4 forms of organizing the national flag raising and lowering ceremony at Ba Dinh Square

National flag raising ceremony at Ba Dinh Square.

The Ordinance on Management and Protection of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Relic Site was passed by the Standing Committee of the 15th National Assembly on March 13, 2025, and will take effect from May 19, 2025. Article 19 of the Ordinance stipulates the National Flag Raising and Lowering Ceremony as follows:

"Article 19. National flag raising and lowering ceremony

1. The national flag raising and lowering ceremony is held daily at Ba Dinh Square.

2. The time for the national flag raising and lowering ceremony is as follows:

a) From April 1 to October 31: Flag-raising ceremony at 6:00 a.m.; from November 1 to March 31 of the following year: Flag-raising ceremony at 6:30 a.m.;

b) Flag lowering ceremony at 21:00.

3. The Minister of National Defense shall specify in detail the organization of the national flag raising and lowering ceremonies."

The Ministry of National Defense said that the national flag raising and lowering ceremony at Ba Dinh Square has been carried out since May 19, 2001 (according to Official Dispatch No. 373/CP-VX dated May 7, 2001 of the Prime Minister). This is a very important ceremony of the nation, the image of the flag raising ceremony is broadcast on national television at 5:00 a.m. every day, considered as a symbol of Vietnam, of President Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, of the capital Hanoi . The daily flag raising and lowering ceremony attracts many people and international visitors to visit and witness, especially on holidays, Tet, and national anniversaries.

Despite its very important meaning and role, over the past 24 years, the National Flag Raising and Lowering Ceremony at Ba Dinh Square has not had any legal documents regulating it (it is only carried out under the direction of the Prime Minister and the guidance and regulations of the Military Training Department, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Command). Therefore, it is necessary to soon institutionalize the process and methods of carrying out the National Flag Raising and Lowering Ceremony at Ba Dinh Square into legal regulations for unified implementation, creating favorable conditions to ensure the regimes and policies for the forces of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Command performing the flag raising and lowering duties, improving the effectiveness of coordination to ensure security and safety for the ceremony, enhancing the quality of propaganda about the National Flag Raising and Lowering Ceremony in particular and the political and cultural significance of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Relic Site in general.

4 forms of organizing the national flag raising and lowering ceremony

Article 4 of the draft Circular stipulates 4 forms of organizing the national flag raising and lowering ceremony, including:

1. Organize daily flag raising and lowering ceremonies;

2. Organize flag raising and lowering ceremonies during holidays and Tet;

3. Organize the flag raising and lowering ceremony on the National Mourning Day;

4. Organize a shortened flag raising and lowering ceremony.

Daily flag raising and lowering ceremony

The Draft Circular devotes 04 Articles (From Article 5 to Article 8) to comprehensively regulate all aspects of the daily flag raising and lowering ceremonies, including: Time; Organization and use of forces; Organization and implementation of the ceremony; Security work.

Article 6 of the Draft Circular stipulates that the force performing the daily flag raising and lowering ceremony consists of 4 units: Command Unit, Ceremonial Unit, Security Unit and Service Unit.

Regarding the organization of the implementation of the Ceremony, the draft Circular stipulates:

1. Ceremonial Block Formation

Organize in a 3-row block formation in the following order: Block Leader; National Flag Group; Military Flag Group; Honor Block.

a) Block leader: 01 officer;

b) National flag: 03 officers;

c) Flag Team: 03 officers;

d) Honor Block: 27 non-commissioned officers and soldiers.

2. Flag raising ceremony

a) Route: Assembly location (behind Ceremony Platform A1) - Hung Vuong Street - Floating gravel platform - Flag salute location - Floating gravel platform - Hung Vuong Street - In front of Ceremony Platform A2 - A - A1 - Assembly location.

b) Implementation sequence: The Ceremonial Block from the assembly position marches steadily to the music of the song "Marching under the military flag" (Musician Doan Nho) to the flag salute position. The National Flag marches solemnly (speed of 60 steps/minute) to the flagpole position, linking the flags. Perform the flag raising ceremony to the music of the song "Marching song" (Musician Van Cao). The National Flag returns to its position. The Ceremonial Block marches steadily to the music of the song "Marching under the military flag" (Musician Doan Nho) to the assembly position. When passing the A Ceremony Platform, the Ceremonial Block marches solemnly and salutes to the right.

3. Flag lowering ceremony

a) Route: Performed as the Flag Raising Ceremony

b) Implementation sequence: The Ceremonial Group from the assembly position marches in unison to the music of the song "Uncle Ho is marching with us" (Musician Huy Thuc) to the flag saluting position. The National Flag marches respectfully (speed of 60 steps/minute) to the flagpole position. Perform the flag lowering ceremony. The National Flag returns to its position. The Ceremonial Group marches in unison to the music of the song "Uncle Ho is marching with us" (Musician Huy Thuc) to the assembly position. When passing the A Ceremony Platform, the Ceremonial Group marches respectfully and looks to the right to salute.

Flag raising and lowering ceremony on holidays and Tet

The Draft Circular also devotes 4 Articles (from Article 9 to Article 12) to specifically regulate the contents of flag raising and lowering ceremonies on holidays and Tet.

Compared to the daily flag raising and lowering ceremony, the ceremony during Tet holiday organizes an additional Flag Raising Unit on the A1 and A2 platforms (on both sides of President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum) belonging to Group 275, Mausoleum Command.

Flag raising and lowering ceremony on National Mourning Day

From Article 13 to Article 16 of the draft stipulates the contents of the Flag Raising and Lowering Ceremony on the National Mourning Day. Accordingly, the Ceremony is performed as the daily Flag Raising and Lowering Ceremony, but the National Flag and the mourning ribbon are hung to 2/3 of the height of the flagpole, not allowed to fly. Mourning ribbon (size: 6m x 0.4m).

Short flag raising and lowering ceremony

Articles 17 to 20 of the draft stipulate the contents of the shortened flag raising and lowering ceremony. The shortened ceremony is applied in cases of unfavorable weather (heavy rain, storms, whirlwinds, etc.); there are political and cultural activities at the same time as the flag lowering ceremony; and other cases as prescribed by competent authorities.

The organization performing the shortened ceremony only includes the Block Leader (01 officer) and the National Flag Bearer (03 officers).

Regulations on dress code and attitude of guests attending the flag raising and lowering ceremony

The draft also proposes regulations on the dress code and attitude of guests attending the flag raising and lowering ceremony. Specifically, guests attending the flag raising and lowering ceremony must be properly dressed, clean, neat, polite, not wearing anything offensive; have a serious attitude, and voluntarily comply with the regulations and instructions of the security forces.

The Ministry of National Defense is soliciting comments on this draft on the Ministry of National Defense's Electronic Information Portal.

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Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/4-hinh-thuc-to-chuc-nghi-le-thuong-co-ha-co-quoc-gia-tren-quang-truong-ba-dinh-102250514102449563.htm