On the evening of May 3 (Moscow time), the Vietnam People's Army (VPA) contingent arrived at Red Square to prepare for the rehearsal of the military parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

Hundreds of Vietnamese expatriates and students in Russia gathered along the avenue leading to Red Square to welcome the delegation. With Vietnamese and Russian flags in hand, they joyfully greeted the officers and soldiers of the Vietnamese military unit.

In a heartfelt display of patriotism and unity, the crowd joined together to sing the iconic Vietnamese song “Nhu co Bac trong ngay dai thang” (As if Uncle Ho were with us on the day of great victory).

The community prepared and distributed 100 red scarves and a variety of homemade meals as a heartfelt gift to the soldiers for dinner.

The Vietnamese contingent began their first training session on April 27 at the Alabino training ground, located approximately 100 kilometers from central Moscow. They continued rehearsals at Red Square on April 29, with the final rehearsal scheduled for May 7.

Representing the VPA at the official Victory Day parade on May 9 will be a contingent of 86 officers and cadets from the Vietnamese Army Officer Training School No.1.

The selected servicemen are between 19 and 30 years old, each with a minimum height of 1.8 meters. All were chosen for their excellent physique, precise execution of military drills, and outstanding training performance.

Tran Thuong

Photos: Huy Hoang