You may see columns of fire engines, police and military personnel around downtown Saigon this week. These security drills are neither related to a zombie apocalypse, nor filming for Vietnam’s next big action flick.
The maneuvers, coordinated by the Ho Chi Minh City Police Department and other relevant emergency services began yesterday morning and will continue through the end of the week, reports Thanh Nien.
Senior Lieutenant Colonel, Nguyen Sy Quang, said that the drills, set to conclude on December 7, are designed to train security forces to address mass public gatherings and demonstrations that involve vehicles, especially street races and “other public nuisances.”
Quang added that the annual drills are designed to have limited impact on local residents and tourists.
While this year the drills seem to be focused on city streets, in 2013 they involved an elaborate rescue simulation at Diamond Plaza including smoke and helicopters (pictured above). [Thanh Nien]
