At this event, the Ministry of National Defense will present two display areas, highlighting the history and modernization of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA). An indoor space covering 702 square meters at Hall 8 is themed “Shaping Development.” The outdoor area showcasing military equipment and weapons spanning 23,569 square meters is titled “Sword and Shield.”
Living museum indoors
The indoor space, themed “The VPA – 80 Years of the Journey of Independence, Freedom, and Happiness”, resembles a living museum. It blends photographs, artifacts, documents, and advanced technologies such as holograms, virtual reality, and mapping to illustrate the VPA’s journey.
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The “Origins of Heroism” section |
The space is divided into four sections and one interactive technology area. The first section, themed “Origin of Heroism,” tracing Vietnam’s revolutionary struggle in the early 20th century, the triumph of the August Revolution in 1945, and President Ho Chi Minh’s Declaration of Independence. It affirms the growth of the VPA under leadership of the Party and President Ho Chi Minh and support and care of the people.
The “Forged in the flames of war” section focuses on the resistance wars against French colonialism and American imperialism. Despite immense challenges, the VPA and the Vietnamese people waged a protracted, comprehensive struggle, culminating in many victories, notably the Dien Bien Phu Victory in 1954 and the Spring Offensive in 1975, which reunified the country.
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The “Forged in the flames of war” section |
The third section, titled “Revolutionary – Regular – Elite – Modern,” showcases defense industry products, dual-use technologies, logistics, and technical achievements. It highlights the military’s three core functions as combat, work, and production force. Exhibits demonstrate the military’s implementation of training, combat readiness, border and maritime protection, logistics and technical support, mass mobilization and dissemination work, and economic development in combination with national defense.
The section also underscores the Party’s goal of building elite, compact, strong military, laying the foundation to become a modernized military by 2030.
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The “Revolutionary – Regular – Elite – Modern” section |
The "Rising with the nation" section presents next-generation equipment, UAVs, missile system models, high-tech products, cyber warfare tools, and AI applications. Multimedia displays explore the modernization efforts; cybersecurity protection; application of science technology; participation in international missions, U.N. peacekeeping operation; implementation of defense diplomacy and international integration; and disaster relief, search and rescue.
At the fifth and last section, titled “New technology experience,” visitors can engage with holograms, VR, and mapping that recreate historic milestones of the VPA, from the founding of the Vietnam Dissemination and Liberation Armed Team on December 22, 1944, to victories such as the Dien Bien Phu Campaign in 1954, Mau Than General Offensive and Uprising in 1968, the “Dien Bien Phu in the Air” Campaign in 1972 and the Ho Chi Minh Campaign in 1975.
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The "Rising with the nation" section |
Highlights include a 3D mapping simulation of the “Dien Bien Phu in the Air” Campaign in 1972, with B-52 and F-111 bombers, layered air defenses, and the dramatic downing of U.S. aircraft. Visitors can also experience VR recreations of the Truong Son Trail (Ho Chi Minh Trail), smart seaport systems, naval equipment models, and digital transformation solutions in the military.
Interactive experiences also include AR-based simulations of anti-aircraft training, VR shooting ranges developed by Viettel, and military technical shooting simulators.
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Experience new technologies at section 5 |
“Sword and Shield”
The outdoor display, themed “Sword and Shield,” covers more than 23,000 square meters at the southern square. It presents outstanding weapons and equipment developed by the General Department of Defense Industry as well as operational systems currently in service in the military.
The entrance is designed in military green, symbolizing the VPA. At its center is a circular exhibition space modeled after the Hanoi Flag Tower (Ky Dai), a unique architectural structure and a witness to many pivotal events in the history of Hanoi and Vietnam. Surrounding areas feature displays of significant military equipment, both indigenously developed and actively deployed.
Translated by Tran Hoai