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The forces are ready for the grand parade.(Photo: VNA)

Grand parade marks 50 years of liberation of South and national reunification

A national ceremony and parade will be held on April 30 morning in Ho Chi Minh City to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 1975 – 2025).

The event is jointly organized by the Party Central Committee, the National Assembly, the President, the Government, the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee, and HCM City.

It will be attended by incumbent and former Party, State, and VFF leaders, veteran revolutionaries, Heroic Vietnamese Mothers, Heroes of the People's Armed Forces, Heroes of Labor, along with thousands of guests representing all walks of life across the country.

Also attending the ceremony will be around 20 international delegations, including three high-ranking delegations and four at the ministerial level or higher, and representatives from over 15 political Parties across continents.

Representatives from more than 20 sister cities of HCM City and many foreign individuals who contributed to movements opposing the war in Vietnam, will also be present, cited VNA.

The event will be broadcast live on VTV1 of the Vietnam Television, the Ho Chi Minh City Television and local radio and television stations. Ho Chi Minh City has installed 20 large LED screens on downtown streets to serve residents and tourists.

There are more than 700 reporters from 106 domestic press agencies and 169 correspondents from 58 foreign press agencies covering the program.

On this occasion, in order to recognize the outstanding achievements of the Party organisation, administration and people of Ho Chi Minh City, which have contributed to the cause of building socialism and defending the Fatherland, the Party and State have decided to confer the title of "Hero of Labor" on them.

From early morning, tens of thousands of compatriots and tourists have gathered on the streets around the stage area to wait for the grand ceremony and parade.

Vietnam vows to further cement great friendship with Laos

Party General Secretary To Lam expressed Vietnam’s desire to further cultivate and strengthen the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation with Laos, during his meeting with Lao General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith in Ho Chi Minh City on April 29.

To Lam welcomed the Lao leader to a grand ceremony on April 30 to mark 50 years of Vietnam’s national reunification, calling his presence a powerful symbol of the unique, faithful, and enduring solidarity between the two neighbouring countries. He noted that the participation of high-level foreign leaders, particularly the Lao leader and Lao troops in the parade, serves as a profound source of encouragement to Vietnam.

During the meeting, the Party leader reflected on the historic Spring Victory of 1975, which ended 21 years of resistance against foreign intervention and restored Vietnam’s independence and territorial integrity. He highlighted the deep-rooted solidarity among the three Indochinese countries – Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia - and expressed heartfelt gratitude for Laos’ critical support during the struggle, including allowing the construction of the Ho Chi Minh Trail in the Lao territory.

Every victory of the Vietnamese revolution is inseparable from the loyal and valuable support of the Lao people, he said.

He affirmed Vietnam’s commitment to preserving and further deepening bilateral ties, emphasizing joint efforts in peacebuilding and socio-economic development. He cited the recent inauguration of the Vung Ang seaport terminal in Vietnam’s Ha Tinh province as a concrete example of current economic cooperation, according to VOV.

Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lam (R) and Lao Party General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith during their meeting in Ho Chi Minh City on April 29

Sisoulith, for his part, congratulated Vietnam on the anniversary and praised the country’s historic achievements under the leadership of the Communist Party and President Ho Chi Minh. He called the 1975 reunification a “glorious and inspirational milestone” not only for Vietnam but also for revolutionary movements worldwide.

Sisoulith noted that Vietnam’s success laid the foundation for Laos’s own victory and the establishment of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic in December 1975. He also commended Vietnam’s progress over the past five decades, including its transformation under the Đổi Mới (Renovation) policy.

The Lao leader expressed appreciation for Vietnam’s consistent support in Laos’s national development and economic advancement. He also highlighted the significance of the Vung Ang port as a new chapter in modern bilateral cooperation.

The two leaders exchanged updates on domestic developments and strategic orientations for future cooperation, particularly in the fields of trade, investment, infrastructure, and Party-building. They also discussed regional and international issues of shared concern and the preparations for upcoming Party congresses in both countries.

Reaffirming the exceptional nature of the Vietnam-Laos relationship, the two leaders reiterated that the Vietnam-Laos relationship, rooted in historical solidarity, will continue to thrive for the mutual benefit of both countries.

Vietnam’s struggle for independence captures global admiration

International guests have gathered in Ho Chi Minh City to honor Vietnam’s historic struggle for independence as the country marks the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 1975–2025).

A solemn military parade and march is scheduled from 6:30 am on April 30, attended by a host of international visitors, including war veterans, former correspondents who once reported on Vietnam's resistance war against the US, and representatives from global friendship organisations.

Among the guests is lawyer Virginia Lacsa Suarez, Chairwoman of Kaisa Ka, a grassroots-based women's rights organisation in the Philippines. She said she could feel the pride of the Vietnamese people as national and Party flags lined the streets. Expressing admiration for their patriotism, she said she was honored to join the celebration.

Suarez added that Vietnam’s revolutionary history has long inspired social movements in the Philippines, and the strength and resilience of the Vietnamese people—both past and present—remain a powerful source of motivation.

Ana Maria Ronquillo Nemenzo of the Philippines–Vietnam Solidarity Committee recalled that during the 1960s and 1970s, Vietnam symbolised hope for Filipinos resisting U.S. domination. Visiting Vietnam for this historic occasion, she praised the country’s remarkable development in the decades since the war, VNA reported.

Ho Chi Minh City – the country’s leading economic, cultural, and tourism hub – lit up brilliantly at night. (Photo: VNA)

During that time, Vietnam served as a source of inspiration for the Filipino people's struggle against American domination. The people of the Philippines witnessed the heroic Vietnamese fight for freedom and national reunification, she said.

Belgian scholar Francine Mestrum, a specialist in development and social justice, expressed her pride in attending the celebration. She remarked that Vietnam’s arduous journey to independence has earned the respect of the global community and commended the country’s ongoing efforts to overcome the consequences of war in pursuit of growth and prosperity.

Vietnam aims for balanced and sustainable trade with United States

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has asked relevant agencies to make proactive efforts in coming negotiations with the United States, to ensure balanced and sustainable trade ties with this large market.

Addressing a meeting with ministries and government agencies to review preparations for trade negotiations with the US in Hanoi on April 29, Chinh noted that the agencies have promptly responded to directives from the Party Central Committee, the Politburo, and Party General Secretary To Lam regarding adaptation to the US’ new tariff policies.

However, while progress has been positive, he warned, the situation remains complex, requiring the agencies to stay alert, react swiftly and effectively, and resolve issues within their authority.

According to the PM, Vietnam has been actively addressing key areas of concern to the US, including product origin, non-tariff barriers, intellectual property, copyright, and administrative reform. He instructed the ministries and agencies to clearly explain Vietnam’s ongoing reforms to the US side and to approach negotiations with calm, persistence, and flexibility.

He urged swift conclusion of purchase agreements by May 2025 for key US exports such as LNG, aircraft, pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, and agricultural products, aimed at achieving sustainable trade balance. The talks, he emphasized, must prioritize national sovereignty, security, and interests, and uphold Vietnam’s international commitments, cited VOV.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chairs a meeting with leaders of relevant ministries and agencies in Hanoi on April 29, examining preparations for coming trade negotiations with the United States.

In his view, Vietnam is also calling for mutual reduction of import tariffs and has requested that the US recognize Vietnam as a market economy and lift restrictions on high-tech exports – the steps that would help improve trade balance and promote technology transfer.

To meet US concerns, the Vietnamese government will continue amending its legal framework, including intellectual property and copyright laws, with many revisions to be submitted at the upcoming ninth National Assembly session, he said.

The PM reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to close coordination with ASEAN and regional partners to ensure mutual benefits in trade negotiations with the US, in line with the ASEAN-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

He directed each ministry and agency to draft specific negotiation plans and assigned the Ministry of Industry and Trade to compile and submit a full set of proposals by April 30.

Vietnam, Cambodia sign new agreement on promoting trade ties

An agreement on promoting Vietnam–Cambodia trade for the 2025–2026 period was inked in Ha Noi on April 28.

The agreement was signed by Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien and Cambodian Minister of Commerce Cham Nimul.

It is an important legal document with great significance for the business communities of both countries, as it provides tariff incentives for many key goods from each side, with preferential terms even greater than those under the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA).

The agreement is expected to help Vietnam and Cambodia further leverage the complementary strengths of their two economies, tighten supply chain connectivity, and promote balanced, sustainable bilateral trade development to commensurate with the scale and potential of cooperation between the two countries.

The two-way trade turnover reached US$10.1 billion in 2024, an increase of 17.5 percent compared to the previous year, VGP reported.

Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien (R) and Cambodian Minister of Commerce Cham Nimul sign an agreement on promoting Viet Nam–Cambodia trade for the 2025–2026 period, Ha Noi, April 28, 2025. Photo: VGP

In the first quarter of 2025, the bilateral trade hit US$3.2 billion, up 10.2 percent year-on-year. Of the figure, Vietnam's exports to Cambodia amounted to US$1.3 billion (up 9.3 percent), while imports attained US$1.9 billion (up 10.9 percent).

Vietnam is currently Cambodia's third-largest trading partner globally (after China and the U.S.) and the biggest trading partner within ASEAN. Meanwhile, Cambodia is Vietnam's fourth-largest trading partner in ASEAN.

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