31,000 people to parade at Hanoi’s grand ceremony
Update: Sep 30, 2010
Around 31,000 people are expected to attend the parade for the 1000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi at Ba Dinh Square on October 10. This was announced at a press conference about meetings and parades to mark the 1000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi on September 28.

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Deputy Head of the Organising Board for the grand ceremony Le Tien Tho said that the parade will start with a procession carrying a torch from Ho Chi Minh Museum to President Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum. It will be followed by a salute to a flag, cannon volley and songs about Hanoi.

There will be parade of 12,000 soldiers and police divided into 15 groups. It will start with 10 helicopters carrying the Party and national flags and the slogan of the 1000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi.

The parade will start with the Hanoi group with cars carrying a Ly Dynasty dragon, the symbol of Hanoi, and the UNESCO certificate recognising the Thang Long Citadel as a World Cultural Heritage site. Other groups of veterans, women, youths, workers, intellectuals and the media and press will also attend the parade.

The event will end with 1,000 pupils releasing doves and balloons.

It will be the largest parade ever held in Vietnam to show the country’s and capital city’s military and socioeconomic achievements over the past 1000 years, especially during the renewal process and to honour Hanoi as a capital city for peace.

The parade will also illustrate national pride, strengthen solidarity and promote faith in the leading role of the Party and the success of the renewal process.

Vietnamese citizens, overseas Vietnamese and international friends can watch the parade live on Vietnam Television (VTV) channel.

The day before, participants in the parade will pay tribune to President Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and the monument to Fallen Soldiers.
VOV