloc parade comprised 29 groups featuring such fields as
politics, diplomacy, economics, technology, culture and
society. The art demonstration included 1,000 artists.
During the meeting, State President Tran Duc Luong
delivered an important speech,
highlighting the great achievements Vietnamese people have
gained during the past 60 years, particularly during the doi
moi (renovation) process. |
