Sea of people waiting to watch the parade in downtown Ho Chi Minh City

At 11pm on April 29, seven hours before the opening ceremony of April 30, thousands of people gathered at Bach Dang Wharf (District 1) to watch the parade. Heading towards Nha Rong Wharf, crowds filled the sidewalks and streets. This is the area where 15 cannons are located and the route the parade will take.

After midnight, a sea of people and vehicles was jammed for nearly 2 km from the foot of Ba Son Bridge - a symbolic construction of Ho Chi Minh City - Ton Duc Thang Street to Khanh Hoi Bridge. On both sides of the road, people sat and lay down waiting to watch the parade, causing traffic jams. Ambulances honked loudly, while small trucks and cars turned off their engines to "take the hit". Traffic police and volunteers participated in regulating and directing traffic, advising people not to jostle or push.

The corner of Ton Duc Thang Street - Nguyen Hue Walking Street is packed with people, making it impossible for cars to move.

The area where the artillery is waiting to fire on the morning of April 30. This place is about 2 km from the main road where the parade takes place in front of the Independence Palace.

Taking her family of three on a trip from Tan Binh District, Ms. Hoang Anh said she saw the corner of Nam Ky Khoi Nghia - Vo Thi Sau Street crowded with people from 2 p.m., many people spread out mats to reserve seats to watch the parade. "At 5 p.m., the whole family arrived at Bach Dang Wharf and it was already jammed. Luckily, there was still space on the 8th floor of the hotel, so we went up there and sat there from then until now. We probably have to wait until morning to go home," Ms. Anh said.

Many people got on trucks parked in the middle of the road to wait to watch the parade.

As the night wore on, after many hours of waiting in the hot 28 degree Celsius weather, people began to spread out mats and tarps to rest right on Ton Duc Thang Street.

People crowded and sat on the sidewalk and road on Nguyen Hue walking street, creating a crowded and cramped scene.

A group of young people sitting in front of Majestic, at the corner of Ton Duc Thang - Dong Khoi streets.

Ton Duc Thang - Nguyen Hue street, where you can clearly see the flags of ASEAN members, the cannons firing the grand ceremony, and Ba Son bridge, at 11:40 p.m., it was packed with people from the flycam angle.

About 800 meters away, the Le Loi - Nguyen Hue intersection at 0:00 was also full from the Rex Hotel's perspective, in front of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee headquarters.

Amid the stifling atmosphere, people lay scattered on the streets and sidewalks to rest after many hours of waiting.

Mingling in the crowd here, Ms. Minh Nguyet, 50 years old, said she had been waiting since 5 pm to watch the parade. "I didn't expect it to be so crowded, now it's difficult to do anything," Ms. Nguyet said.