On the day before China’s September 3rd military parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory in World War II, Vietnam staged its own large-scale celebration in Hanoi for the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day. On a Chinese WeChat public account focused on military affairs, one commentator broke down the highlights of the Vietnamese parade and examined what “mysterious weapons” appeared on display.
The review noted that Vietnam’s parade was ambitious but leaned heavily on dated Soviet-era equipment—T-90 tanks, Israeli-modified T-55s, old BMP-1/2 infantry vehicles, Scud missiles, and a small number of Su-30 fighters. Some newer features, such as Bastion coastal defense missiles and improvised drones modeled on Russian and Ukrainian battlefield experience, were singled out as significant upgrades. The commentator also acknowledged Vietnam’s efforts to innovate with broadcast techniques inspired by Russian coverage and the rare decision to livestream a naval parade in tandem with the land event.
The kicker: Chinese social media showed strong interest in Vietnam’s show of force, with many military enthusiasts offering their own detailed analyses. This particular WeChat review cast the Hanoi parade as a “small China” imitation, earnest but limited in scope, ultimately serving as a regional warm-up that highlighted the contrast with Beijing’s far larger and more symbolically powerful display the following day.
