General Secretary To Lam meets with veteran revolutionary cadres, meritorious individuals, and exemplary policy beneficiary families in Ho Chi Minh City on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of national reunification (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025) - Photo: thanhnien.vn
The spirit of solidarity between the army and the people led to the Great Victory of Spring 1975.
The correct, creative, insightful, and timely leadership of the Party was the decisive factor in unleashing the strength of national unity in the Great Victory of Spring 1975. The resounding victories of the strategic offensives throughout the South created a fundamental turning point in the balance of power between us and the enemy; we gained the initiative in strategic offensives, especially after the victory in the Central Highlands Campaign, which brought about new factors that shifted the battlefield situation and propelled the revolutionary war in the South to a leap forward. In this situation, the Politburo and the Standing Committee of the Central Military Commission promptly adjusted the plan for liberating the South from the initial two years (1975-1976) to a one-year plan, and then decided to conclude it before the rainy season, especially in April 1975; Simultaneously, strategic offensives were launched against the enemy's strategic areas and targets, creating a ripe opportunity for us to launch the decisive strategic battle in Saigon - Gia Dinh with the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign. These decisions of the Politburo became the rallying cry for the entire Party, the entire people, and the entire army to promote the spirit of unity, unify will and action, and be ready to fight and sacrifice, creating "the unity of the people forged into a bronze wall around the Fatherland" to carry out a general offensive and uprising throughout the Southern battlefield, defeating the puppet army, abolishing the puppet regime, liberating the South, and unifying the country with lightning speed, boldness, and surprise—one day equaling twenty years…—leading to the decisive battle and victory...
The victory of the resistance war against American imperialism, saving the country, by our army and people is the victory of the strength and intelligence of Vietnam in the Ho Chi Minh era. To achieve victory, our Party focused on developing the combined strength of all resources of the whole country, the strength of people's war, of the great national unity, building the iron will and determination, the fighting spirit of our army and people. In this, the political-spiritual factor is always a solid support, a basic foundation, with an absolute advantage over the enemy, as VI Lenin once affirmed: "In every war, ultimately victory depends on the spirit of the masses who are shedding blood on the battlefield, the belief in a just war, the realization that they must sacrifice their lives for the happiness of their brothers, which is the factor that raises the spirit of the soldiers and makes them endure unprecedented difficulties" (1) .
From the very beginning of the resistance war against American imperialism, the Party always emphasized the development of political and spiritual factors, building a great national unity, creating a combined strength of the entire country for the great front line. The political and spiritual strength of our army and people that led to the Great Victory of Spring 1975 was the culmination and convergence of the strength of 21 years of resistance against American imperialism, combined with leadership and guidance experiences drawn from many successive campaigns in the strategic general offensives that ultimately led to victory (Central Highlands, Hue - Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh). It was the peak development of the strength of the entire nation combined with the strength of the times in a decisive strategic battle. It was the brilliant and wise leadership of the Party with its policy of upholding the banner of national independence and socialism, harnessing the strength of the great socialist rear area in the North and the great, steadfast, and heroic front line in the South against America. This was thanks to the enthusiastic and effective support and assistance of international friends, primarily the Soviet Union and China.
During the fierce years of the resistance war against the American imperialists, the unity between the army and the people was the foundation of the great national unity to realize the strategic ideology of the Party and beloved President Ho Chi Minh: "Unity, unity, great unity. Success, success, great success." That foundation was continuously nurtured by our army and people with many creative methods and approaches, suitable to the circumstances of a country divided into two regions. In the North, the people enthusiastically competed in labor and production, providing manpower, weapons, and technical equipment to the Southern battlefield with the spirit: "All for the front line, all to defeat the invading American enemy," "Not a single grain of rice is lacking, not a single soldier is lacking." This spirit emerged in Thai Binh as a natural consequence, quickly gaining support from all strata of the population and spreading throughout the province and the entire North. Other slogans included: "Give up your house for goods, give up your village for vehicles," "If the vehicle hasn't passed, don't hesitate to give up your house," "Youth are ready for three things," "Women are capable for three things"...
On the battlefields of Southern Vietnam, despite the puppet army, government, and American imperialists employing every tactic to divide the people from the army and guerrillas, such as relocating people to strategic hamlets and suppressing revolutionary movements, the relationship between the army and the people was always strengthened and became increasingly close. Thousands upon thousands of mothers and sisters, undeterred by hardship and danger, were ready to sacrifice their lives to shelter soldiers, act as messengers, nurses, etc., fostering the spirit of "When the enemy comes to our house, even women will fight." These are shining images of the solidarity between the army and the people, the source of strength. Living among the people, protected, supported, and nurtured by the people, our soldiers always upheld the tradition of "Loyalty to the nation, devotion to the people," fighting bravely and tenaciously with a resolute will to win, protecting the people in every battle against encroachment and sweeps, defeating large-scale enemy campaigns, maintaining liberated areas, and preparing all conditions to successfully conclude the resistance war against the US imperialists and save the nation with the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign in the Spring of 1975.
The solidarity between the army and the people, united by a single will, all for one goal and ideal – "National independence linked with socialism" – is truly the source of the invincible strength of the Vietnam People's Army. "For the people" – this is the powerful driving force that motivates generations of officers and soldiers to overcome difficulties and hardships, ready to sacrifice, and determined to fight to protect the Fatherland and the people. The historical practice of the liberation wars and the wars to defend the Fatherland under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam has proven and affirmed the strength of the army-people solidarity. Any enemy, if they know how to encourage, motivate, unite, gather, and develop the strength of the entire people, the core of which is the strength of army-people solidarity, will achieve great victories.
Promoting the strength of military-civilian solidarity in the current cause of national construction and defense.
Deeply aware of the strength of military-civilian solidarity and the strength of national unity, in carrying out the current task of building and defending the Fatherland, the Party and State of Vietnam consistently uphold the viewpoint that "the people are the masters," "the people are the foundation," and that the people are the subjects of the task of building and consolidating national defense and security and protecting the Fatherland.
In accordance with the resolutions of the Party and the Central Military Commission, the army has always been at the forefront in implementing patriotic emulation movements and campaigns such as: "All people unite to build a cultured life," "Day for the poor," the "Gratitude and repayment" movement, "The whole country joins forces to build new rural areas and civilized urban areas"... With hundreds of working groups and cadres deployed to grassroots levels. The above practical activities further enhance the glorious traditions of the Vietnam People's Army and the fine qualities of "Uncle Ho's soldiers"; contributing to building a solid "people's support"; and are the source of strength for the all-people national defense in the cause of building the army, consolidating national defense, and protecting the Fatherland. Our army officers and soldiers are always absolutely loyal to the Fatherland, the Party, the State, and the people; constantly consolidating and strengthening the blood-and-flesh bond with the people. They closely coordinate with Party committees, governments, and political and social organizations at the local level; Propagating and mobilizing the people to clearly understand the insidious schemes and tactics of hostile forces aiming to divide and undermine the strength of national unity; building and consolidating the people's trust in Party committees and governments at all levels; proactively coordinating and effectively handling complex situations, contributing to maintaining political security, social order and safety; developing socio-economic conditions, improving the material and spiritual lives of the people, especially in strategic, key areas, remote areas, border regions, and islands; preventing passivity and surprise in all situations. Effectively fulfilling three functions: a fighting force, a working force, and a labor and production force; spearheading and leading in disaster and disease prevention and control, search and rescue operations; promptly being present in difficult and dangerous places, ready to sacrifice to protect the lives and property of the State and the people. Under any circumstances, especially during times of hardship, disaster, and natural calamities, the Vietnam People's Army has always been a reliable and steadfast support for local Party committees, authorities, and the people.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, with the spirit of "fighting the epidemic like fighting an enemy," "placing the health and lives of the people above all else," and "helping the people is a heartfelt command of all officers and soldiers," the Vietnam People's Army did not hesitate to make sacrifices and endure hardships, "charging straight" into the heart of the epidemic to support localities and the people in preventing and controlling COVID-19. Under the comprehensive and wise leadership of the Party, and the flexible and timely guidance of the Government, officers and soldiers throughout the army and the militia and self-defense forces nationwide have highly demonstrated revolutionary heroism and patriotism, wholeheartedly serving the Fatherland and the people, fulfilling their assigned functions and tasks, simultaneously training and being ready for combat while actively and proactively participating in the effective prevention and control of the COVID-19 epidemic, leaving a deep impression on Party committees, governments, and the people. Super Typhoon Yagi, which occurred in September 2024, was the strongest typhoon in the South China Sea in the past 30 years and on land in the past 70 years, causing severe damage and impact to many localities. Undeterred by hardship and sacrifice, the armed forces helped people in the disaster-stricken areas recover and return to normal life as soon as possible.
Representatives of the Vietnamese armed forces, workers, farmers, intellectuals, youth, and socio-political organizations, along with military forces from China, Laos, and Cambodia, participated in the general rehearsal of the parade commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of Southern Vietnam and the reunification of the country. (Photo: VNA)
Unity and close ties with the people have become a precious tradition, the essence of the army, creating the invincible strength of our army in both peacetime and wartime. This is a solid foundation for each Party committee, Party organization, political commissar, political officer, and commander at all levels, as well as the entire army, to effectively carry out the Party's mass mobilization work, and to effectively fulfill its functions as a fighting force, a working force, a labor and production force, building a revolutionary, regular, elite, and modern Vietnamese People's Army.
In the current context, with the world and the region experiencing rapid and unpredictable developments, traditional and non-traditional security issues, climate change, natural disasters, and epidemics becoming increasingly complex, and hostile forces constantly creating pretexts for military intervention and intensifying their "peaceful evolution" schemes and activities with more sophisticated and insidious methods, the demands placed on building and strengthening the power of national unity, including the unity between the military and the people, as a basis for strengthening national defense, building a strong army, especially politically, and firmly protecting the socialist Fatherland of Vietnam in the new situation, must be emphasized. To meet these demands, the following solutions should be implemented effectively:
Firstly , it is essential to uphold and strengthen the absolute and direct leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam over the military in all aspects. This is a fundamental principle, a matter of principle, and a decisive factor. In the current situation, hostile forces are constantly seeking to "depoliticize" the military in order to separate the Party's leadership from the military. This reality demands a thorough understanding and effective implementation of the Party's 13th National Congress Resolution on strengthening the absolute and direct leadership of the military in all aspects in the new situation. The national defense system we are building is a national defense system "of the people, by the people, and for the people," developing in the direction of: all-encompassing, comprehensive, independent, self-reliant, self-sufficient, and increasingly modern, under the leadership of the Party, the management and administration of the State, and with the people as masters, aiming to maintain peace and stability in the country, ready to defeat all acts of aggression and subversive rebellion by hostile forces, and firmly protect the socialist Fatherland of Vietnam.
Party committees and organizations at all levels need to thoroughly understand the Party's national defense guidelines, paying attention to leading and directing the implementation of military and national defense tasks within their scope, functions, and responsibilities. They should focus on building clean and strong Party organizations in terms of politics, ideology, ethics, organization, and personnel, with sufficient capacity for comprehensive leadership and high combat effectiveness. They should ensure the effective implementation of policies for the armed forces and policies for the military's rear support. They should strengthen the close-knit relationship between the military and the people, resolutely exposing and thwarting the hostile forces' plot to "depoliticize" the military. They should continue to innovate and improve the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of Party work and political work, with particular emphasis on doing a good job in mass mobilization work and building a politically strong Vietnam People's Army as the foundation for improving overall quality, strength, readiness, and combat capabilities. Improving the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of Party work and political work, and building the strength of military-civilian solidarity, is aimed at ensuring and maintaining the absolute and direct leadership of the Party over the Vietnam People's Army in all aspects, the leading factor determining all victories of our army.
Secondly , we must build a lean, efficient, strong, and modern army. This is a major policy, reflecting the vision and strategic thinking of our Party and State regarding the cause of national construction and defense. This is also an objective requirement, ensuring that the army is capable of successfully fulfilling all assigned tasks in the new situation.
Thoroughly and effectively implementing the Resolution of the 13th National Congress of the Party, the resolutions of the Politburo, and the resolutions of the Central Military Commission on building a lean, efficient, and strong army is the overarching content and guiding principle, having a decisive significance in achieving the goal of building a lean, efficient, and strong army, advancing towards modernization, ensuring overall quality, and increasing combat strength to meet the requirements and tasks of national defense in the new situation. To effectively implement the above contents, it is necessary to focus on thoroughly understanding Resolution No. 05-NQ/TW, dated January 17, 2022, of the Politburo on the organization of the Vietnam People's Army for the period 2021-2030 and beyond; Resolution No. 230-NQ/QUTW, dated April 2, 2022, of the Central Military Commission on leading the implementation of the organization of the Vietnam People's Army for the period 2021-2030 and beyond.
Thirdly , we must continue to lead, direct, and organize the implementation of measures to improve the quality and effectiveness of mass mobilization work, contributing to building an increasingly solid "people's support base," creating a foundation for building a strong national defense system, meeting the requirements of national construction and defense in the new situation. In recent years, the army's mass mobilization work has undergone comprehensive reforms in terms of content and methods, closely aligned with the functions, tasks, target groups, geographical areas, and conditions of the units, achieving practical results; serving as a bridge to strengthen the close relationship between the army and the people, consolidating the great national unity, enhancing the people's trust in the Party, the State, and the army, and building an increasingly solid "people's support base." At the same time, it educates and trains officers and soldiers in political fortitude, awareness, responsibility, and the revolutionary military style; Upholding pride, maintaining and continuously developing the qualities of "Uncle Ho's soldiers" in the new era, making these qualities increasingly spread throughout the army and in social life.
Fourth , proactively combat and thwart the "peaceful evolution" plot and the tactics of hostile forces that promote "self-evolution" and "self-transformation" within the country, "depoliticize" the military, and divide the military from the people, and the military from the police.
To promptly detect and thwart the schemes and tactics of hostile forces, it is necessary to build strong political resolve, absolute loyalty to the Fatherland, the Party, the State, the people, and the socialist regime; strictly implement the Party's guidelines and policies, and the State's laws; and maintain internal unity and military-civilian solidarity. Party committees and unit commanders must proactively lead and direct, promptly detect and effectively combat schemes aimed at "depoliticizing" the army and dividing the army from the people. They must build clean and strong Party organizations, comprehensively strong units that are "exemplary and model," and create a rich and healthy military culture; enhance vigilance and readiness to fight to firmly defend the socialist Fatherland of Vietnam in the new situation.
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(1) VI Lenin: Complete Works , Progress Publishers, 1977, vol. 41, p. 147
Source: https://tapchicongsan.org.vn/web/guest/van_hoa_xa_hoi/-/2018/1079602/phat-huy-tinh-than-doan-ket-quan---dan-trong-dai-thang-mua-xuan-1975-vao-cong-cuoc-xay-dung-va-bao-ve-to-quoc-hien-nay.aspx
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