Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam - Vietnam celebrated the end of the war with the United States and conducted a military march on Wednesday 50 years ago with a focus on a peaceful future.

Thousands of people camped on the streets of Ho Chi Minh City, once known as Saigon, watched the parade, drank strong black coffee, and painted their faces with Vietnamese flag. The parade consists of a buoy carrying a purple bird, a Vietnamese logo, and another with a portrait of Ho Chi Minh, which ends up representing 50 years of unification between the North and South Vietnam.

The Chinese, Laos and Cambodian troops marched behind the Vietnamese troops, some of which were wearing uniforms similar to those worn by Vietnamese troops during the war. The parade of flag-carrying helicopters and jets flying over the palace near Independence, when the war ended when the North Vietnamese tanks smashed on the gate.

Sitting next to the Vietnamese leader is former Cambodia leader Hun Sen and Lao Communist Party Secretary-General Thongloun Sisoulith.

Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the Communist Party of Vietnam, said the victory was a "glorious landmark" that ended 30 years of independence and ended colonialism, and he praised the former Soviet Union, China, Laos and Cambodia.

“We will have to respect the past and respect the differences…We are eager to build the future for peace and do our best so that the generation ahead can have a better world,” he said.

Nguyen Khac Giang, an analyst at the Iseas Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, said the emphasis on reconciliation is not on the focus of military victory as in previous years reflects how Vietnam responds to changes in the global economy and geopolitical world. He added that the Vietnam War remains at the heart of how the Communist Party defines its legitimacy as the core of legitimacy, which is not only a military victory, but also a symbol of national unity. But Lom's comments emphasize that the settlement is not yet completed.

"The war still defines Vietnam's solidarity and its unresolved gap," Gian said.

Pham Ngoc Son is a 69-year-old veteran who is an Army truck driver who brings troops and supplies from north to south through the Ho Chi Minh Trail (a secret route used by North Vietnam). He was on a week-long tour of the city, which he remembered as part of taking over the Northern Forces.

He said he cherished these memories and could not describe his joy at that time. But now there is "a space for only peace and friendship" between the United States and Vietnam.

"The war has been a long time ago," he said.

Nguyen Thi Hue, a resident of Ho Chi Minh City, agreed.

"The war is over and we shake hands with our former enemies. Now is the time for peace. Peace is the dream that everyone in the world wants."

This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between Vietnam and the United States. In 2023, Vietnam upgraded its relationship with the United States to a comprehensive strategic partnership, which is the highest diplomatic status it gives any country, the same level of relations as China and Russia.

Vietnamese officials insist that the relationship is built on trust with the U.S. efforts to resolve war legacies such as Agent Orange Orange and rural undeveloped bombs that remain life threatening. The future of these projects is now at risk due to widespread cuts by the Trump administration to U.S. Agency for International Development. Additionally, countries that rely on export-dependent will be vulnerable to global economies in the tariff plan of U.S. President Donald Trump.

About 13,000 people, including troops, militia, veterans and local citizens, participated in the parade. The route follows the main boulevard leading to the Independence Palace and then enters the city streets and will pass through the U.S. Consulate.

During the rehearsal, the Chinese military widely shared on social media the iconic video of the Chinese military singing on Victory Day. Chinese leader Xi Jinping visited Vietnam earlier this month, contrary to Trump, the country was proposed as a force for stability.

Fedignant ties with Washington helped Vietnam balance relations with its larger, stronger neighbor China, said Fedignant ties. Vietnam is one of the countries with maritime disputes related to the South China Sea.

But the Trump administration’s focus on tariffs – Vietnam was slammed by reciprocity tariffs by 46%, the highest tariff – has given a “big question mark” on what the U.S. hopes to achieve in Asia. Focusing on economics rather than strategic competition may mean that Vietnam and other countries in Southeast Asia are not very important to the United States

“It will really shape how the new government sees the strategic situation in the Indo-Pacific region and where a country like Vietnam fits,” she said.

___

Hau Dinh contributed to the report.