Photo: Vietnam parade 70 years of independence (part 1)

Huge crowds gathered on the streets of Vietnam's 1,000-year-old capital Wednesday for a massive military parade to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the nation's independence.

With a 21-cannon blast from historic Thang Long royal citadel, the procession of some 30,000 soldiers and civilians started at 7am, in front of Ho Chi Minh mausoleum at Ba Dinh square, where late President Ho Chi Minh had proclaimed the nation's independence on Sept 2, 1945 in the aftermath of the World War II...