Vietnam Holds Military Parade on Its 80th Anniversary

On September 2, Vietnam marked its 80th anniversary with a massive military parade highlighting its rapid defense modernization. The display showcased legacy equipment alongside new domestically-produced technologies, with AI-powered Viettel drones, armored police and anti-terrorist vehicles, and Kilo-class submarines, underscoring Vietnam’s defense modernization and affirming the prominent role of public security forces. The inclusion of U.S. products such as vehicles for security and VIP transportation could be interpreted as a signal of Vietnam’s intent to deepen trade and technology cooperation with the United States. This aligns with the broader strategic narrative as Hanoi is expanding imports of high-value U.S. goods and integrating defense industry modernization into its overarching economic development strategy, which is creating new opportunities for U.S. private sector engagement while simultaneously reinforcing Vietnam's national security.