Overview

• Vietnam held its largest-ever military parade with 13,000 participants in Ho-Chi-Minh-Stadt to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War's end.
• The celebrations include a fireworks display and a record-breaking drone light show, reflecting national pride in reunification and independence.
• Lingering diplomatic tensions surfaced as U.S. diplomats were barred from attending, following a controversial commemorative poster's removal.
• Environmental cleanup at Bien Hoa Air Base continues at reduced capacity after U.S. funding cuts, highlighting unresolved dioxin contamination issues.
• The Vietnam War, which ended in 1975, caused significant loss of life, with up to five million Vietnamese and over 58,000 U.S. soldiers killed.