Sacred flag-saluting ceremony at Ba Dinh Square

At 05:50am, the Guard from the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Protection Command walked from behind the Mausoleum to the flagpole in front of the mausoleum with the accompaniment of the glorious music of the song “Advancing under the military flag”.

This flag-saluting ceremony was quite different from the daily flag-hoisting ritual at Ba Dinh Square held daily at 06:00 am since May 19, 2001 because today there was no flag-hoisting at the event; the Guard merely stood solemnly to salute the national flag flying in the sky.

Watching the ritual, the participating people also sang the national anthem and demonstrated their pride of the Fatherland.

PANO would like to introduce some photos of this sacred ceremony, taken by reporters Thu Ha and Tuan Son.

 The Guard ready to move from behind Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

 Proud to join this special flag-saluting ceremony

The Guard marching to the front of Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

The Guard marching to the music of the song “Advancing under the military flag” 

34 guards, representing the first 34 soldiers of the Armed Information Dissemination Unit for National Liberation-the predecessor of the Vietnam People’s Army, performing flag-saluting ritual

The national flag in the middle of historic Ba Dinh Square 

 

 

After the flag-saluting ritual, the Guard marching in front of the Mausoleum to their start point, finishing the ceremony 

Scores of domestic and international visitors gathering at Ba Dinh Square 

Among the visitors, many are from mountainous and remote areas. They are moved while witnessing the flag-saluting ceremony 

Translated by Mai Huong