Continuing the epic of Dien Bien Phu in the new era

The Dien Bien Phu victory is an immortal heroic epic in the history of the Vietnamese people's struggle against foreign invaders. The heroic spirit of Dien Bien Phu and the immortal spirit of Dien Bien Phu have become the heroic spirit of the country, deeply permeating the nation's veins, becoming the driving force and adding strength to urge future generations to aspire to continue writing the Dien Bien Phu epic in the new era...

Continuing the epic of Dien Bien Phu in the new era The immortal Dien Bien Phu spirit is the source of strength. (In the photo: The event "Meeting and paying tribute to Dien Bien soldiers, youth volunteers, and frontline laborers who directly participated in the Dien Bien Phu campaign", held in Thanh Hoa in April 2024).

The Dien Bien Phu victory has made the two words Vietnam become a shining symbol of the truth “Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom”; at the same time, it is a testament to the historical law: “A nation determined to fight for freedom and trained by soldiers who have been educated and led according to scientific principles that have been confirmed by reality, is a nation that no force can defeat”! As Major Mota, the Venezuelan Military Delegation who visited Vietnam on January 20, 1964, said about Vietnam that “this country has become miraculous”. “We have seen the whole process of struggle, the process of organization, the sacrifices and the correct application of both strategic and tactical methods in a liberation struggle. The spirit of resistance, the great courage and the extraordinary perseverance are the solid foundations for a firm political viewpoint and a correct viewpoint of war, when knowing how to combine all the forces and resources of the country with a comprehensive mobilization. All this heroic process is the only method that reached its peak in the Dien Bien Phu campaign. That is demonstrated by the organic connection, the spirit of solidarity of the whole country and the promise to make the Fatherland prosperous and happy. Because the victory achieved has made this country a miracle, a hero in Southeast Asia, a shining example for humanity and for all the peoples who are struggling for their freedom and sovereignty”.

Although we love peace and never want war, for thousands of years, the Vietnamese people have been forced to take up guns, swords, and sticks to fight against the enemy. After all, driving foreign forces out of our country is the first step to realizing our ancestors' aspiration of "a thousand-year-old golden homeland". In other words, fighting for peace, independence, and freedom is also to fulfill the "promise to make the Fatherland prosperous and happy". The glorious Dien Bien Phu victory, the heroic spirit of Dien Bien Phu, the immortal spirit of Dien Bien Phu. That is the heroic spirit of the country that has permeated deeply into the nation's veins, becoming the fulcrum and driving force for Vietnam to confidently step on the path of building a rich and strong country, a happy and prosperous people.

It is an honor and pride that at each special milestone of the nation's history, or through each revolutionary period, Thanh Hoa has left a strong mark, with very important contributions. Only 2 months after issuing the "Call for National Resistance", on February 20, 1947, President Ho Chi Minh visited Thanh Hoa. In his speech to the intellectual and wealthy delegates in the province, he advised: "A model province must not only be a model in one aspect but in many aspects; resistance in all aspects, construction in all aspects. In my opinion, Thanh Hoa province must definitely become a model province, because it has a large population, large land, and a lot of wealth, but it only lacks control and arrangement. If there is land, we must plow to get rice, if there is people, we must distribute it."

In the extremely difficult context of the early days of the national resistance war, Uncle Ho still had great faith in the construction of Thanh Hoa province. And then, not letting down his trust, in the long and arduous resistance war against French colonialism, Thanh Hoa province always adhered to the policy of all-people, comprehensive resistance, self-reliance, both resistance and national construction, to strive to compete in labor production, develop the economy, and become a great rear base for the battlefields. In particular, Thanh Hoa mobilized the highest human and material resources for the Dien Bien Phu campaign. Thanh Hoa's important contribution contributed to the Dien Bien Phu victory and was praised by President Ho Chi Minh: "Now, wherever the Vietnamese language goes, the Dien Bien Phu language goes there. Wherever the Dien Bien Phu language goes, the Thanh Hoa people also have a part of the honor"!

Exactly 7 decades have passed since bombs and bullets plowed the Muong Thanh fields and blood and fire changed the color of a section of the Nam Rom River. That is also the time when the country continues to face existential challenges that determine the survival of the nation. However, the spirit and determination to fight and win at Dien Bien Phu, like a pure source, has penetrated deeply to cool the dry and rocky areas, turning pain into the strength to rise up to create seemingly unimaginable miracles: That is the victory of "Hanoi - Dien Bien Phu in the air" in 1972; the historic Ho Chi Minh campaign in 1975, completely liberating the South, unifying the country; the achievement of nearly 40 years of national renovation that has brought the nation's foundation and position to a new height...

Together with the whole country, Thanh Hoa has become both a great rear base and a "fire-bearer" for the southern battlefield. After the country's liberation, Thanh Hoa also entered a difficult and challenging period of construction and innovation. However, with the spirit of patriotism and solidarity being highly promoted; along with the courage, intelligence, creativity, determination and tireless efforts to overcome difficulties of the Party Committee, government and people of all ethnic groups in the province, Thanh Hoa has made many important breakthroughs, with outstanding marks in all fields. The economy has grown strongly, the quality of growth has been improved. The average growth rate of gross domestic product in the area in the period of 2021-2023 reached 9.69%. The scale of the economy in 2023 reached 279,074 billion VND, 1.5 times higher than in 2020. State budget revenue always exceeded estimates; the revenue growth rate in the period of 2021-2023 reached 11.3%. In particular, in 2022 alone, it reached 51,138 billion VND, the first year the province's budget revenue exceeded 51,000 billion VND, 1.62 times higher than in 2020. Average income per capita in 2023 reached 3,144 USD, 1.42 times higher than in 2020... Social security is guaranteed, people's lives are improved. The poverty rate (according to the poverty standard for the period 2022-2025) in 2023 decreased to 3.52%; many poor households and vulnerable groups are cared for in terms of housing, employment, and income in line with the spirit of "Leaving no one behind"... Politics are stable; national defense - security, social order and safety are maintained. The work of building and rectifying the Party and the political system has achieved many important results; solidarity and unity within the Party and among the People is strengthened...

With a glorious historical tradition, rich culture and holding many potentials and advantages for development, the Politburo issued Resolution No. 58-NQ/TW on building and developing Thanh Hoa province until 2030, with a vision to 2045, which sets the goal: "By 2025, Thanh Hoa will be among the leading provinces in the country - a new growth pole, together with Hanoi, Hai Phong and Quang Ninh to form a development quadrangle in the North of the country; by 2030, it will become an industrial province in a modern direction". Resolution No. 58-NQ/TW and specific mechanisms and policies of the Central Government are identified as opportunities and advantages for Thanh Hoa to continue to make breakthroughs in development in the coming time. At the same time, on the basis of clearly understanding the new difficulties and challenges that are arising and especially promoting the spirit of Dien Bien Phu victory, Thanh Hoa has been and is continuing to thoroughly grasp the viewpoints and policies of our Party and State on building and protecting the Fatherland in the new situation. That is to strengthen national defense and security, build a strong and comprehensive national defense, creating a solid foundation to protect the Fatherland "early and from afar". At the same time, pay attention to building a united and strong Party organization in terms of politics, ideology, ethics, organization and cadres; the focus is on building and rectifying the Party, preventing and repelling the degradation of political ideology, ethics, lifestyle, manifestations of "self-evolution" and "self-transformation" in cadres, party members and the people. Along with that, linking economic development with cultural development and implementing social progress and justice...

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Our Party believes that in the coming years, the world and regional situation will continue to have many rapid, complex and unpredictable changes. That requires the entire Party, the entire people and the entire army to constantly raise revolutionary vigilance, promote internal strength and the great national unity bloc, in order to create great internal strength, to continue writing the heroic epic of Dien Bien Phu in the new era. As General Vo Nguyen Giap pointed out: “New opportunities are coming to us, along with new challenges. We must strengthen our solidarity, move forward under the Party's victorious flag, turning dreams and ambitions that seem impossible into reality. At the same time, we must always firmly grasp the law of nation building and nation preservation, both successfully building a rich and strong country and firmly protecting our beloved Vietnam. The revolutionary path, the path to happiness is still long, but we have the premises for victory. “National independence, democracy and socialism”, “love for the people, love for humanity never changes”, “pursuing happiness for the people”, “having the people means having everything”, “unity, unity, great unity”, these are the things in the legacy that he left for the nation: Ho Chi Minh Thought”!

Article and photos: Khoi Nguyen

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