The Officers' Bloc, representing the five military directions, solemnly marched through the streets of Ho Chi Minh City during the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the liberation of the South and national reunification. Photo: VNA
The reports widely praised Vietnam’s message of wishing to join the international community in building a future of peace, prosperity, unity, and development.
The Associated Press (AP) reported that Vietnam commemorated 50 years since the end of the war with the US and the formation of its modern nation with “a military parade” and “a focus on a peaceful future.”
“In a spirit of closing the past, respecting differences, aiming for the future, the whole party, the people and the army vow to make Vietnam become a country of peace, unity, prosperity and development,” AP quoted the speech made by Party General Secretary To Lam at the event.
Meanwhile, France’s AFP news agency published an article describing how thousands of people flocked to the central streets of HCM City from the night before, eager to witness the grand military parade and mass procession. It wrote about the parade, noting a lotus-shaped float carrying a portrait of revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh near its front and fighter jets and helicopters carrying flags flying overhead.
Both AP and AFP highlighted Vietnam’s message of cooperation with the international community in building a peaceful future. Their coverage noted that while the Vietnamese people take pride in their past, they also look ahead with confidence to a future of prosperity and national rise.
British news agency Reuters also captured the proud and emotional atmosphere that filled Ho Chi Minh City during the celebration.
Across much of the international press, April 30, 1975 was widely described as a historic turning point—the end of a decades-long war and the beginning of a new era in the country’s history.
The media also drew attention to the keynote address delivered by Party General Secretary Lam, who declared: “Time will pass, but the victory of our people in the resistance war against the US for national salvation will forever be recorded in the nation’s history as a shining symbol of revolutionary heroism, a victory of justice, a victory of Vietnamese mettle, spirit and intelligence; a victory of ardent patriotism and the aspiration for independence, freedom and national reunification, with the truth 'Vietnam is one, the Vietnamese people are one'."
