VinFast debuts armored car and parade EVs at Vietnam National Day
HANOI—Vietnam’s homegrown automaker VinFast showcased its wide-ranging capabilities during the country’s 80th National Day, presenting two very different vehicles that reflected both technical ambition and flexible production.
At the Vietnam Exposition Center, the Lac Hong 900 LX armored car was unveiled bearing the marks of its testing phase. The vehicle endured 440 rounds of live fire and 11 explosive tests at Germany’s Beschussamt Ulm, ultimately passing the VPAM VR7 ballistic certification used for head-of-state protection. VinFast collaborated with Canadian armored vehicle specialist INKAS before completing final assembly at its Hai Phong plant. Its design emphasizes Vietnamese culture, with a gold Lạc bird emblem, a bamboo-inspired grille, and interiors featuring Golden Nanmu wood and Nappa leather.
“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,” analyst Đinh Văn Nam said to Vietnamese media.
From armored security to ceremonial EVs
While the Lac Hong 900 LX highlighted depth of engineering, VinFast also revealed speed and adaptability with specially modified VF 9 electric vehicles for the National Day parade. Four open-top units, built for ceremonial use by the Ministry of Public Security, underwent major structural changes including pillar removal, roof separation, interior upgrades, and new electrical systems. Each car required roughly 2,400 hours of labor.
In parallel, VinFast delivered 12 VF 9s customized for the Traffic Police, with new grilles, hood modifications, protocol fittings, and law enforcement equipment such as flag mounts and sirens. Engineers spent 60–80 hours tailoring each vehicle for both operational and ceremonial use.
Together, the armored Lac Hong 900 LX and the specialized VF 9 fleets demonstrated VinFast’s ability to address defense, ceremony, and law enforcement requirements within a compressed timeframe. Their quiet but visible presence in Hanoi offered a clear signal: Vietnam’s automaker is now positioned to meet demanding global standards while advancing its domestic industrial base.
