A sense of historical autumn

From the autumn of independence to the autumn of sowing aspirations for progress, the country has traversed an 80-year journey. The feeling of autumn washes over us, filling us with renewed hope...

Báo An Giang•02/09/2025

“ Today is the morning of September 2nd / The capital is bathed in golden sunlight at Ba Dinh Square…” (Tố Hữu). These lines, memorized since elementary school, have echoed in my mind for days, so majestic, as I walk amidst a sea of flags and flowers, in a historic autumn. Our homeland has never been so beautiful: From Lung Cu to Dat Mui, from the mainland rear to the blood and flesh of Truong Sa, even on the ships that cut through the waves and venture out to sea, the image of our country shines brightly in the vibrant colors of our flags. How proud and sacred it all is…

Greetings to Hanoi's autumn - a heart of pink. Greetings to the historic autumn of Ba Dinh Square. The spirit of the nation converges. We listen here, millions of Vietnamese hearts and minds marching in unison with the marching troops, rumbling towards Ba Dinh Square, reviving the revolutionary spirit of autumn of yesteryear.

Looking at the red flag fluttering under the clear blue autumn sky, my heart is filled with nostalgia for those autumn days long gone...

Oh! Our homeland, over four thousand years old, marks a glorious autumn of "shaking off the mud and rising up brilliantly." We understand even more the radiant truth: A ship needs a compass to sail in the right direction, and a steady helmsman is essential for the ship to sail. The Vietnamese revolutionary ship struggled for years in the dark sea. Only when guided by Marxist-Leninist theory, and with the Party and President Ho Chi Minh at the helm, did that ship reach the shores of glory. The August Revolution of 1945, "earth-shattering," saw our people, from a life of misery and slavery, shatter the shackles of colonialism and feudalism, becoming masters of their own country. " To one day, the country will be covered with flags and flowers / Echoing the heroic spirit of the victorious nation " (Phan Trung).

Today, the golden sunlight bathes the streets, towns, and villages like honey. Looking at the red flag fluttering in the clear blue autumn sky, my heart is filled with nostalgia for those bygone autumn days. I remember the image of the Father of the Nation at the simple Na Nua hut, his eyes sunken from countless sleepless nights before the decisive moment that would determine the nation's destiny. It was there that President Ho Chi Minh and the Central Committee of the Party made their strategic decision: Even if it meant burning down the entire Truong Son mountain range, we must resolutely win independence.

The Hồng Thái communal house and the Tân Trào banyan tree are historical witnesses to the National Congress - the Diên Hồng Conference of the 20th century, which decided on the strategy and elected the National Liberation Committee. On this sacred land, the order for the general uprising was issued. The red flag with a yellow star was chosen as the national flag. "The Marching Song" was chosen as the national anthem. President Ho Chi Minh issued the historic call: "The decisive hour for the destiny of our nation has arrived; all our compatriots must rise up and use our strength to liberate ourselves."

Uncle Ho's words also embodied the Party's unwavering will and the nation's determination, like a stirring call to arms, urging people to go to war. The revolutionary movement of the masses surged like a storm. Millions of suffering compatriots, armed with spears, bamboo sticks, swords, and guns, rose up like a flood breaking through a dam, their strength like a surging tide, like the heroic spirit of Dong A, like the valiant spirit of Lam Son, like the swift footsteps of Tay Son... Victory followed victory, and one after another, Thai Nguyen , Hanoi, Hue, Saigon... power returned to the people. King Bao Dai abdicated. The August Revolution was a complete victory!

On September 2, 1945, at Ba Dinh Square, President Ho Chi Minh solemnly read the Declaration of Independence, declaring to the Vietnamese people and the whole world : "Vietnam has the right to enjoy freedom and independence, and in fact has become a free and independent nation." The first worker-peasant state in Southeast Asia was officially born. Our nation's history entered a new chapter. Amidst an atmosphere of "millions of hearts waiting, even the birds are silent," Uncle Ho affectionately asked: "Compatriots, can you hear me clearly?" Immediately, with a resounding "Yes!", the sea of people unanimously shouted, like "Truong Son Mountains intoxicated by the East Sea wind."

An era of independence and freedom began, but the enemy did not abandon their intention to seize our country, and our people had not yet lived in peace, happiness, and prosperity. In a situation where the fate of the nation hung "by a thread," the entire Party, the entire people, and the entire army embarked on the second protracted war of resistance against French colonialism. To achieve " Nine years of struggle culminated in Dien Bien Phu / A glorious victory, a golden epic " (To Huu).

From French colonialism to American imperialism, few nations on this planet have endured as many wars of invasion, loss, and suffering as the Vietnamese people. But the blood of the Lac Hong lineage, for a thousand years, has never been defeated. Raising high the banner of national independence and socialism, for 21 years our army and people have once again " marched across the Truong Son Mountains to save the country / With hearts full of hope for the future " (To Huu). The great victory of Spring 1975 gloriously completed the cause of national liberation and reunification. The beautiful land of Vietnam is filled with joy. The whole nation sings the triumphant song of the great victory…

“ If there were no harsh winter, there would be no glorious spring ” (Ho Chi Minh). The feeling of the glorious but also arduous and sacrificial years of our nation's history helps us understand and appreciate the value of the peace, independence, and freedom we enjoy today. We rejoice in the golden autumn sunshine, not forgetting the stormy days. Living in independence and freedom, we still remember the years of oppression. Because hostile forces have never ceased their schemes and sabotage. The cause of protecting the Fatherland, building the country, and combating poverty, backwardness, negativity, natural disasters, and epidemics... still faces many challenges and difficulties.

“ The autumn sky now changes its attire / In the verdant sky, laughter and affection abound ” (Nguyen Dinh Thi). Under the leadership of the Party, over the past 80 years, the country has achieved tremendous, historically significant accomplishments, never before possessing such a foundation, potential, position, and international prestige as it does today. The once impoverished villages have now become prosperous, fertile countryside, adorned with the colors of the new rural landscape. Famine has been eradicated, and rice is not only sufficient for consumption but also exported abroad. Ignorance has been pushed back, and Vietnamese intellect, science, and technology are gradually reaching global standards. Construction sites, factories, cities, airports, and seaports are vying to reach the sky and the sea. Expressways, like ribbons of silk, connect economic triangles and quadrilaterals, awakening barren, rocky lands and enabling the country to take flight. And the rivers that once carried ferries are now replaced by thousand-meter bridges connecting joyful shores.

With the country's broad integration into the international community, its upward trajectory, strengthened national defense and security, and revitalized culture and society, Vietnam is not only a leading force in the national liberation movement but also a model of innovation, development, peace, progress, and prosperity. From a nameless land, from a country heavily devastated by war and subjected to embargoes, Vietnam has risen to the top 40 economies, with a trade volume in the top 20, and diplomatic relations with 194 countries... Oh! How proud we are that our homeland shines even brighter on the world map.

The future begins with today's choices. Revolutionary opportunities may only come once; failing to seize them to achieve victory is a crime against history. The current context and circumstances of the nation demand a new revolution, creating new space and new impetus to rise above, bringing the country to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the world's leading nations, as President Ho Chi Minh always hoped. Recently, the revolution initiated by the Party to streamline the political system's structure for greater efficiency and effectiveness has been very vigorous.

The process of "reorganizing the country," merging provinces and cities, and establishing a two-tiered local government system took place urgently and decisively, receiving strong support and approval from the people. The development of institutions, growth models, and innovative national governance thinking, especially with the emergence of the "four pillars"... This is the harmonious blend of the Party's will and the people's aspirations, the source of strength for the Vietnamese revolution, both in the past, present, and future.

Party congresses at all levels are underway, and the 14th National Congress of the Party is fast approaching. From the powerful movements on the ground to the new thinking of the leaders, it promises a congress of historical significance, marking a milestone in Vietnam's entry into a new era – an era of national progress. The aspiration to realize the "two centenary goals" has never been stronger than it is now: By 2030, the 100th anniversary of the Party's founding, Vietnam aims to become a modern, high-middle-income developing country; and by 2045, the 100th anniversary of the nation's founding, Vietnam aims to become a high-income developed country.

The historic autumnal spirit is rising throughout the country. From the lowlands to the highlands, from the mainland to the distant islands, faith, pride, and national self-respect flow through the veins of every Vietnamese citizen... Hanoi is sleepless at night, welcoming the marching troops. All roads lead to the capital. Seas of people, young and old, men and women, joyfully greet the majestic marching and parade formations striding across the historic Ba Dinh Square. All of this sends a profound message, as President Ho Chi Minh once affirmed: " Our people have a fervent love for their country. That is a precious tradition of ours ." In this era of progress, patriotism remains the red thread running through everything, the glue that binds the entire nation together, the intrinsic strength to build and protect the enduring Fatherland.

Celebrating the autumn of independence, for the first time at sea, warships of the Vietnamese Navy, Coast Guard, Border Guard, and permanent militia fleets enthusiastically sailed the waves, joining in the national celebration. Oh, those sailors of the Dragon-Immortal lineage, with their brown skin and eyes shining with steel, their chests full of the East Sea breeze! At the helm of these modern ships, parading through Cam Ranh Bay, the sailors felt a sense of the autumn nearly 80 years ago. That was the autumn of 1946, on their way back to Vietnam after attending the Fontainebleau Conference, when President Ho Chi Minh met with the French High Commissioner in Indochina, d'Argenlieu, in Cam Ranh Bay to discuss agreements to implement the Provisional Agreement of September 14th. A tense diplomatic battle of wits ensued on the warship Suffren between President Ho Chi Minh and the cunning colonialists.

When d'Argenlieu jokingly bestowed upon President Ho Chi Minh the title of "Little Sailor," he replied: "Yes! I am a little sailor of the Vietnamese Navy." A brilliant "Captain" steering the Vietnamese revolutionary ship through countless rapids and obstacles, humbly considered himself a little sailor of the Vietnamese Navy – a force that hadn't even been established at that time. This demonstrates President Ho Chi Minh's genius foresight and strategic vision. On May 7, 1955, exactly one year after the glorious Dien Bien Phu victory that shook the world, the Vietnam People's Navy was established to shoulder the historical mission of protecting the seas and islands of the Fatherland. This autumn, our sea, our sky. Cam Ranh Bay opens its arms to support the proud warships of the Navy gliding to the sound of military marching music – showcasing the strength of a regular, modern military branch, celebrating with the people and army of the whole country the day of national independence, national rebirth, national renewal, and the country's rise…

Suddenly, I realized: “ The sky suddenly turned bluer, the sun shone brightly / We looked up at Uncle Ho, Uncle Ho looked at us / Surely all four corners of the world were also looking at us / The Democratic Republic of Vietnam ” (Tố Hữu). From the autumn of independence to the autumn of sowing aspirations for self-improvement, the country has traversed an 80-year journey. The feeling of autumn rushes back, filling us with renewed hope...

According to CAO DAN (People's Army Newspaper)

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/cam-thuc-mua-thu-lich-su-a427825.html