HCMC – Large crowds gathered at Bach Dang Wharf in downtown HCMC on the night of April 8 to see a ceremonial cannon salute rehearsal by the armed forces, marking the run-up to the 50th anniversary of the liberation of south Vietnam and the reunification of the nation on April 30.
At 8 p.m., 15 ceremonial cannons fired in synchronized volleys, sending flames and thunderous echoes across the Saigon River. The event was part of a training session by Brigade 96 of the Artillery Corps, which has been tasked with organizing the official salute during the upcoming celebration.
The training used blank charges, which produce sound and light without live ammunition, and featured 21 volleys, with three rounds fired simultaneously in each. The practice drew crowds who observed the drills, captured photos, and engaged with military personnel stationed at the site.
The rehearsal highlighted a rare public display of Vietnam’s ceremonial artillery, turning the wharf into a space where citizens and service members connected over a shared sense of history and national pride.
The salute on April 30 will consist of 21 volleys, with 63 blank rounds in total, symbolizing a half-century since the liberation of the south and the reunification of the nation in 1975.
