Hundreds of people from the LGBTI+ community, along with friends and international visitors, gathered on September 28 in downtown Ho Chi Minh City for the annual VietPride parade. The vibrant event, held on Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street, is part of VietPride Week 2024, aimed at promoting equality, inclusivity, and respect for the LGBTI+ community in Vietnam.

Participants, waving rainbow flags, marched together in celebration of diversity and pride. Many expressed joy and optimism, including American traveler Lewis, who praised the open-mindedness and positive energy of the local crowd. The event reflects growing societal support for LGBTI+ individuals, with the theme "It’s Time for Inclusion" emphasizing the ongoing fight for equal rights, particularly as Vietnam considers progressive gender and marriage laws.

VietPride 2024 organizers urged Vietnamese society to continue embracing inclusion, recognizing the vital contributions of the LGBTI+ community to the country’s culture and economy, while pushing for legal recognition and protection of their rights.