The Vietnam People's Army is loyal, proactive, and trusted by the Party.

On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army, VNA respectfully introduces an article by Ms. Bui Thi Minh Hoai, Politburo member and Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee.

At TB1 shooting range (Bac Giang), the Air Defense - Air Force Service organized a live-fire tactical exercise of the air defense force in 2024, with the participation of 6 air defense divisions. (Photo: An Dang/VNA)

The 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army is an opportunity for every cadre, party member and citizen of the capital to look back at the glorious history of the Party, the army and the people to be more proud of the Party and the great Uncle Ho, of the heroic Vietnam People's Army; thereby adding motivation, constantly uniting, striving, joining hands and hearts, upholding the spirit of exemplary leadership, together bringing the country firmly into a new era - the era of national growth as directed by the Central Committee and General Secretary To Lam. On this occasion, Vietnam News Agency respectfully introduces an article by Ms. Bui Thi Minh Hoai, Politburo member, Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Hanoi.

The profound humanity of "Uncle Ho's soldiers"

Since its inception, the Communist Party of Vietnam has affirmed that the path of struggle for class liberation and national liberation is to use revolutionary violence to seize power and required "Organizing a worker-peasant army" to serve as the core for the entire people to carry out the revolutionary struggle. On December 22, 1944, the Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Army - the first main force, the predecessor of the Vietnam People's Army, was established. With the nature of the working class, deep national character and people's character with the noble qualities of "Uncle Ho's soldiers", over the past 80 years, the Vietnam People's Army has truly been a revolutionary army born from the people, fighting for the people; always a special political force, an absolutely loyal, trustworthy and proud fighting force of the Party, State and people.

On December 22, 1944, the Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Army (the predecessor of the Vietnam People's Army) was established in Cao Bang. After its establishment, the team marched and won resounding victories in two battles, opening the tradition of winning the first battle and winning the battle as soon as it marched for our army. (Photo: VNA documents)

80 years ago, on December 22, 1944, in the forest between Hoang Hoa Tham and Tran Hung Dao communes in Nguyen Binh district, Cao Bang province (now Na Sang hamlet, Tam Kim commune, Nguyen Binh district, Cao Bang province), the Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Army - the predecessor of the Vietnam People's Army was established. In the Directive on this important revolutionary task, Leader Ho Chi Minh clearly stated: "The name of the Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Army means that politics is more important than military. It is a propaganda team." He also entrusted: "The Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Army is a senior army, hoping that there will soon be other junior teams. Although its scale was small at first, its future is very glorious. It is the starting point of the liberation army, it can go from the South to the North, throughout Vietnam." The Directive shows the wise leadership and vision of the Party and great Uncle Ho. Comrade Vo Nguyen Giap was authorized by the Party Central Committee and President Ho Chi Minh to organize, lead, command, and declare the establishment of the Team, consisting of 34 people, organized into 3 squads with Comrade Hoang Sam as Team Leader, Comrade Xich Thang as Political Commissar, and led by the Party cell. With such great historical significance, December 22, 1944 became the Founding Day, the Traditional Day of the Vietnam People's Army; marking the birth and development of the Vietnamese revolutionary armed forces; at the same time, affirming the correct and creative application of Marxism-Leninism on building a new-style army of the working class by the Party and President Ho Chi Minh to the revolutionary practice in Vietnam. Just a few days after its establishment, on the afternoon of December 25, 1944, the Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Army Team cleverly, boldly, and suddenly broke into Phai Khat post and the next morning continued to break into Na Ngan post (both located in Nguyen Binh district, Cao Bang province), killing two post commanders, capturing all enemy soldiers, and seizing weapons, military uniforms, and military equipment. The victory at Phai Khat and Na Ngan opened the golden pages of history for the Vietnam People's Army. Growing rapidly in both politics and combat, our army, together with the entire people, successfully carried out the August Revolution in 1945.

In the resistance war against French colonialism, with the spirit of “Determination to die for the survival of the Fatherland,” the Vietnam People’s Army won a resounding victory, the pinnacle of which was the Dien Bien Phu Victory “famous in five continents, shaking the earth.” In the resistance war against the US to save the country, generations of cadres and soldiers of the Vietnam People’s Army overcame countless difficulties, hardships, and sacrifices, achieving many feats of arms, creating the historic great victory in the spring of 1975, the pinnacle of which was the Ho Chi Minh Campaign, completing the cause of national liberation and national reunification. After liberation, our army, together with the people, overcame all difficulties and shortages, continued to carry out two wars against invaders at the northern and southwestern borders of the Fatherland, firmly protecting the national independence and territorial integrity of the Fatherland; at the same time, fulfilling the noble international duty, helping our friendly country Cambodia escape genocide, and was affectionately called the “Buddhist Army” by the leaders and people of our friendly country. From an insurgent armed force, our Army has become a revolutionary, regular, elite, and gradually modernized people's army. The comprehensive development in the quality of the team, the equipment of modern weapons and techniques, along with the strengthening of international cooperation and active participation in peacekeeping activities of the United Nations, has contributed to raising the position of the Vietnam People's Army to a new height. Closely attached to the people, actively participating in community activities, the Vietnam People's Army always affirms its core role in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland; continuing to promote the heroic tradition, constantly improving the overall quality, strength, level, combat readiness, performing well the functions of a combat army, a working army, a production labor army, further enhancing the noble quality of "Uncle Ho's soldiers" who are always the reliable and solid support of the Party, the State and the people.

Shock force on all fronts

In the 80 years of glorious history of the Vietnam People's Army, generations of cadres and soldiers of the Capital's armed forces have proudly played a role and made great contributions. Before and during the August Revolution in 1945, the predecessors of the Capital's armed forces such as the Viet Minh Honor Guard, the Hoang Dieu Citadel Propaganda Volunteer Youth Union, the Hoang Dieu National Salvation Self-Defense Force... were born one after another, becoming shock troops, acting as the core to promote armed struggle, together with the people, seizing the opportunity to rise up in revolt, seize power, contributing to the decisive victory of the August Revolution in 1945, establishing the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. During the resistance war against France, against the US and the border protection battles, the image of the Capital's soldiers always shone brightly and became a common symbol for the determination to fight and win of our Army. That is the image of the Capital's suicide soldiers hugging a three-pronged bomb with the spirit of "Determined to die for the Fatherland to live." That is the image of the Capital Regiment soldiers saying goodbye to Hanoi after the extremely heroic 60-day and night battle in 1946 that opened the long-term resistance war against the French, "The first to leave did not look back/ Behind the sunny porch, leaves fell all over"; so that on October 10, 1954, they returned in the brilliant forest of flags and flowers of their compatriots welcoming the victorious army back. Those are the children of the Capital "putting down their pens and going to battle," together "cutting across Truong Son to save the country/ With their hearts full of hope for the future." That is the image of the Capital soldiers steadfastly on the artillery tray, spreading nets of fire to twist the necks of the "Thunder God" and "Ghost" B-52s of the American invaders, creating the miracle of "Hanoi-Dien Bien Phu in the air."

The soldiers of the 3rd Company of the X anti-aircraft artillery group protecting the capital were intelligent and brave, fired promptly and accurately, and contributed to shooting down many American planes. (Photo: VNA file)

During the renovation period, the armed forces of the Capital Command have always been exemplary in taking the lead in building the force and excellently completing all assigned tasks. The armed forces of the Capital have been honored by the Party and the State with the following awards: 1 Gold Star Order; 3 Ho Chi Minh Orders; 5 Military Exploit Orders; 5 War Exploit Orders; 06 Fatherland Protection Orders; 3 times being recognized as "Heroic Unit of the People's Armed Forces" in the resistance war against French colonialism, American imperialism and the renovation period, along with many other noble awards. Promoting the glorious tradition, in recent years, the armed forces of the Capital have continued to grow and develop comprehensively, making important contributions to the overall achievements of the Vietnam People's Army, the Party Committee, the government and the people of the Capital. The Hanoi Capital Command has closely followed the leadership and direction of the Central Military Commission, the Ministry of National Defense, the City Party Committee and the City People's Committee, concretizing the "Strategy for protecting the Fatherland in the new situation," focusing on completing well the targets and tasks according to the plan and unexpected tasks; advising on the good implementation of programs and projects on military and defense tasks in the city; strictly maintaining combat readiness, ensuring absolute safety for important political targets and events (about 2,000 events/year); coordinating the mobilization of resources to build and enhance the potential of the city's defense area; accelerating the implementation of the goals of the Hanoi Party Committee's National Defense and Security Program. In difficult circumstances such as natural disasters and epidemics, the image of the officers and soldiers of the Capital's armed forces, the "Uncle Ho's soldiers" in peacetime, has always been a reliable support for the people of the Capital. When the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, with the spirit of "fighting the epidemic like fighting the enemy," officers and soldiers of the Capital Armed Forces did not hesitate to face difficulties, hardships, and risks of infection, always being the core force, taking the lead on the front line, working with all levels and sectors to actively prevent and fight the epidemic, protecting the health and lives of the people. Right in the days when Hanoi responded to storm No. 3 (Yagi) and the recent record floods, officers and soldiers of the Capital Armed Forces were the core force to evacuate 27,000 people to safety, being present in vulnerable areas to help protect people's lives and property, minimizing damage; joining hands with the entire political system and people to overcome the consequences. In 2024, the Capital Armed Forces successfully completed the Hanoi City Defense Area Exercise (HN-24), thereby improving the level of command organization and coordination of the armed forces; Continue to supplement, adjust, build and perfect combat plans, proactively handle situations that arise, avoid being passive or surprised, contribute to maintaining political stability, social order and safety in the city, create a favorable environment to promote socio-economic development in the period of expanding global international cooperation; create new position and strength for the Capital in the process of integration and development.

The heavy tasks ahead

In the coming time, the world and regional situation is forecast to continue to develop complicatedly, with many potential difficulties and challenges. Wars, conflicts, “color revolutions,” terrorism, and territorial disputes are taking place in many places, and disputes over territorial sovereignty and seas and islands continue to threaten the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country. Hostile and reactionary forces are stepping up the implementation of the strategy of “peaceful evolution,” violent overthrow, promoting “self-evolution,” “self-transformation” within the Party, demanding “depoliticization” of the armed forces, and eliminating the leadership role of the Party and the regime in our country. The task of protecting independence, sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity, protecting the Party, the State, the people, and the socialist regime is very heavy. Meanwhile, Hanoi continues to be a key area of ​​sabotage by hostile and reactionary forces. 2025 is also a year of special importance, the last year of decisive significance in completing the socio-economic development targets of the entire 2021-2025 term, the year of holding Party Congresses at all levels, towards the 14th National Party Congress. The tasks are very heavy, the workload is increasingly large, requiring the participation of the entire political system and the people, including the vanguard and leading role of the cadres and soldiers of the Capital's armed forces. Faced with such political requirements and tasks, the Party Committee and people of the Capital always have full trust and expectation in the cadres and soldiers of the Capital's armed forces to continue to promote the heroic tradition, the qualities of "Uncle Ho's soldiers" and the cultural beauty of "Capital soldiers", thoroughly grasp and skillfully apply the lessons of our ancestors "Building the country goes hand in hand with defending the country", "Defending the country when the country is not yet in danger"; continue to implement military and defense viewpoints and guidelines in the spirit of the 13th Party Congress Resolution, the 8th Central Resolution (11th and 13th tenures) on "Homeland Protection Strategy in the new situation"; Resolution No. 28-NQ/TW dated September 22, 2008 of the Politburo (10th tenure) on "Continuing to build provinces and centrally-run cities into strong defense zones in the new situation"; strengthen leadership and direction of military and defense tasks, build defense zones, link socio-economic development with strengthening national defense and security, especially building a "solid people's position"; strive to successfully complete the socio-economic, defense and security targets set for the 2020-2025 term. Continue to effectively implement and complete the targets in Program No. 09-CTr/TU dated March 17, 2021 of the Hanoi Party Committee (17th tenure) on "Strengthening national defense and security potential, maintaining political security and social order and safety in the city for the period 2021-2025"; in the immediate future, complete 100% of the mobilization and recruitment targets in 2025. Successfully organize the Party Congress of the Capital Command; participate in organizing and ensuring absolute safety for political events of the Party, State and City taking place in the area, especially political events, Central Committee meetings, National Assembly meetings, Party congresses at all levels, the 18th City Party Congress, towards the 14th National Congress of the Party.

Officers, soldiers, functional forces and people reinforce the dike of the Tich River in Liep Mai village, Ngoc Liep commune, Quoc Oai district (Hanoi). (Photo: Vu Sinh/VNA)

Each agency, unit and each officer and soldier of the Capital's armed forces need to strive constantly, excellently complete all assigned tasks, contribute to building a comprehensively strong Capital's armed forces with high overall quality and combat power; organize a streamlined, mobile, disciplined, disciplined force with increasingly modern equipment; build a strong, widespread Militia and Self-Defense Force, a large and increasingly high-quality reserve force; strengthen national defense and security potential; build and strongly promote the "people's heart position" in the national defense and people's security, improve the quality of construction and operation of defense zones. Party committees at all levels and agencies and units of the Capital Command continue to promote the Emulation Movement for Victory, local patriotic emulation movements, campaigns at all levels and sectors, in conjunction with promoting the study and following of Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and lifestyle, thoroughly grasping and seriously implementing the work of building and rectifying the Party and the political system; attaching importance to political and ideological education and traditions so that cadres and soldiers have steadfast political will, pure moral qualities, absolute loyalty to the Party, the Fatherland and the People, ready to receive and excellently complete all assigned tasks, always being a solid and trustworthy support, a source of pride for the Party Committee, the government and the people of the Capital./.