Text: H.E. Mr. Hoai Nam Duong; Photo: Archive, Translation: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Vietnam
Half a century has passed since the end of the American War in Vietnam. The sense of national pride as well as the values of benevolence, peace, and reconciliation remain intact when the country celebrates the 50th anniversary of 30 April, officially known as The Liberation of the South and National Reunification Day. The burning desire for peace, national independence, and reconciliation of the Vietnamese people is well reflected in Ho Chi Minh’s immortal sayings: “We would rather sacrifice everything than lose our country, than live as slaves. Dear fellow countrymen! We must rise up!” and “Vietnam is one, the Vietnamese people are one. Rivers may dry up, mountains may erode, but that truth will never change.” To have a better understanding of the indomitable will of the Vietnamese people and how far Vietnam has moved beyond war consequences and adversities to become a middle-income country today, the Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam H.E. Mr. Hoai Nam Duong is proud to introduce the speech of H.E. Mr. To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, namely “Vietnam is one, the Vietnamese people are one” and his remarks at the national celebration of the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification, held in Ho Chi Minh City on April 30, 2025.
Comrades, Leaders, and former Leaders of the Party, State, and the Vietnam Fatherland Front! Venerable revolutionaries, Heroic Vietnamese Mothers, Heroes of the People’s Armed Forces, Heroes of Labor, generals, officers, veterans, and families with contributions to the cause of the Nation! Distinguished international guests, Dear compatriots, comrades, and soldiers across Vietnam, and overseas compatriots,
Today, in the stirring atmosphere of the historic 30th of April, in the heroic city bearing the name of our beloved and revered President Ho Chi Minh, we, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, the President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, the National Assembly and the Government of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, and the Central Committee of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front, are honored to hold this solemn ceremony in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and reunification of Viet Nam! Here stands the most illustrious milestone in Viet Nam’s history of national construction and defense, marking the resounding end of the resilient struggle spanning thirty years for national independence, freedom and reunification, that put to an end the yoke of old and neo-colonialism alike, and took Viet Nam into a new era of national independence and socialism. On behalf of the leaders of the Party, State and the Central Committee of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front, I offer my warmest welcome, most respectful salutations and finest wishes to the comrades leaders and former leaders of the Party, State and the Viet Nam Fatherland Front, to the revered revolutionaries and Heroic Mothers of Viet Nam, to the Heroes of the People’s Armed Forces and Heroes of Labor, to the generals, officers, soldiers, veterans, self-defense militia, guerrilla fighters, youth volunteers, frontline workers, and families with contributions to the cause of the Nation, to all international guests, comrades and compatriots throughout Viet Nam and overseas fellow Vietnamese, and to the Party Committee, authorities and people of Ho Chi Minh City.
In this sacred moment, we solemnly commemorate and express our boundless gratitude for the immeasurable contributions of our beloved and revered President Ho Chi Minh, the ingenious leader of our Party and nation, the great teacher of the Vietnamese revolution, the Hero of National Liberation and Great Man of Culture of the Vietnamese nation, and an eminent fighter of the international communist and workers’ movement. Ardent was his desire for the liberation of the South and national reunification, and unwavering was his trust in the country’s ultimate victory:
“No matter how arduous the struggle may be, our people will certainly triumph, our Fatherland will certainly be reunified, and our compatriots from North to South will once again be of one family.”
We shall forever remember and remain deeply grateful for the grand contributions of revolutionary leaders before us, of heroes and martyrs, of Heroic Mothers of Viet Nam, of Heroes of the People’s Armed Forces, of generations of officials, generals, officers, soldiers, militia, guerrilla fighters, youth volunteers and frontline workers, of ill and wounded veterans, of families of martyrs and those with contributions to the Revolution, of various field veterans, the entire Armed Forces and the people of Viet Nam from every locality, as well as Vietnamese nationals overseas, who had made tremendous sacrifices in the cause of complete liberation of the South and reunification of the nation.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude for the immense and invaluable support and assistance given in altruism and faithful solidarity by international brothers, comrades, friends, and the progressive forces and peace-loving peoples around the world to the Vietnamese people’s struggle for national liberation and reunification.
Dear comrades, compatriots, and guests,
Immediately following the victory of the August Revolution of 1945 and the birth of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, our people were thrust into two protracted wars of resistance to defend national independence and deliver reunification. As the resistance against French colonialism concluded victoriously, like many other nations in the world, the Vietnamese people desired peace, independence, and freedom. Yet U.S. imperialism swiftly intervened and supplanted France in Vietnam. They were designed to divide Vietnam and turn the South into a neo-colony, a so-called bastion against communism in Southeast Asia and other international progressive movements globally. In their invasion of Vietnam, U.S. imperialism marshaled a vast number of troops, armed with the most advanced, cutting-edge weapons of the time, conducted a multitude of dangerous methods of warfare, and two brutal wars of destruction against the North. The losses and sufferings they caused were innumerable to our people in both regions, and the consequences remain to this very day.
Faced with a multitude of adversities, sufferings and brutality, yet, by upholding the proud tradition of resistance against foreign invasion of our forefathers, building upon the lessons gleaned throughout the protracted resistance war against French colonialism, harnessing the power of the people and the all-nation solidarity through bravery, wisdom and foresight, and making the most of the support from international friends, progressive forces and peace.
Loving people worldwide, under the leadership of our Party and President Ho Chi Minh, the entire Army and people of Vietnam pursued two strategic tasks all at once: the Socialist revolution in the North, and the national democratic revolution in the South, with the strong resolve to drive out foreign invaders.
Driven by the ardent desire to defend Viet Nam’s independence and deliver national reunification, and the spirit of “Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom”, across Viet Nam, “from Nam Quan gate to Ca Mau cape”, the whole nation stood together to resolutely drive out the invaders. Everywhere in Viet Nam is emblazoned with the mark of bravery, sacrifice, and heroic battlefield exploits of our Army and people. With an indomitable will to “march onward to liberate the South”, our Army and People recorded one victory after another, dismantling enemy forces piece by piece, culminating in the complete triumph, with its apex being the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign that finally reunified the country.
The years will come and go, yet the victory of our people in the resistance against U.S. aggression for national salvation shall be etched forever in the annals of the nation as a shining symbol of revolutionary heroism, and as the triumph of justice, of Viet Nam’s willpower, valor and wisdom, of patriotism and the fervent desire for national independence, freedom and reunification, under the axiom “Viet Nam is one, and the people of Viet Nam is one.” This milestone affirms that our Party, people, and Army were able to fulfill Uncle Ho’s most heartfelt wish and profound teaching: that is, to complete the liberation of the South, reunite Vietnam, and bring the North and South back under one roof. The triumphant resistance against the U.S. for national salvation stemmed from the correct and innovative leadership of the Party. This entails the People’s War conducted with the collective strength of the great national unity and international solidarity, the combination of military, political, and diplomatic struggles, and the art of seizing opportunities to organize a coordinated general uprising and offensive. The victory is owed, too, to the power of the grand homefront of the North in support of the grand frontline of the South, espousing the spirit of “Not one kilogram of rice short, not one single soldier short, we shall split open the Truong Son range to deliver national salvation”. It was also thanks to the immense, altruistic, and effective assistance from the Soviet Union, China, and fraternal socialist countries, to the special solidarity between Viet Nam, Laos, and Cambodia, and the support from the people and peace-loving, progressive forces around the world, including the progressive American people. Most strikingly, the Great Victory of Spring 1975 also, in turn, was a fervent source of inspiration for national liberation movements worldwide for peace, national independence, democracy, and social progress. It marked the beginning of the demise of neocolonialism across the globe and ushered in a watershed moment in human history in the 20th century.
Along with its epochal significance, the Great Victory of Spring 1975 offered invaluable lessons, in theory and in praxis, for the revolutionary cause of our Party and nation. These included:
- Harnessing the strength of the people and the great national unity, and the seamless combination of the strength of the nation and that of the time.
- Making every effort to uphold patriotism, national pride and dignity, the spirit of independence, self-reliance, courage and resilience, and the determination to fight and seize victory of our entire Party, people and Army.
- Holding high the banner of national independence and socialism, and identifying a correct path in accordance with the conditions and characteristics of the revolution in Viet Nam.
- Creatively applying and developing methods of conducting a comprehensive revolutionary struggle and People’s War, and establishing the theory behind the People’s War and a creative, unique art of warfare “to contend with the many by the few”, and “to use benevolence to supplant tyranny”.
- Identifying and seizing opportunities, and advancing in a bold, rapid, proactive, sharp, flexible, and creative manner, which the General Offensive and Uprising of Spring 1975 arrived at its full victory.
- Embracing compassion for others, national reconciliation, and setting aside the past to strive towards the future after the victory.
- And the most important lesson of all, one of decisive significance behind The Great Victory of Spring 1975 was that of maintaining the Party’s complete leadership, giving due attention to building a strong party in all respects, and bolster the Party’s leadership and combativeness throughout the entire struggle for national liberation and reunification, and in defense of the gains that socialism has won.
Dear compatriots, comrades, and guests,
Building upon the invaluable lessons from the victory of the resistance war against U.S. aggression for national salvation, under the leadership of the Party, our entire people and Army have joined hands and hearts to embark on the journey of national reconstruction, rejuvenation, building and development, as per Uncle Ho’s last wishes:
“My last desire is that our whole Party and people should stand in solidarity, striving to build a Viet Nam of peace, unity, independence, democracy and affluence, that would play a commensurate part in the international revolutionary cause”.
After fifty years of national reunification and nearly forty years of Doi Moi, Viet Nam has overcome a multitude of difficulties and challenges to achieve immense triumphs of historic significance, building for ourselves the fortune, the power, the international standing and prestige that we enjoy today. From a poor, backward country ravaged by war, under embargo and isolation, today Viet Nam has become a developing country approaching upper-middle income, that is deeply integrated into international politics, the global economy, and the civilization of humankind. We have assumed a multitude of international responsibilities and are playing an active role at various prominent international organizations and multilateral forums. National independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity are secure, and national interests guaranteed. Vietnam’s economy last year ranked 32nd globally in size, counting itself as one of the top 20 economies in terms of trade volume and investment attraction in the world. The people’s living standards have been markedly improved, and the poverty rate is on a sharp decline to 1.93% according to the multidimensional poverty standard, compared to 60% in 1986. Economic, political, cultural, social, scientific, technological, defense, and security capabilities have all been steadily enhanced. Vietnam has also further expanded its external ties and elevated its international standing and prestige. Vietnam today enjoys diplomatic relations with 194 members of the United Nations, and has established strategic and comprehensive strategic partnerships with all major powers in the world, including the United States, with whom this year we celebrate 30 years of diplomatic ties.
Dear compatriots, comrades, and guests,
Half a century has passed. With the remarkable achievements recorded, we are at the threshold of a new historic era of national advancement, “to stand side-by- side with the powers of the five continents”. To deliver on the aspiration of building a Vietnam “ten times greater than what it is now”, we must unleash all productive forces, mobilize all resources, build on the entirety of our nation’s potential, and strength of our country to drive robust socio-economic development. This year, we are setting our sight on an economic growth of 8% or higher, and a two-digit growth between 2026 and 2030. We are determined to successfully implement our strategic targets – to become a developing country with a modern industrial base and upper-middle income by 2030, and a socialist oriented developed, high-income country by 2045. We will focus on fully addressing bottlenecks and barriers in our developmental institutions, adjust economic and expand development spaces, step up decentralization and delegation of authority, allocate and combine economic resources, establish a new growth model driven mainly by science, technology, innovation and digital transformation to bring about a strong quantitative improvement in productivity, quality, effectiveness and competitiveness of the economy, and identify the private sector as a most important driver of the national economy. We will continue to break new ground in thinking and methods, generating new productive drivers, productive forces, and quality.
With our pride in the glorious history of our nation and our boundless appreciation for the contributions and sacrifices beyond words by our soldiers and compatriots across the whole country, we become all the more conscious of our responsibility to deliver on Uncle Ho’s teaching before his departure:
“Our Party must put in place a truly sound plan for economic and cultural development to continually improve the lives of our people”.
Taking good care of the people and ensuring ever better material and spiritual lives of the people, especially those living in remote areas, border and island localities, and former revolutionary and resistance bases, has always been a target to which the Party strives. We must focus on adopting just policy instruments for social progress, security, and welfare, and for those who have contributed to the revolution. Free primary and secondary education will be delivered, and determined efforts will be made on the program to put an end to temporary housing and slums across the country and build more social housing for low-income people. Healthcare and medical services for the people shall also be given due attention as we move towards free universal healthcare, so that all Vietnamese will truly enjoy a life of safety, security, freedom, wellbeing, and happiness.
Being fully aware of the immense and unparalleled power of the people and the great national unity, we must instill in ourselves a deep understanding of the view that “the people is the root”, the heart, the actor and the purpose of national construction, development and defense, and consistently act upon that notion. We will continue to implement the policy of national unity and reconciliation, mindful that we are all born of the blood of Lac Hong and are brothers and sisters: “trees of the same root, children of the same family,” so to speak. All Vietnamese are sons and daughters of this country. All are entitled to live, to work, to pursue their happiness and love on their home soil, as well as enjoy the right and have the responsibility to contribute to building the Fatherland. In the spirit of putting the past behind, respecting differences, and striving towards the future, the whole Party, people, and Army shall make every effort to build a Vietnam of peace, unity, happiness, prosperity, and development.
As a nation that has endured profound suffering and loss from the ravages of war, and as one that has reaped the great rewards of peace, cooperation, and friendship over recent decades, Viet Nam earnestly aspires to join the international community in building a future of peace, prosperity, solidarity, and sustainable development. Let us commit ourselves today to doing all that we can, with the hope of bequeathing to future generations not only a better world, but also a lasting legacy of trust, admiration, and pride in the sense of responsibility and wisdom demonstrated by our time.
We will continue to deepen our bonds of friendship and cooperation with nations of the world, and further advance the motto of “Viet Nam is a friend, a reliable partner, and an active and responsible member of the international community”.
We are committed to further innovating our policies and mechanisms to best facilitate the undertakings of international friends and the overseas Vietnamese community, of those who embrace the Vietnamese cultural identity, and of those who have matured and established themselves in developed countries, who are well-versed in professional and administrative know-hows and have an extensive international network to count on, so that they can be part of the socio-economic development drive in Viet Nam.
The celebration of fifty years since the liberation of the South and national reunification is also a historic moment for the entire Vietnamese nation, people from all walks of life, compatriots across various ethnicities and religions, Party members and all Vietnamese nationals both at home and abroad, to stand together millions as one in the common effort to build their Fatherland, as we strive for a strong, prosperous, progressive and happy Viet Nam.
In a world of increasingly complex and unpredictable developments, and as a nation having suffered so much losses and pain from past wars, we are deeply aware of the value of peace, independence, and freedom. As such, we must continue to strengthen and modernize Viet Nam’s national defense and security, and build an all-people national defense service for peace and self-defense in order to steadfastly defend the Fatherland “at an early stage” and “from afar” while “the country is yet in danger”. It is necessary to build and robustly marshal the defensive posture of the people’s heart, and consolidate the whole-of-people national defense and security posture. We shall focus on building a People’s Army and People’s Public Security Force that are revolutionary, regular, elite and modern, as the core force to firmly defend the Fatherland’s independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, as the “treasured sword and shield” to defend the Party, the State, the people, and the socialist policy, and as the perennial support for our people.
As we take pride in the glorious Party and the remarkable exploits that our Army and People had achieved under the Party’s leadership, we must redouble our efforts to build an untarnished, strong and well-rounded Party, so that it would truly be “moral and civilization” embodied, representing the intellect, honor and conscience of the nation and the time, and living up to the trust, the choice and the expectation of the people. We will, therefore, continue to innovate the method of leadership and governance of the Party, and enhance its combativeness, and successfully carry out the revolutionary streamlining of the political apparatus and administrative divisions, ensuring that said system would be compact, effective, and efficient in its operation. It is also necessary to refine mechanisms for power control, and resolutely combat corruption, extravagance, negativity, and bureaucratic inefficiency.
In addition, we will cultivate a pool of capable cadres at all levels, especially strategic-level officials and leaders with necessary qualities, and wisdom, who are driven and dedicated, and who dare to think, act, and take responsibility in the interest of our country and people.
Dear compatriots, comrades, and guests,
As we celebrate 50 years of the liberation of the South and national reunification, the International Workers’ Day, the 135th anniversary of the birth of President Ho Chi Minh and other important milestones this year, on behalf of the leaders of the Party, State, and the Viet Nam Fatherland Front, let me once again give my heartfelt gratitude to our compatriots and comrades as a whole, those who had selflessly sacrificed themselves for the Fatherland. And I thank you, the peace-loving people and friends, and progressive forces around the world, who have given your support and assistance to the people of Viet Nam in the struggle for national liberation in the past, and in our national construction and defense of today.
Let us build upon the spirit of the Great Victory of Spring 1975 and the values and triumphs over the past 40 years of Doi Moi. The entire Party, people, and Army shall make every effort to successfully fulfil the 2021-2025 Five-Year Socio-Economic Development Plan, and emulate one another to achieve greater successes to welcome the Party Congresses at all levels in the lead-up to the 14th National Party Congress. Endowed, as we are, by the will, intellect, and strength of Vietnam, we have brought about the Great Victory of Spring 1975. There is, then, no reason why we cannot reap greater triumphs and forge new miracles in the new era of prosperity, civilization and abundance, the era of national advancement, and transform Viet Nam into a “better and more magnificent country”, to stand side-by-side with the powers of the five continents, as per President Ho Chi Minh’s wish and the aspiration of our entire nation.
May the spirit of the Great Victory of Spring 1975 remain imperishable!
Long live the glorious Communist Party of Vietnam! Long live the Socialist Republic of Vietnam!
Glory eternal belongs to the people!
May President Ho Chi Minh forever live on in our cause!
Thank you