A parade of patriotism or propaganda in Vietnam ?
Vietnam’s National Day parade, replete with tanks, troops and missiles, will be more Communist Party flex than celebration
As Vietnam prepares to mark the 80th anniversary of its National Day on September 2, 2025, Hanoi is set to host one of its largest military parades in decades. Tanks, missiles, marching columns, and symbolic floats are being prepared to pass Ba Dinh Square, echoing Ho Chi Minh’s historic 1945 proclamation of independence.
The parade, dubbed “A80,” is expected to capture national and international attention. For many Vietnamese, the event is a moment of pride—a reminder of the nation’s long struggle against colonialism and its resilience in building a modern state.
But for international observers—and some within Vietnam—the spectacle raises deeper questions: Is it a celebration of history or a show of power designed to reinforce the ruling party’s legitimacy?
A legacy of spectacle
Military parades are not new in Vietnam. In 1945, the newly declared Democratic Republic staged a modest march. In 1975, following the fall of Saigon, parades were used to project unity and victory. The 70th anniversary in 2015 featured thousands of troops and military hardware, broadcast nationwide.
The 80th anniversary carries particular symbolic weight. Such milestones are often used by regimes to underscore continuity and authority. A grand display may serve as a reminder that the Communist Party remains the sole guardian of national independence and stability.
While the symbolism is powerful, it is also contested. Critics argue that these events glorify the state more than they honor the people. In a country with limited space for public debate, questions about costs, priorities, and meaning linger quietly beneath the surface.
No official budget has been disclosed, but a parade of this scale demands significant resources—from military rehearsals and security to logistics and broadcasting. This comes at a time when Vietnam faces urgent challenges: rising inequality, underfunded health and education systems, and growing environmental crises, including climate change in the Mekong Delta.
Critics say the spectacle of tanks and missiles feels disconnected from these daily realities—and may highlight the gap between elite priorities and the concerns of ordinary citizens.
Supporters argue that national celebrations boost morale and unity, offering a rare moment of collective pride. But the question remains: Does symbolic pride outweigh the opportunity cost of addressing real social needs?
The parade also sends a message to the world. Military displays are a form of strategic communication—used by China to assert power, North Korea to intimidate, and Russia to project defiance.
Vietnam has traditionally avoided overt displays, projecting modesty and pragmatism. But this parade—especially if it features modern missile systems, drones, or naval hardware—could signal a shift toward a more assertive stance.
This matters in a tense region. Disputes with China in the South China Sea continue, even as Hanoi upgrades ties with the United States and maintains relations with Moscow and Beijing. A show of force could be read as a message to all sides: Vietnam is not a minor player, but a confident regional actor.
Yet this message cuts both ways. Allies may question Hanoi’s direction. Adversaries may see it as provocation. Is Vietnam signaling strength—or militarization?
Society and symbolism
Public sentiment inside Vietnam is mixed. Older generations, especially veterans, often see parades as rightful tributes to past sacrifices.
Younger Vietnamese, more focused on economic opportunity and global integration, may view such displays as outdated or disconnected from modern realities—like job insecurity or climate migration.
In the age of social media, state-led narratives no longer go unchallenged. Parade images are instantly reframed online—sometimes with satire, sometimes with critique. What once unified may now feel hollow, especially if people feel daily struggles are being ignored.
Other nations face similar dilemmas. France’s Bastille Day parade increasingly includes civil services and humanitarian efforts. India’s Republic Day blends military might with cultural pride. By contrast, North Korea and Russia lean heavily on martial displays to reinforce authoritarian imagery.
Vietnam now stands at a crossroads: Will it align more with soft-power democracies or with hard-power autocracies? The 80th anniversary is a chance not just to show military strength, but also to highlight achievements in culture, innovation, and diplomacy. Whether Hanoi seizes that opportunity remains uncertain.
Pride, propaganda—or both ?
The debate over Vietnam’s National Day parade is ultimately about identity. Is Vietnam still defined by war and sacrifice, or is it stepping forward as a modern, dynamic power?
To some, the risk is that the event will serve less as a celebration of the people and more as a projection of party legitimacy. As with many political spectacles, the lines between pride and propaganda blur. The real impact lies in the balance: Will the parade uplift and unify, or alienate and divide?
Global audiences won’t view the parade in isolation. In today’s hyper-connected world, symbolic events are scrutinized and compared. For Beijing, parades convey national renewal and ambition. For Moscow, they evoke Soviet-era grandeur. For Washington, where cultural celebrations take precedence, such displays were rare before Trump rolled out the tanks earlier this year.
Vietnam’s parade will likely fall somewhere in between: not confrontational like Moscow or Pyongyang, but not entirely soft like Paris or Washington. That ambiguity is what intrigues analysts. Vietnam is projecting resilience and sovereignty—but also risks appearing tethered to outdated modes of legitimacy.
As the world watches Ba Dinh Square, what matters most may not be the scale of the parade, but the story it tells—and whether that story resonates with the Vietnamese people and the international community.
By Johnny Thai – Asia Times – September 1st, 2025