HANOI — August 27. Large-scale traffic restrictions were implemented in downtown Hanoi as part of the rehearsal for Vietnam’s upcoming military parade, scheduled for September 2 to mark the 80th anniversary of the country’s independence. Roads across the city center, including the area around Ba Dinh Square — the main venue for the parade — were blocked or subject to restricted access.

Starting at 8 p.m., the rehearsal began at Ba Dinh Square, where President Ho Chi Minh declared independence on September 2, 1945. Around 16,000 soldiers and 60 military units participated, along with international contingents from countries such as Russia and Cambodia.