The leader of the victorious army to liberate the capital

One autumn morning in 1954, leading the victorious army to liberate and take over the Capital was Dr. Tran Duy Hung. The leader was known for his close-to-the-people ideology, not afraid of difficulties and hardships, rushing into the battlefront, where arrows and bullets were thrown, creating the belief and strength to carry out the miracles of the Dien Bien Phu victory, marking the complete defeat of French colonialism in Vietnam, opening a new period of development for the Capital and the country.

Doctor Tran Duy Hung at the victory flag salute ceremony, behind him is the "Determined to fight, Determined to win" flag. Photo: Document

Youthful enthusiasm

Doctor Tran Duy Hung was born on January 16, 1912 in Hoe Thi village, Xuan Phuong commune, now Phuong Canh ward, Nam Tu Liem district, Hanoi . When he grew up, he studied at the University of Medicine with Ton That Tung, Pham Ngoc Thach, Nhu The Bao and Nguyen Huu Thuyet...

He actively participated in social movements and campaigns while he was a student. He was appointed to lead the Northern Scouting Movement under the guidance of patriot Hoang Dao Thuy because he had great prestige among youth, students and young intellectuals. On holidays, he often went to some rural markets with his violin, singing patriotic songs. At the same time, propaganda encouraged people to participate in patriotic movements launched by the Democratic Front and later the Viet Minh Front.

He graduated from medical school and opened a private hospital on Bong Nhuom Street with his sister. At his private hospital, Dr. Tran Duy Hung helped and sheltered many Viet Minh cadres when they were surrounded by enemies. In the days before the August Revolution in 1945, he volunteered to be a secret base for the Party.

After the Declaration of Independence on September 2, 1945, Uncle Ho came to his house and asked Dr. Tran Duy Hung to be the Chairman of Hanoi City when he was only 33 years old. Later, recalling that he became the "Mayor" of Hanoi City, Dr. Tran Duy Hung recounted in the book "Tran Duy Hung, Uncle Ho with the people of Hanoi - Memories of Uncle Ho":

“In August 1945, after returning to Hanoi from Tan Trao for two days, while busy with so many important matters, Uncle Ho called me and comrade Khuat Duy Tien to the house at 48 Hang Ngang where he wrote the historic Declaration of Independence. He said:

- I heard that the Union has trusted you to be the Chairman of the City Administrative Committee, and Uncle Tien to be the Vice Chairman, what do you think?

I said:

- Sir, I think if the Union assigns me to do medical work, I will try to do it well; but being the City Chairman, I find it too difficult!

He smiled:

- So Uncle Ho has never been President. But whether he is President of the country, President of the city or anything else, we must understand that: We are not revolutionary officials, but loyal servants of the people.

It was Uncle Ho's encouragement that led Dr. Tran Duy Hung to take on the responsibility of the head of the Capital with many difficulties and hardships in the early period after the Revolution. After 9 years of long resistance war, with the Dien Bien Phu victory that resounded throughout the five continents and shook the world, the Geneva Agreement was signed, liberating the North, creating the premise for national reunification.

"Doctor Tran Duy Hung, a man of the people, for the people; an intellectual who left a shining example for generations of intellectuals today and tomorrow to learn from and follow." (General Vo Nguyen Giap)

Decisions that suit the people

The last French soldiers withdrew across Long Bien Bridge at 4:00 p.m. on October 9, 1954, and our army completely controlled Hanoi. The City Military Commission and military units, including infantry, artillery, anti-aircraft, and mechanized units, launched an operation to take over the capital Hanoi on the autumn morning of October 10, 1954. In the forest of red flags with yellow stars, two hundred thousand people in the capital happily welcomed the victorious army. The people will certainly forever remember the image of Doctor Tran Duy Hung, Vice Chairman of the Commission, and Major General Vuong Thua Vu, Chairman of the City Military Commission, leading the Capital Regiment to take over Hanoi. At 3:00 p.m. the same day, tens of thousands of people solemnly attended the Independence Day celebration at Doan Mon yard - Thang Long Imperial Citadel, on top of the ancient Flagpole, the red flag with yellow star fluttered... The whole city of Hanoi was filled with the joy of liberation, proud of the mighty strength of the long-term resistance war.

After the liberation day, Dr. Tran Duy Hung continued to be trusted and became Chairman of the Hanoi Administrative Committee, which oversaw many issues, including stabilizing life and solving employment, reclaiming land, fighting hunger, eliminating illiteracy, and consolidating the government from the city to districts, neighborhoods, and villages.

Under Dr. Tran Duy Hung's tenure as Chairman, Hanoi implemented many strong policies to achieve many great achievements, including taking care of urgent and burning social issues and implementing the economic recovery and development policy.

President Tran Duy Hung also encouraged bourgeois intellectuals such as Nguyen Tu Trinh and Trinh Van Bo to participate in the government and use their experience and intelligence in the construction and development of Hanoi to mobilize comprehensive resources for the city's development.

President Tran Duy Hung left the Capital many far-sighted economic, cultural and social works. Cao Xa La Industrial Park, Thanh Nien Street, Thong Nhat Park, Thu Le Park and the Vietnam - Soviet Friendship Cultural Palace... were all demonstrated through exciting competitions. Stories about Dr. Tran Duy Hung, the first President of Hanoi, have left us with many things to ponder since the 69th anniversary of the Capital Liberation Day.

Laodong.vn