49 years of united country

Tanks of the 203rd Armored Brigade, 304th Division, 2nd Corps enter the Independence Palace, noon April 30, 1975.

The history of the country will forever be marked by the moment at 11:30 a.m. on April 30, 1975, when the revolutionary flag flew over the roof of the Independence Palace - the last stronghold of the Saigon government. From here, the South was completely liberated, and Vietnam was unified.

On April 25, 1976, the general election to elect the National Assembly was held nationwide with over 23 million voters (98.8% of the total number of voters) going to the polls. The National Assembly decided to name the country the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (from July 2, 1976). The national flag is the red flag with a yellow star, the national anthem is the Marching Song, and the national emblem is "Socialist Republic of Vietnam". The capital is Hanoi. Saigon City was renamed Ho Chi Minh City. The completion of the country's state reunification has created the basic political conditions to fully promote the country's development strength, creating favorable conditions for the whole country to move towards socialism, with great potential to defend the Fatherland and expand relations with countries around the world.

Through many ups and downs, with indomitable will, strong aspirations and concrete actions, Vietnam has created miracles in the 20th century, embellishing the heroic history of the nation. Especially in nearly 40 years of carrying out the country's renovation, despite countless difficulties and challenges, our entire Party, people and army have joined hands and unitedly achieved great achievements of historical significance.

In recent years, our country's economy has made great strides. The average GDP growth rate in the period 1990 - 2000 reached 7.5%; in the period 2006 - 2010 reached 7%. The scale of the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2010 reached 101.6 billion USD (3.26 times higher than in 2000).

In the period 2011 - 2020, the macro economy maintained solid stability, inflation was controlled and maintained at a low level, creating an environment and driving force for socio-economic development. The average GDP growth rate in the period 2011 - 2015 reached 5.9%/year; in the period 2016 - 2019 reached 6.8%/year. Vietnam became one of the fastest growing economies in the region and the IMF assessed Vietnam as being in the Top 20 economies contributing the most to global growth in 2019.

In recent years, our country's economy has made great strides.

In 2020 and 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic directly impacted all aspects of the economy, causing the Vietnamese economy to face unprecedented difficulties. However, with great efforts, Vietnam is still one of the few countries to maintain positive growth of 2.9% (in 2020) and 2.58% (in 2021) - these are great successes in the context of the pandemic.

In the past 2 years, with many solutions to overcome difficulties and restore the economy, Vietnam has achieved remarkable results. GDP in 2022 increased by 8.02% and reached the highest growth rate in the period 2011 - 2022. GDP growth in 2023 also reached over 5%, the economic scale was about 430 billion USD. This is a great effort in the context of a very difficult global situation, helping our country's economy to remain among the high-growth countries in the region and the world.

The Asian Development Outlook (ADO) report of April 2024 by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) forecasts that Vietnam's economy will grow by 6.0% in 2024 and 6.2% in 2025. The Observed Research Foundation said that Vietnam could become the fastest growing economy in Southeast Asia in 2024 and 2025.

Exports have also been an impressive highlight of Vietnam in recent years. Export turnover in 2023 reached 327.5 billion USD. Notably, the trade balance continued to record a trade surplus for the 8th consecutive year with a record surplus estimated at 28 billion USD, 2.3 times higher than in 2022.

Vietnam is increasingly becoming an attractive destination for foreign investors.

The country's transformation is also clearly shown from rural to urban areas, from transport infrastructure to entertainment services... Vietnam has become the world's leading country with the fastest growth rate in the number of mobile phone subscribers and the number of internet users as well as smart devices such as smartphones... Google's report assessed that Vietnam's digital economic growth rate is the fastest in Southeast Asia for 2 consecutive years (2022 reaching 28%, 2023 reaching 19%), 3.5 times higher than the GDP growth rate.

With economic growth and efforts to improve the investment and business environment, Vietnam is increasingly becoming an attractive destination for foreign investors. In 2023, the total registered foreign investment capital in Vietnam (FDI) reached nearly 36.61 billion USD, an increase of 32.1% compared to 2022. In particular, the implemented capital of foreign investment projects reached a record level - about 23.18 billion USD, an increase of 3.5% compared to 2022.

Along with economic development is socio-cultural development, improving the material and spiritual life of the people. Over the past years, Vietnam has focused on building culture and comprehensive human development. In particular, it pays attention to educating ethics, personality, creativity and core values, especially patriotism, national pride, national traditions and history, and social responsibility for all classes of people, especially the young generation; preserving and promoting the beautiful national cultural identity of the Vietnamese people...

Over the years, the national education system has been increasingly improved.

Regarding education, in recent years, the national education system has been increasingly improved in the direction of openness and connectivity between levels, qualifications and between education and training methods; the scale of education and the network of educational institutions have developed, better meeting the lifelong learning needs of the people; the whole country has completed universal education for 5-year-old children; the quality of universal primary and secondary education has been gradually improved. Vietnam has achieved many high achievements in international Olympic and Science and Technology competitions. In addition, the network of specialized schools in ethnic minority and mountainous areas continues to increase in scale; programs and policies to support education for children of poor households, ethnic minorities and disadvantaged areas have been effectively implemented.

Regarding health, Vietnam continues to achieve many achievements in health care for the people. The health network, especially the primary health care system, is increasingly consolidated and developed; many dangerous epidemics are controlled and pushed back; many new technologies are researched and effectively applied. Health indicators and average life expectancy are improved.

Vietnam continues to achieve many achievements in health care for its people.

Vietnam is also a world success story in poverty reduction. From a poor country, Vietnam has become a middle-income country, the poverty rate has dropped sharply from 57% in the early 1990s to 5.2% in 2020. Notably, the multidimensional poverty rate has decreased continuously and significantly from 18.1% in 2012 to 10.9% in 2016 and 4.4% in 2020. In 2023, the poverty rate nationwide will be 2.93%, down 1.1% compared to the end of 2022.

In addition, the work of ensuring social security and caring for the lives of workers, especially vulnerable groups and policy beneficiaries, continues to be promoted. Gender equality work is increasingly more substantial, the role and status of women are improved and raised.

According to the Global Gender Gap Report 2023 published by the World Economic Forum, Vietnam is currently ranked 72nd on this list with gender equality progress reaching 71.1%, up 11 places compared to its position in 2022. According to the World Happiness Report in March 2023 by the United Nations, Vietnam's Happiness Index has increased 12 places, from 77th to 65th in the global rankings.

Over the past decades, Vietnam's foreign relations with other countries, especially with important partners and neighboring countries, have been increasingly expanded, deepened, substantive and effective. To date, Vietnam has had official diplomatic relations with 193 countries and territories, including 7 comprehensive strategic partners. The National Assembly has relations with the parliaments and assemblies of over 140 countries. The Fatherland Front, unions and people's organizations have also carried out practical foreign relations with 1,200 people's organizations and foreign partners.

Vietnam's foreign relations with other countries, especially with important partners and neighboring countries, are increasingly expanded, deepened, substantive and effective.

In addition, Vietnam has trade relations with over 200 countries and territories, signed bilateral trade agreements with over 100 countries, including many new generation agreements. Economic diplomacy activities have made important contributions to promoting economic growth, import and export, attracting foreign direct investment (FDI)...

On the multilateral level, with its new position and strength, Vietnam is an active and responsible member of over 70 important international organizations and forums such as the United Nations, ASEAN, APEC, ASEM, WTO... Vietnam has also successfully organized many major international conferences and fulfilled many important international responsibilities as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, rotating ASEAN Chair, host of the ASEM Summit, APEC Summit, World Economic Forum on ASEAN...

Level 2 Field Hospital No. 4 with 51 officers and staff successfully completed international missions at the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in South Sudan.

Vietnam has sent hundreds of officers and soldiers to participate in the United Nations peacekeeping mission, demonstrating the image of a friendly, peace-loving, humane Vietnam, ready to join hands to solve problems facing the international community...

Looking back over the past 49 years, we are even more proud of the nation's glorious history as well as the tireless efforts of the entire Party, the entire army and the entire people to achieve the above achievements. These are important premises to help us continue to strive to create even greater and more brilliant achievements, bringing the country to further development and integration.