“Red addresses” tell stories of the Revolutionary autumn of 1945

Eighty years have passed since the historic autumn of 1945, but the seething breath of the August Revolution and the heroic spirit of Independence Day 2-9 still echo in every street, every construction, every land of the Fatherland. The "red addresses" associated with that momentous event have become sacred historical marks, reminding present and future generations of the aspiration for independence, freedom and the indomitable spirit of the Vietnamese people.

The “red addresses” that witnessed the revolutionary autumn now take on a new look. Through the lens of old and new photos, memories and the present intersect, reviving the heroic spirit of the revolutionary autumn of 1945, fostering confidence, forging will, and encouraging the entire nation to firmly move forward on the path of building and defending the Fatherland.

1. Na Nua Hut:

Na Nua hut (also known as Na Lua hut), located in Tan Lap village (Tan Trao commune, Tuyen Quang province), is where Uncle Ho lived and worked from the end of May to August 22, 1945 to prepare and lead the August Revolution in 1945.

At Na Nua hut, facing the urgent developments of the revolutionary situation in the country and the world, leader Ho Chi Minh assessed and instructed: — At Na Nua hut, facing the urgent developments of the revolutionary situation in the country and the world , leader Ho Chi Minh assessed and instructed: "At this time, the favorable opportunity has come, no matter how much sacrifice, even if we have to burn the entire Truong Son range, we must resolutely gain independence. Photo: Document/tuyenquang.dcs.vn

Na Nua hut is built in the style of a stilt house of the mountainous people, located on the slope of Na Nua mountain (Tan Trao, Tuyen Quang), consisting of 2 rooms: 1 room for Uncle Ho to rest, 1 room for Uncle Ho to work and receive guests. Photo: Hai Ly

2. Tan Trao Communal House:

At Tan Trao communal house (Tan Lap village, Tan Trao commune, Tuyen Quang province), on August 16 and 17, 1945, the National Congress met to pass the order for a general uprising to seize revolutionary power throughout the country, passed 10 major policies of the Viet Minh Front and elected the National Liberation Committee, and determined the National Flag and National Anthem of Vietnam.

Tan Trao Communal House was built in 1853, with the architectural style of a mountain stilt house. It was built to meet the religious needs and to be a meeting place and cultural activity place for villagers. Photo: VNA

Tan Trao Communal House is currently part of the Tan Trao Special National Monument (Tan Trao Commune, Tuyen Quang Province). Photo: Hai Ly

3. Tan Trao banyan tree:

At the banyan tree at the entrance of Tan Lap village (Tan Trao commune, Tuyen Quang province). On the afternoon of August 16, 1945, following the order of the National Uprising Committee, comrade Vo Nguyen Giap read Military Order No. 1 ordering troops to advance to liberate Thai Nguyen and advance to liberate the capital Hanoi .

On the afternoon of August 16, 1945, at the Tan Trao banyan tree, the Liberation Army marched towards Hanoi, starting the General Uprising to seize power. Photo: VNA

The “Tan Trao Banyan Tree” relic is now a destination for many domestic and foreign tourists on their journey to learn about the August Revolution and National Day September 2. Photo: Hai Ly

4. Headquarters of the Hanoi Uprising Committee (now the headquarters of the Vietnam Institute of Educational Sciences)

Here, on the morning of August 16, 1945, comrade Nguyen Khang - Standing Committee of the Bac Ky Regional Party Committee, on behalf of the Standing Committee convened a meeting with the City Party Committee to disseminate the Resolution of the Regional Party Committee on the establishment of the Hanoi Military Revolutionary Committee (ie the Uprising Committee).

Front row, from right to left: Comrade Nguyen Khang (first), General Nguyen Quyet (second), Colonel Le Trong Nghia (fourth) meet with cadres and militia members participating in the August Revolution in 1945 in Hanoi. Photo taken in 1960, provided by the family of comrade Le Trong Nghia

Right at the gate of the relic, a rectangular stone plaque clearly engraves information about this historical relic. Photo: Hai Ly

5. Opera House Square (now August Revolution Square)

At the Opera House Square (now the Square) August Revolution, or August 19 Square), on the morning of August 19, following the call of the Viet Minh, the whole of Hanoi rose up under the forest of red flags with yellow stars and took to the streets straight to the center of the Opera House to attend the rally.

On August 19, 1945, at the Opera House Square, the rally was held solemnly and enthusiastically. Photo: VNA

August Revolution Square is located at 1 Trang Tien Street, (Hoan Kiem Ward, Hanoi City). Photo: Hai Ly

6. Palace of the Royal Commissioner of Tonkin (now the Government Guest House)

On August 19, 1945, from the Opera House Square (now August Revolution Square), after a large rally at the Hanoi Opera House, the people of the capital and the Viet Minh forces marched to occupy the Palace of the Imperial Commissioner of Tonkin (now the Government Guest House). After the victory of the August Revolution, this building was renamed the Palace of Tonkin, becoming the workplace of President Ho Chi Minh and the Provisional Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

Facing the stormy offensive momentum of the masses, under the command of the Revolutionary Military Committee, we quickly occupied the Imperial Commissioner's Palace. Photo: VNA

Currently, this is the Government Guest House, located at 12 Ngo Quyen Street (Hoan Kiem Ward, Hanoi City). Photo: Hai Ly

7. Central Police Department next to Hoan Kiem Lake (now the headquarters of Hanoi City Police, Hoan Kiem facility)

After occupying the Royal Commissioner's Palace of Tonkin (now the Government Guesthouse), the revolutionary masses continued to attack and occupy the Central Police Department by Hoan Kiem Lake (now the headquarters of the Hanoi City Police, Hoan Kiem base).

Central Police Department by Hoan Kiem Lake in 1954. Photo: VNA

The Hanoi City Police Headquarters in Hoan Kiem is a building with typical French colonial architecture. Photo: Hai Ly

8. Trang Tien Street

On August 19, 1945, under the leadership and protection of the Self-Defense Youth Force and the Hoang Dieu Citadel National Salvation Youth Union, people from inside and outside Hanoi gathered in ranks, starting from the Opera House, passing through Paul Bert Street (now Trang Tien Street), spreading out across the streets, shouting in unison the slogans: "Support Viet Minh!", "Down with the puppets!", "Vietnam independence!".

Image of Trang Tien Street on August 19, 1945. Photo archive

Trang Tien Street is located in the center of the capital, and is currently a tourist and cultural destination that attracts many domestic and foreign visitors. Photo: Hai Ly

9. Nguyen Thi An's house

The house of Mrs. Nguyen Thi An was the first place where President Ho Chi Minh lived and worked when he returned to Hanoi from the Viet Bac resistance base to directly lead the people in preparing for the day of independence. The house was then a revolutionary base during the period of 1941-1945 in Phu Gia village, Phu Thuong commune, Tu Liem district (now Phu Thuong ward, Hanoi).

Here, from the afternoon of August 23 to 25, 1945, President Ho Chi Minh and his comrades in the Central Party Standing Committee listened to reports on the situation of the General Uprising across the country and discussed preparations for the launch of the Provisional Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in the Capital. Photo: Archive

On August 22, 2025, the Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, and Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Phu Thuong Ward held a ceremony to attach a plaque to the project to restore and embellish the historical relic site where President Ho Chi Minh lived and worked at the house of Ms. Nguyen Thi An. Photo: Hai Ly

10. House number 48 Hang Ngang

At house number 48 Hang Ngang (now in Hoan Kiem ward, Hanoi), in 1945, President Ho Chi Minh wrote the Declaration of Independence giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

House 48 Hang Ngang in the 1940s of the 20th century. Photo: Baotanglichsu.vn

After 1975, the house was donated to the state by Mr. Trinh Van Bo's family. In 1979, the house was ranked as a National Historical Relic. Photo: Hai Ly

11. Ba Dinh Square:

On September 2, 1945, at Ba Dinh Square (Hanoi), President Ho Chi Minh, on behalf of the provisional government, read the Declaration of Independence, declaring to the people of the whole country and all of humanity around the world, giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam).

Independence Day scene at Ba Dinh Square on September 2, 1945. Photo: VNA

Ba Dinh Square in the days leading up to the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day September 2. Photo: Hai Ly

12. Hanoi Flag Tower:

During the French colonial period, the Hanoi Flag Tower was used as an observation post by the French army. In 1945, after the victory of the August Revolution, the red flag with a yellow star was flown for the first time on top of the Flag Tower.