Key Events 

• Hà Nội’s Military Parade Drills for National Day Highlight Strains in Crowd Control;
• Political Shake-Up in Hồ Chí Minh City as Party Congress Nears;
• Politburo Push for Uniform Textbook Sparks Clash With Reform Goals;
• 28 Defendants Indicted in Đà Nẵng High Court Bribery Network;
• Unusual Path of Typhoon Kajiki Brings Heavy Rain, Destruction to Central Provinces.

Military Parade Drills for National Day Highlight Strains in Crowd Control in Vietnam’s Capital

Hà Nội is in full preparation mode for the upcoming 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day (A80), with a large-scale military parade and rehearsals taking place across the city. But instead of solemn anticipation, the buildup has been marked by traffic chaos, crowd disorder, and public frustration.

From Aug. 21 to Sept. 2, authorities closed multiple central roads to facilitate parade drills and event organization. The closures, combined with the draw of rehearsals themselves, have led to heavy congestion on key streets. Crowds of onlookers surged into restricted areas, resulting in pushing, shoving, and even scuffles as people vied for better vantage points to watch the parade formations.