The celebrations were not without controversies, sparking a debate about what it means to be patriotic. Silence can be seen as louder than the most dedicated parade cheering squad as this article published in the Public Security Newspaper illustrates: cand.com.vn/Kinh-te-Van-...

The young and old rolled out bamboo mats two days before the Sep 2 parade, brought home-made feasts and ordered food delivery. The night before the big day, they sang revolutionary songs to stay awake. These fans weathered everything, from the monsoon rain to (literal) piss.

It was a spectacle, or as the locals say, the national concert, with a fanbase so crazy that even the Swifties can’t compare.

As usual, Vietnamese folks were enterprising. Like this lady, who knew Russian soldiers would be passing this particular street, and prepared both Vietnamese and Russian flags for sale.

Downtown streets which normally are never quiet during the day were half empty due to roadblocks while the skies would roar every now and then with the passing of fighter jets.

That meant flags everywhere, as the capital prepared for the huge military parade on Sep 2. People people camped out on the streets for hours to view and cheer on soldiers, the police, tanks and artillery rehearsing for the big