Experience visiting Ba Dinh Square and watching the September 2nd parade
Experience visiting Ba Dinh Square, a historical destination where the National Day parade is held on September 2nd, attracting a large number of tourists every year.
Ba Dinh Square: The historic heart of the capital
Ba Dinh Square is located on Hung Vuong Street, Ba Dinh Ward, Hanoi. This is an area associated with many important events of the country.
Opening hours: 5:00 – 22:00 daily
Admission fee: Free
The space around the square is surrounded by many important buildings: to the south is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to the north is the Central Party Office, to the east is Ba Dinh Hall and to the west is the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.
National Day Parade September 2: A sacred event of the nation
On the occasion of National Day September 2, Ba Dinh Square becomes the place where a grand parade and march take place, demonstrating the strength of national defense and the spirit of national unity. This is also an occasion to pay tribute to the generations who sacrificed for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland.
The solemn and majestic atmosphere of the armed forces at the event gave people the opportunity to directly feel national pride and spirit.
Directions to Ba Dinh Square
Visitors can choose private vehicles or public transport to get to Ba Dinh Square.
Hanoi currently has 2 metro lines in operation, connecting directly to the central area, very convenient for residents and tourists:
Cat Linh - Ha Dong: Departs from Yen Nghia station, suitable for residents of Chuong My, My Duc, Quoc Oai, Ha Dong, Thanh Xuan areas. The route ends at Cat Linh station, located near Nguyen Thai Hoc and Kim Ma streets, the main axis of the parade.
Nhon - Hanoi Railway Station (operates to Thu Le Park): Serves residents of the old districts of Ba Vi, Phuc Tho, Dan Phuong, Hoai Duc and Nam - Bac Tu Liem districts. Nhon Railway Station has a large parking lot, suitable for people traveling by personal vehicle before transferring to the metro. The route ends at Thu Le Park, right at the beginning of Kim Ma Street - near the parade area.
On August 21, the metro will run from 5:30 a.m. to midnight (2 hours longer than usual), with a 6-10 minute interval between trips; late hours will have a 10 minute interval.
Besides the metro, many bus routes are arranged to pass through or stop near Nguyen Thai Hoc - Kim Ma - Tran Phu - Hoang Dieu streets, creating convenience for travel:
Route 09A: Hoan Kiem Lake – Dien Bien Phu – Kim Ma – Cau Giay – Nguyen Hoang Ton.
Route 22A: Gia Lam Bus Station – Long Bien – Tran Phu – Kim Ma.
Route E09: Smart City Urban Area – Thang Long Avenue – Nguyen Thai Hoc – Hoang Dieu – Quan Thanh – West Lake.
Route 32: Giap Bat Bus Station – Le Duan – Tran Hung Dao – Kim Ma – Xuan Thuy – Nhon.
BRT: Yen Nghia Bus Station – Le Trong Tan – Le Van Luong – Giang Vo – Kim Ma.
Parking lot near Ba Dinh Square
Opposite toHeadquarters of the Mausoleum Protection Command (Ong Ich Khiem Street) or the gate of the Ho Chi Minh Museum (Ngoc Ha Street).
Le Hong Phong Cadre Training School Campus
Some streets in Ba Dinh area and surrounding areas are allowed to use the roadway as parking spots. These streets include: Van Cao, Nguyen Thai Hoc, Tran Phu, Hoang Dieu
Vietnam-Soviet Friendship Cultural Palace: Assigned to arrange the entire parking lot in the campus to gather vehicles
Thang Long Imperial Citadel: The grounds, including the Flag Tower Stadium, were also used as a vehicle assembly area.
Hanoi Museum: The entire parking lot on the campus is reserved for vehicles.
Come early and choosereasonable observation position
The roads around Ba Dinh Square are often diverted or closed to traffic to ensure security. Therefore, people should plan their travel early, preferably arriving 1 to 2 hours in advance. This not only helps to choose a favorable observation position but also avoids traffic jams.
If you cannot get to the central area, you can watch on large screens located in many locations so you don't miss any memorable moments.
Dress neatly, politely and appropriately for the weather
When attending a military parade at Ba Dinh Square, dress is not only personal but also shows respect for an important national occasion. Attendees should prioritize polite, neat and comfortable clothing.
Shirts, plain T-shirts, polo shirts or traditional Ao Dai are suitable choices, combined with dress pants, khaki pants or moderate length skirts. Many people also choose T-shirts printed with the red flag with yellow star to express patriotism.
In terms of color, neutral and elegant colors such as white, navy blue, gray or black are often recommended because they create solemnity. If you want to stand out, you can choose red or white, which are both simple and evoke a festive atmosphere.
On the contrary, overly bright colors such as neon yellow, hot pink or bright green should be avoided because they can easily cause offense in crowded and solemn settings.
Another important factor is footwear. Walking or standing for long periods of time requires comfort, so sneakers, flats, or strappy sandals are much more sensible choices than high heels or slippers.
Attendees should bring a wide-brimmed hat, baseball cap, sunglasses, and sunscreen in sunny weather. In case of rain, a light jacket, foldable raincoat, or small umbrella will help to cope without getting in the way.
People should not carry large handbags or wear a lot of valuable jewelry, which is both inconvenient and increases the risk of theft in a crowd. A small, compact bag worn across the chest is safer and more convenient.
The overall outfit should be simple, neat and in harmony with the solemn nature of the event, helping each individual feel comfortable while contributing to maintaining a good image in public.
Prepare necessary items
Bring drinking water, tissues, hand fans or mini fans to reduce the heat. Phones need to be fully charged and bring spare chargers.
If traveling with small children, prepare snacks, water, a wide-brimmed hat and ear protection to limit the impact of loud noises.
Comply with security and instructions of authorities
In crowded areas, it is necessary to maintain order and avoid jostling and pushing. People are not allowed to climb fences, trees or stand on high objects to observe because it can be dangerous.
Absolutely do not bring knives, fireworks, loud speakers or other disruptive items. At the same time, you must follow the instructions of the authorities to ensure the event is safe.
Maintain hygiene and be mindful of personal property
Everyone should prepare small bags to contain trash, do not litter, do not write on trees, walls or signs.
Due to the large number of people attending the event, there is a high risk of theft. Participants should use a small bag, worn in front of the chest, and not bring large amounts of cash or valuables.
Proper attitude at the event
As the parade passes, people should keep quiet and not shout, whistle or joke. Instead, show respect for the participating forces.
In particular, do not film or livestream in areas where filming is prohibited, especially when there is special military equipment. Compliance with regulations ensures both security and civic responsibility.
