Military parade to mark Vietnam Liberation Day

The event organising board said at a press briefing yesterday that the parade would start at 7am at the Sai Gon Zoo and Botanical Garden, pass through Reunification Palace where it will split into two, one group turning left for Ton Duc Thang Street and the other turning right for Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street en route to Hoa Lu stadium.

It will be witnessed by the country's top leaders, city chiefs and 100 overseas Vietnamese who have contributed to the country's development.

The event will be live on Vietnam Television, Radio Voice of Vietnam and all provincial TV stations, according to the National Organising Committee for Commemoration of Major Anniversaries in 2014 – 2015.

Lt Gen Nguyen Trong Nghia of the committee said the event aimed to show the strength of national union and the country's achievements over 40 years and express gratitude to the people who sacrificed themselves for the country's independence and reunification.

The marchers would come from 38 army units.

Hua Ngoc Thuan, deputy chairman of the city People's Committee, said there would be a music show after the parade with more than 4,400 artists on the stage, including almost all city-based ones.

To prevent traffic congestion, the rehearsals for the march and music show will be organised on the nights of April 24 and 25.

A dress rehearsal for both would be held at 6:30am on April 26, Thuan said.

Music shows will take place simultaneously in Hue and Hanoi.

There will also be Liberation Day celebrations in Dak Lak, Buon Me Thuot, and Quang Tri provinces from April 28 to 30.

Party and State leaders will offer incense at President Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and War Martyrs' Statuary in Hanoi on April 29.

They will also offer incense at HCM City's Martyr Cemetery and Ben Duoc Monument in Cu Chi District on the same day.

A 15-minute fireworks display will be set off at Bitexco Financial Tower in HCM City's District 1 and seven other locations.

More than 600 local and international journalists have registered to cover the event, according to oganisers.

Money routing

Also on the occasion of the 40th anniversary, the State Bank of Vietnam, the HCM City People's Committee, HCM City TV and the Bank of Investment and Development will organise a live programme called The Legend of the Monetary Path.

To be shown on HTV9, VTV1 and other channels on April 17 at 8.05pm, it will feature the contribution of the banking sector to the country's victory in its struggles for freedom and reunification.

"The Bank of Vietnam was creative in transferring money through various channels to support our forces by evading the close scrutiny of the enemies," the bank's deputy governor, Nguyen Kim Anh.

The programme to be held at the Reunification Palace will include music performances and meetings with people who performed some of the tasks that have now gone down as legend.