80 years of Party's will, people's heart

On September 2, 1945 , at Ba Dinh Square, President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence, solemnly announcing the birth of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. That moment not only gave birth to an independent state but also positioned Vietnam as an equal political legal entity in the international arena, opening the foundation of national legal thinking in foreign relations and protecting sovereignty.

The 1945 Declaration of Independence not only affirmed the birth of a new nation, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, but also marked the official appearance of Vietnam on the international legal map, as a sovereign , equal and legitimate subject.

President Ho Chi Minh affirmed: Vietnam has the right to enjoy freedom and independence. That is a historical stamp, the journey of losing the country has ended, opening a new era, an era of independence, freedom, happiness and becoming the standard of all policies and guidelines; is the national name, is a political promise to the People.

The Declaration of Independence in 1945 affirmed the truth that our country had truly gained freedom and independence. We are determined to use our lives, spirit, and material wealth to protect that independence.

Independence is first of all the right to self-determination of the nation's destiny: self-choosing the path of development, self-organizing the apparatus, self-planning foreign relations on the basis of equality; at the same time maintaining territorial integrity, protecting institutions, and preserving identity.

Freedom is the living content of independence. The Declaration is based on human rights: respect for dignity, protection of basic rights, creating conditions for each citizen to develop capacity and initiative. Freedom is not only "freedom from oppression" but also the ability to create: freedom of thought, academia, business within the framework of the law; freedom to participate in state and social management. Therefore, freedom is both a value and a method for the independent push to transform into national resilience.

Happiness is the destination, the criterion to quantify the results of independence and freedom. Happiness does not stop at emotions; it is the quality of life guaranteed by the rule of law, social security, justice, culture, and a peaceful environment.

When the “State of the people, by the people, for the people” operates effectively; when procedures are streamlined and laws are strict; when development opportunities are wide open, happiness becomes the daily experience of the people.

Prof. Dr. Vu Minh Giang, Vice President of the Vietnam Historical Science Association, analyzed: The greatest significance of the Declaration is the declaration to the world about the rebirth of a nation, a people. President Ho Chi Minh firmly affirmed that: Vietnam has the right to enjoy freedom and independence. And the truth has become a free and independent country.

From that foundation, the principle of Party's will - People's heart is institutionalized: People are the center, subject, goal and driving force; all guidelines, lines and policies are directed towards the legitimate interests of the People. The motto: people know, people discuss, people do, people check, supervise, people enjoy is the cycle that ensures independence - freedom crystallizes into happiness. Along with that is the responsibility of setting an example for cadres and Party members: words go hand in hand with actions; discipline goes hand in hand with humanity.

Ba Dinh Square is therefore a symbolic space of the nation: a place to engrave the oath to preserve independence, expand freedom, develop the economy associated with progress and social justice; strengthen national defense and security; proactively and actively integrate internationally for peace, cooperation and development.

Looking back 80 years, the value of the Declaration of Independence is not outdated. Each generation has a different way of implementing it, but the core values remain the same: independence - freedom - happiness. If independence is the condition, freedom is the space and happiness is the measure, then today's oath of honor is a political commitment to the 2045 goal: Building a strong, prosperous and happy Vietnam.

On September 2, 2025 , also at the historic Ba Dinh Square, General Secretary To Lam sent a message to the people of the whole country: The Vietnamese Fatherland is the crystallization of a thousand-year-old cultural tradition, of steadfastness, intelligence, compassion and aspiration to rise up; from colonial status, it has become an independent, unified, steadfastly modern nation, deeply integrated, with an increasingly affirmed position and prestige in the international arena.

General Secretary To Lam affirmed: Looking to the future, our Party sets the goal that by 2045, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the country, Vietnam will be a powerful, prosperous and happy nation. That is the aspiration of the entire nation, an oath of honor before History and the People.

National Assembly Delegate Nguyen Thi Viet Nga, Deputy Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Hai Phong City, commented: The most prominent highlight of the speech was the "oath of honor". In my opinion, "Honor" is the most sacred category for humans, especially for party members. As the late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong once said: "Honor is the most sacred and noble thing". When General Secretary To Lam talked about the "oath of honor", he put all of his own honor - of the person holding the highest position and responsibility of the Communist Party of Vietnam - into the oath. That means this is not an ordinary promise, but an oath that carries the moral weight and political life of the supreme leader.

At the Government press conference, Permanent Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Le Hai Binh informed about the successes of the parade and march to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day September 2. The Deputy Minister said : The speech of General Secretary To Lam emphasized the central role of the People, which is clearly shown in the language structure; only about 1,480 words but there were 17 mentions of "people", 13 times of "nation", 10 times of "independence" and 9 times of "Fatherland". Deputy Minister Le Hai Binh cited the trend on social networks during the great ceremony: The Party and State were very subtle in arranging 79 parade and march blocks. Celebrating the 80th anniversary of National Day, so where is the 80th block? The People are the 80th block. This further clearly demonstrates the saying: Strength belongs to the people, from the people and for the people.

Bloc 80 is the People, all policies must be measured by the interests of the people. To make the oath of bringing a strong and happy Vietnam to the People by 2045 a reality, 2025 - the pivotal year to create momentum for the country's rise. The opportunity to affirm the nation's position is open; the potential, resources, and aspirations of the nation need to be mobilized to the maximum.

Therefore, the oath has quantified the goal, turning the 2045 aspiration into the responsibility of the Party, the entire political system and each individual and organization. The requirements are: to shift from saying right to doing right, from doing right to measuring right; to innovate leadership methods towards the rule of law, transparency, and accountability; to take serving the people as the center. At the same time, decentralization and delegation of power must go hand in hand with power control. Tightening discipline and order; preventing and fighting corruption and negativity must become a regular and continuous process; setting an example is the standard of a leader. When the pillars operate synchronously, the General Secretary's oath of honor before History and the People will come true.