Speech by General Secretary To Lam at the Ceremony to Celebrate the 80th Anniversary of the Founding of the Vietnam People's Army and the 35th Anniversary of National Defense Day

On the morning of December 20, in Hanoi, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the National Assembly, the President, the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and the Central Military Commission - Ministry of National Defense solemnly held a national ceremony to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army (December 22, 1944 - December 22, 2024) and the 35th anniversary of the National Defense Day (December 22, 1989 - December 22, 2024). General Secretary To Lam, Secretary of the Central Military Commission attended and delivered an important speech. Ha Nam Newspaper respectfully introduces the full text of the speech.

Dear leaders, former leaders of the Party, State, Vietnam Fatherland Front; revolutionary veterans, Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, Heroes of the People's Armed Forces, Labor Heroes, generals, officers, cadres, soldiers of the People's Armed Forces, veterans, and international guests.

Dear delegates and all compatriots and soldiers nationwide.

Today, in an exciting and proud atmosphere, in the capital Hanoi - the heart of the whole country, the Central Executive Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the National Assembly, the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and the Central Military Commission - Ministry of National Defense solemnly organized the Ceremony to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army and the 35th anniversary of the National Defense Day. On behalf of the Party and State leaders, I respectfully send to the leaders and former leaders of the Party, State and Vietnam Fatherland Front; revolutionary veterans, Heroic Vietnamese Mothers, Heroes of the People's Armed Forces, Heroes of Labor; war invalids, sick soldiers, families of martyrs, people with meritorious services to the revolution; generals, officers, cadres and soldiers of the armed forces; veterans, distinguished guests, international friends, compatriots nationwide, and overseas Vietnamese my warmest sentiments and best wishes.

In this sacred and solemn moment, we respectfully remember and express our infinite gratitude to the great President Ho Chi Minh - the genius leader, teacher of the Vietnamese revolution, national liberation hero, world cultural celebrity, beloved Father of the people's armed forces.

We remember and pay our deepest gratitude to General Vo Nguyen Giap, a staunch revolutionary soldier, an excellent and close student of President Ho Chi Minh, an exceptionally talented Commander-in-Chief, the Elder Brother of the Vietnam People's Army; and our predecessors and heroes whose names are associated with glorious and proud victories of our nation.

We will forever remember and remember the millions of heroic martyrs, compatriots and comrades who fought bravely and sacrificed for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland, for the happiness of the People, for the eternal existence of the nation, for the noble international duty. We are grateful to the compatriots of the whole country who protected, sheltered and stood side by side with the Vietnam People's Army during the arduous historical journeys, sacrificing to achieve glorious and heroic feats.

We sincerely thank the people and armies of fraternal countries and international friends for their great assistance and close cooperation in the struggle for national liberation, national reunification, construction and defense of the socialist Vietnamese Fatherland.

Dear comrades and delegates,

In the first political platform when it was founded, our Party determined to "Organize a workers' and peasants' army". The Party's political platform (October 1930) clearly stated that the essential task of the bourgeois democratic revolution was to "Establish a workers' and peasants' army". From the Party's clear-sighted guidelines, a series of armed organizations were born one after another, effectively supporting the revolutionary struggle of the masses.

Following the Directive of President Ho Chi Minh, on December 22, 1944, the Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Army - the predecessor of the Vietnam People's Army was established. Immediately after its establishment, with its clever, daring, surprising, and brilliant fighting style, the Army destroyed Phai Khat and Na Ngan forts in the first two opening battles, opening the tradition of determination to fight and victory of the Vietnam People's Army. After only eight months, the Vietnam Liberation Army, together with local armed forces and the people of the whole country, carried out a General Uprising to seize power nationwide, successfully leading the August Revolution in 1945, seizing power for the people, establishing the Democratic Republic of Vietnam - the first people's democratic state in Southeast Asia, opening a new era in the history of the nation, the era of independence and freedom.

Under the leadership, education and training of our Party and President Ho Chi Minh; the nurturing, protection and shelter of the People, our Army has developed rapidly, continuously achieving outstanding feats. From the initial "senior army" with 34 soldiers, our Army has quickly developed into six infantry divisions, one artillery division and several main regiments, with hundreds of thousands of soldiers, continuously winning major campaigns, the peak of which was the Dien Bien Phu Victory, forcing the French colonialists to surrender. The army, which had just turned 10 years old, defeated a professional expeditionary army established in the 15th century. That affirmed the height of Vietnamese intelligence and Vietnamese military art, marking the remarkable development of the Vietnam People's Army.

Entering the period of building socialism in the North, creating a solid stronghold to carry out the people's national democratic revolution in the South; implementing the Party's policy: "actively building a strong people's army, gradually moving towards regularization and modernization", the Vietnam People's Army continued to have new steps of maturity, becoming a regular army, increasingly modern, including the Army, Navy, Air Defense - Air Force and the birth of main army corps, meeting the requirements of the mission of the extremely arduous, fierce and sacrificial resistance war against the US to save the country of our people.

Promoting revolutionary heroism to the fullest, our Army fought steadfastly and bravely, together with the entire people, defeating the enemy's war strategies one after another, writing golden pages of history with brilliant feats of arms. These were the victories of Ap Bac, Binh Gia, Dong Xoai, Ba Gia, Nui Thanh, Van Tuong, Pleime... the victory of the General Offensive and Uprising in the Spring of Mau Than 1968, the victory of Route 9-Southern Laos, the victory of "Hanoi - Dien Bien Phu in the air", the great victory of Spring 1975, the peak of which was the lightning-fast offensive in the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign, completely liberating the South, reunifying the Fatherland, bringing the country into a new era - the era of peace, independence, freedom, the whole country moving towards socialism.

Entering the period of national construction and defense, the Army strives together with the people of the whole country to overcome the consequences, heal the wounds of war, develop the economy, culture, society, and fight steadfastly to maintain every inch of the sacred land of the Fatherland and fulfill its noble international obligations. In this new period, the Army has always performed well the function of "fighting army - working army - production labor army", making worthy contributions to the great and historic achievements of the Vietnamese revolution. Throughout its history, the Army has always upheld the spirit of revolutionary vigilance, acting as the core with the entire people to protect independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, protect the Party, protect the Government, protect the People and the socialist regime, protect the cause of innovation, maintain, consolidate and enhance the peaceful environment for national construction and development, contributing to maintaining peace and stability in the region and around the world.

As a political force, a fighting force absolutely loyal and trustworthy to the Party, State and People, the Army always attaches importance to building a strong political force, regularly innovating, improving the quality of training, combat readiness; strengthening the training of organizational discipline, building a clean, healthy and rich military cultural environment; actively working in production, participating in economic, cultural and social development associated with ensuring national defense and security, especially in strategic areas, difficult areas, borders and islands.

As an army born from the people, fighting for the people, serving the people, and closely attached to the people, the Army always shares the hardships with the people at all times and in all places; as the main force, the vanguard in preventing, combating, and overcoming the consequences of natural disasters and epidemics, and in search and rescue, the army is always present in key and dangerous places to protect the lives and property of the people, truly a solid "support" for the people in times of danger and hardship. Many officers and soldiers have heroically sacrificed in the fight against natural disasters and epidemics, further illuminating the noble qualities of "Uncle Ho's soldiers" in the new era.

In recent years, closely following and seriously and effectively implementing the Party's military and defense guidelines in the new period, the Army has resolutely adjusted its force organization in the direction of streamlining and strengthening, creating a solid foundation for building a revolutionary, disciplined, elite, and modern People's Army. The defense industry has made new developments, mastering manufacturing technology, successfully producing many types of new, modern weapons and technical equipment, many dual-use products, contributing to the modernization of the Army, actively contributing to the cause of industrialization and modernization of the country. International integration and defense diplomacy have been proactively, flexibly, and creatively implemented, achieving comprehensive results on both bilateral and multilateral levels; Actively and effectively participate in United Nations peacekeeping operations, joint training and exercises on humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, international cooperation in overcoming the consequences of war, contributing to enhancing the position and prestige of the Army and the country in the international arena and protecting the Fatherland early and from afar.

Under the direct education and training of the Communist Party of Vietnam and beloved President Ho Chi Minh; the protection, care and nurturing of the People; the valuable help of international friends; the efforts and heroic sacrifices of generations of cadres and soldiers, our Army has grown stronger and stronger, capable of fighting in strategic spaces and new forms of warfare; has increasingly modern weapons, equipment and technical means; is well-trained in techniques, proficient in tactics and campaigns, and good at strategy; inherits and develops the unique military art of our ancestors; has comprehensive strength and high level of combat readiness, building a glorious tradition, worthy of President Ho Chi Minh's praise: "Our army is loyal to the Party, filial to the people, ready to fight and sacrifice for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland, for socialism. Every task is completed, every difficulty is overcome, every enemy is defeated"; is the heroic army of the heroic Vietnamese nation, the pride of the Party, State, Vietnamese people and people who love peace, freedom and justice all over the world.

With its outstanding achievements and feats in 80 years of building, fighting, winning and growing, the Vietnam People's Army has been honored by the Party and State with 5 Gold Star Orders, 1 First Class Military Exploit Order, 2 First Class Labor Orders and many other noble awards. On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of its founding, the Vietnam People's Army was honored to be awarded the Ho Chi Minh Order - a noble award, demonstrating the recognition of the Party, State and People for the long tradition, great contributions and outstanding achievements of our Army in the revolutionary cause of the Party and the nation. However, the most noble award for our Army is to be loved, respected, proud and affectionately called by the people with the title "Soldier of the People", "Uncle Ho's Soldiers".

Dear delegates, compatriots and soldiers nationwide!

The precious experience and tradition of our ancestors in fighting to defend the country and the line of all-people, comprehensive, long-term resistance continued to be inherited, promoted and gradually perfected in the period of national construction, innovation and protection of the Fatherland; with a deep awareness of the unparalleled strength of the all-people national defense and in accordance with the aspirations of the people, on October 17, 1989, the Secretariat of the 6th Party Central Committee issued a Directive deciding to take December 22 - the founding day of the Vietnam People's Army and at the same time the National Defense Day. From now on, December 22 every year is not only an occasion to review the glorious tradition, honor the feats and outstanding achievements of the Vietnam People's Army, but also a festival to demonstrate the strength of great national unity in the cause of strengthening national defense and protecting the Fatherland. The 35 years of organizing the National Defense Day have directly contributed to raising awareness and responsibility of the entire people for the task of protecting the sacred Fatherland; fostering patriotism, national pride and self-respect; consolidating the great national unity bloc; mobilizing the people of the whole country to actively support human and material resources for the national defense; building and strongly promoting the "people's hearts position", creating a solid "Great Wall" in the cause of building and defending the socialist Vietnamese Fatherland.

With the highest goal of building a peaceful, prosperous, civilized and prosperous country and joining hands to build a peaceful world without war, where people can live in independence, freedom, prosperity and happiness. Vietnam consistently advocates resolving all disputes and disagreements by peaceful means on the basis of international law; respecting the independence, sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity and internal affairs of all countries; not participating in military alliances, not allying with one country to fight against another, not allowing foreign countries to set up military bases or use Vietnamese territory to fight against other countries; not using force or threatening to use force in international relations.

Dear comrades, compatriots and distinguished guests!

In the new revolutionary period, the prerequisite for the People's Army to continue to excellently fulfill all tasks, together with the entire Party, the entire people and the entire army to create new miracles in building and defending the socialist Fatherland of Vietnam is to maintain and strengthen the absolute and direct leadership in all aspects of the Party, the centralized and unified management and administration of the State over the People's Army and the cause of consolidating national defense and security; constantly promote the strength of great national unity. Firmly adhere to the goal of national independence and socialism, firmly adhere to the line of all-people national defense and people's war, strive to build all-people national defense associated with people's security, the all-people national defense posture associated with the people's security posture and a solid "people's hearts posture"; closely combine national strength in the spirit of "self-reliance, self-confidence, self-reliance, self-strengthening, national pride" with the strength of the times, the sympathy, support and cooperation for development of international friends.

Along with maximizing the combined strength for the cause of building and defending the Fatherland, we need to build a revolutionary, disciplined, elite, and modern People's Army; politically strong, absolutely loyal to the Fatherland, the Party, the State, and the People, steadfast in the Party's ideal goals; have a lean, strong, and compact force organization according to the motto "people first, guns later", especially attaching importance to building and promoting the human factor, first of all the political and spiritual factor; paying attention to attracting and training talents and high-quality human resources; constantly promoting the glorious tradition and noble qualities of "Uncle Ho's Soldiers" and developing Vietnam's unique military art; Ensure that officers and soldiers of the Army dare to fight, know how to fight and are determined to defeat all forms of aggressive war, especially new forms of war, effectively respond to non-traditional security challenges as well as master new strategic spaces, firmly protect the socialist Fatherland of Vietnam in all situations. Continue to promote international integration and defense diplomacy, actively participate in United Nations peacekeeping activities, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, contribute to spreading the beautiful image of "Uncle Ho's soldiers" in the hearts of international friends, promote the trend of peace, prevent and resolve the risk of war and conflict, maintain a peaceful and stable environment to build and develop the country, protect the Fatherland early, from afar, and defend the country when it is not yet in danger.

Dear delegates, compatriots and soldiers nationwide!

Reviewing the glorious tradition of 80 years of building, fighting, winning and growing, we are even more proud of the Vietnam People's Army - a heroic Army of a heroic nation; a political force, a fighting force absolutely loyal and trustworthy to the Party, State and People; an army that has fought and won hundreds of battles, together with the People, has achieved countless glorious feats; is always ready to fight and sacrifice for the Party's ideal goals, for the happiness of the People. To firmly enter the era of prosperity, prosperity and development with the whole country, the Party, State and People believe that the Vietnam People's Army will continuously promote its glorious tradition, continue to achieve outstanding feats, together with the entire Party and people firmly protect our beloved socialist Fatherland of Vietnam.

On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Traditional Day of the Vietnam People's Army and the upcoming New Year 2025, I would like to wish the leaders and former leaders of the Party, State, and Vietnam Fatherland Front; revolutionary veterans, Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, Heroes of the People's Armed Forces, and Labor Heroes; generals, officers, cadres, and soldiers of the People's Armed Forces, veterans, international friends, and delegates, distinguished guests, compatriots, and comrades good health, happiness, and success.

Thank you very much!

Source: https://baohanam.com.vn/chinh-tri/dien-van-cua-tong-bi-thu-to-lam-tai-le-ky-niem-80-nam-ngay-thanh-lap-quan-doi-nhan-dan-viet-nam-va-35-nam-ngay-hoi-quoc-phong-toan-dan-142411.html