From a bullet-tested armored car to open-top parade EVs, Vietnam’s homegrown automaker VinFast displayed striking range at its National Day celebrations, signaling the country’s ambitions to join the ranks of top global automakers.
At the newly launched Vietnam Exposition Center in Hanoi, the steel-clad Lac Hong 900 LX armored car sits on display, its surface marked by bullet impacts. It is a silent testament to the trials it endured before making its public debut at the “80 Years of Independence – Freedom – Happiness” exhibition. This exhibition commemorates Vietnam’s August Revolution of 1945, which ended colonial rule, and the founding of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in 1946. The event put the spotlight on VinFast’s ambitions in a very public way.
Not far from the exhibition, another chapter of this ambition was unfolding on Hanoi’s parade grounds. Here, open-top VinFast VF 9 vehicles—custom-built for ceremonial use—were seen for the first time as military and police units rehearsed for the National Day parade on September 2. While these two models appeared in different venues and at different moments, their emergence points to a larger message: one company can now meet demands that range from national defense to public ceremony. It is also a reminder of how much capability Vietnam has built in a short span, reshaping the image of a nation once devastated by war.
“This is evidence that Vietnam is now able to manufacture vehicles on par with about 18 countries around the world that have their own domestic automotive brands,” said automotive analyst Đinh Văn Nam, to Vietnamese media.
The Head-of-State Test
The technical achievement of the Lac Hong 900 LX is marked, first and foremost, by the marks left on its armor: hundreds of bullet impacts and signs of mine blasts. According to company data, the car endured 440 bullet shots and 11 explosive tests at the German Beschussamt Ulm center, ultimately achieving the European VPAM VR7 ballistic standard for head-of-state vehicles. This rating means the vehicle can withstand high-powered rifle fire and explosive charges, a requirement for use by world leaders. It was the first Vietnamese-made car to undergo and pass such independent testing.
VinFast did not work alone. The company collaborated with INKAS, a Canadian firm with expertise in armored vehicles, to develop the Lac Hong 900 LX. In the process, VinFast combined international know-how with domestic manufacturing, completing final assembly at its Hai Phong factory.
Design details carry unmistakable Vietnamese identity: the gold-plated Lạc bird logo, a grille inspired by bamboo, and wood and leather interiors using Golden Nanmu and Nappa. The Lạc bird is a mythical creature from Vietnamese folklore, often used as a national symbol. Bamboo is another deeply rooted cultural motif, representing resilience and unity. These gestures of local pride stand alongside technical milestones, such as an extended wheelbase.
“The Lac Hong 900 LX has a wheelbase extended by about 20 centimeters compared to the VF 9. This not only increases the interior space, but also presents a real challenge in automotive manufacturing,” observed Nguyễn Mạnh Thắng of WhatCarVN to Vietnamese media.
If the Lac Hong 900 LX is about proving technical depth, the special VF 9s speak to how fast that depth can be turned to new tasks.
Demonstration of Flexible Production
For the parade marking the 80th anniversary of National Day, VinFast completed four specially modified open-top VF 9 vehicles at the request of the Ministry of Public Security. Each of these cars underwent extensive alterations, including the removal of the B, C, and D pillars and separation of the roof from the A pillar, along with a new exterior paint job, redesigned front grille, refreshed leather interiors, and significant updates to the electrical system. Completing these four ceremonial vehicles required nearly 2,400 hours of labor.
At the same time, VinFast delivered 12 VF 9s in white, custom-built for the Traffic Police. These vehicles featured further adjustments, such as a redesigned hood with ventilation ports removed and a new grille with horizontal bars. Each car was also fitted with specialized equipment as required by the Traffic Police, including badges, flag mounts, lights, and sirens. VinFast engineers spent an estimated 60 to 80 hours refining each of these vehicles to meet the exacting standards for their ceremonial and operational duties during the National Day festivities.
The vehicles themselves, with their newly designed grilles and functional ceremonial upgrades, offer a demonstration of VinFast’s ability to adapt and customize. In most countries, vehicles used for state parades or official patrol duties form a specialized segment of the automotive market, demanding high reliability and strict compliance with protocol. By meeting the high standards required by the Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Public Security, VinFast gains credentials that may help it compete for government fleet contracts abroad.
As the VF 9s roll onto the parade ground and the steel doors of the Lac Hong 900 LX close, VinFast offers no dramatic declarations. The presence of these vehicles at A80 sends a quieter message: Vietnam now occupies a place in the global auto value chain where high technical standards and rapid, tailored production are both in reach. It is a modest, real step forward on the country’s industrial path./.
