General Secretary: Focus on building a revolutionary, disciplined, elite, and modern armed force in Military Region 9

On the morning of December 8, in Can Tho city, the Party Committee of the Military Region 9 Command solemnly held a ceremony to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Traditional Day of the Military Region 9 Armed Forces (December 10, 1945 - December 10, 2025) and receive the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces.

General Secretary To Lam and delegates. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

General Secretary To Lam, Secretary of the Central Military Commission, attended and delivered a speech at the ceremony.

President Luong Cuong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh , and Standing member of the Secretariat Tran Cam Tu sent congratulatory flower baskets.

Also attending were former President Nguyen Minh Triet, former President Truong Tan Sang, former Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, former National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, former Standing member of the Secretariat Le Hong Anh,

Attending the ceremony were Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, Heroes of the People's Armed Forces; leaders and former leaders of the Ministry of National Defense, Military Regions; and representatives of units of the Royal Cambodian Army.

Beautifying the noble image of Uncle Ho's soldiers - the Western soldiers in the hearts of the people

Delivering a speech at the ceremony, Lieutenant General Nguyen Xuan Dat, Commander of Military Region 9, said that 80 years on the historical journey, advancing under the glorious flag of the Fatherland, the armed forces of Military Region 9 have overcome all difficulties, hardships, sacrifices, fought, won and developed on the land of Nine Dragons, writing an immortal epic of revolutionary heroism; building the tradition of "Solidarity of the army and people, steadfastness, self-reliance, bravery in fighting", becoming the flesh and blood, the guiding ideology, throughout all activities of the armed forces of the Military Region.

General Secretary To Lam, leaders and former leaders of the Party and State attend the ceremony to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Armed Forces of Military Region 9. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

The birth of the Military Region's armed forces was the inevitable result of the large-scale revolutionary struggle movement throughout the South, especially after the 1940 Southern Uprising and the August Revolution of 1945. Implementing the Central Party's policy of resistance and national construction, on December 10, 1945, the Southern Regional Party Committee held an expanded conference in Binh Hoa Nam commune, Duc Hoa district, Long An province (now Duc Hue commune, Tay Ninh province), deciding to establish War Zone 8 and War Zone 9 (the predecessor of today's Military Zone 9). From that historical milestone, December 10 became the traditional day of the Military Region 9's armed forces.

In response to the requirements of the revolution in the new period, on November 11, 1976, Military Region 8 and Military Region 9 merged into Military Region 9. From here, the armed forces of the Military Region together with the people of the Mekong Delta embarked on the task of healing the wounds of war, building the country, resolutely protecting every inch of sacred land, fighting and winning in the war to protect the southwestern border of the Fatherland with the motto "helping friends is helping yourself" to shine the pure, loyal, righteous and sincere international spirit.

General Secretary To Lam and delegates attend the ceremony to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Armed Forces of Military Region 9. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

Entering a new stage of construction and development, the Military Region's armed forces have always been a political force, an absolutely loyal fighting force of the Party, the State and the people, excellently fulfilling their functions and tasks; building a national defense associated with the people's security posture, building a solid defense zone, implementing well national defense diplomacy; maintaining political stability, social order and safety, creating favorable conditions for socio-economic development in the Mekong Delta. As a revolutionary army, always closely attached to the people, the Military Region's armed forces have always been proactive and active with other forces in participating in natural disaster prevention and control, rescue, and epidemic prevention; doing a good job in policy work, repaying gratitude, and beautifying the beautiful image of Uncle Ho's soldiers - the soldiers of the Western region in the hearts of the people.

Speaking at the ceremony, General Secretary To Lam emphasized that the armed forces of Military Region 9 are located in the strategic area of ​​the southwest of the country. Born from the people, fighting for the people, the armed forces of Military Region 9 are always closely attached to the people, protected, nurtured by the people to constantly grow and develop, defeat all enemies, excellently complete all assigned tasks; build the tradition of "Solidarity of the army and people, steadfastly holding on, self-reliance, bravely fighting".

That tradition has been forged in the arduous and sacrificial war, continuing to shine in the task of building and defending the Fatherland. Proud of the past, confident in the future, the army and people of the Mekong Delta keep their steadfast faith, immense humanity, promote the identity of the land reaching out to the sea, join hands, and wholeheartedly step firmly into the era of prosperous development, for the prosperity and happiness of the people, worthy of the trust of the Party, State and people.

General Secretary To Lam speaks. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

The General Secretary stated that, through 80 years of building, fighting, winning and growing, the armed forces of Military Region 9 have always demonstrated the good nature and glorious tradition of the heroic Vietnam People's Army. On behalf of the Party and State leaders, the General Secretary warmly congratulated the great feats, achievements and growth of the armed forces of Military Region 9; and congratulated Military Region 9 on receiving the title of Heroic Unit of the People's Armed Forces - a noble award bestowed by the Party and State.

Entering a new stage of development, the world and regional situation has rapid, complicated and unpredictable developments with traditional and non-traditional security challenges, especially the issues of climate change, rising sea levels and saltwater intrusion that are deeply affecting the Mekong Delta, the General Secretary pointed out that the task of protecting the Fatherland, the task of building the Army in general and of Military Region 9 in particular are posing increasingly high requirements.

Training, practice, real situations to fight and win every situation

General Secretary To Lam, Secretary of the Central Military Commission, presented the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces to Military Region 9. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

To successfully fulfill the functions and tasks of the campaign-strategic unit of the Ministry of National Defense in the key area of ​​the Southwest of the country, the General Secretary suggested continuing to thoroughly grasp Ho Chi Minh's military thought, the Party's military and defense guidelines, especially the Homeland Protection Strategy in the new situation and the breakthroughs identified in the Resolution of the 11th Party Congress of Military Region 9 and the 12th Party Congress of the Army; improving the overall quality and combat strength; uniting and bonding with local Party committees, authorities and people; firmly grasping and accurately forecasting the situation, and doing a good job of strategic consulting with the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense. The armed forces of Military Region 9 build and consolidate the all-people national defense, a strong all-people national defense posture associated with the people's security posture, building a solid defense area, creating an active position to defeat all sabotage plots of hostile forces; maintain a peaceful and stable environment in the area and the country's sovereignty.

The General Secretary requested to focus on building the revolutionary, disciplined, elite and modern armed forces of Military Region 9, taking political construction as the basis to improve overall quality and combat strength; thoroughly grasp President Ho Chi Minh's thought of "people first, guns later", focus on innovation, improve the quality of combat training, improve mettle, physical strength and technical and tactical level; master weapons and equipment, especially new and modern weapons, ready to fight and win in all conditions, all situations and new forms of warfare. In the new development space, new situation and tasks, it is necessary to pay special attention to improving the level of science and technology for troops in training and combat readiness; need "practical training, practical training, practical situations" to fight and win in all situations.

General Secretary To Lam, Secretary of the Central Military Commission, presented the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces to Military Region 9. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

The General Secretary emphasized that it is necessary to regularly do a good job of mass mobilization, strengthen the solidarity relationship with the army and the people, build a solid people's heart position; closely combine the task of consolidating national defense and security with socio-economic development, effectively implement economic and defense projects in the area; carry out policy work well, actively participate in social security activities; always be proactive and ready to help people prevent, combat and overcome the consequences of natural disasters and epidemics. Military Region 9 must be an elite force, a reliable support for the people on this front. In the new revolutionary period, it is even more necessary to promote the glorious tradition: "Every task must be completed - Every difficulty must be overcome - Every enemy must be defeated", truly a fighting army, a working army, a production labor army of the heroic Vietnam People's Army.

The General Secretary noted that it is necessary to successfully implement the Resolution of the Military Region Party Congress, the Resolution of the Military Party Congress and the Resolution of the 14th National Party Congress, the new Politburo resolutions issued in 2025, along with action programs, close to the situation, military and defense tasks of the Military Region's armed forces and the local situation; focus on building a Military Region Party Committee that is strong in politics, ideology, ethics, organization and cadres; promote studying and following Ho Chi Minh's ideology, ethics and style, the Campaign "Promoting tradition, dedicating talent, worthy of being Uncle Ho's soldiers" in the new period; build a contingent of cadres, first of all, cadres in charge at all levels, campaign staff cadres who are truly exemplary in qualities, sharp, sharp, flexible in grasping and handling the situation and have the qualifications and capacity to advise, guide and successfully implement all tasks.

Delegates attending the ceremony. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

Military Region 9 continues to effectively carry out defense diplomacy tasks with the Royal Army and the Kingdom of Cambodia; coordinate with the forces of the Ministry of National Defense in defense diplomacy, especially with ASEAN countries; grasp the relevant situation, proactively provide strategic advice, resolutely and cleverly handle border and island issues; fight to defeat all plots and tricks to sabotage and divide the relationship between Vietnam and Cambodia and ASEAN countries.

The 80th anniversary of the Traditional Day is a historical milestone, a driving force for the armed forces of Military Region 9 to continue to move forward to achieve many new achievements and feats, continuing to write the glorious golden pages of traditional history. The General Secretary believes that under the leadership of the Party and State, directly the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense, all generals, officers, cadres, commanders, employees, soldiers and workers of the armed forces of Military Region 9 will increasingly mature, excellently complete all assigned tasks, forever worthy of the trust and love of the Party, State and people.

On this occasion, on behalf of the leaders of the Party, State, and Central Military Commission, General Secretary To Lam, Secretary of the Central Military Commission, awarded the title "Hero of the People's Armed Forces" to the armed forces of Military Region 9, recognizing the great contributions of the armed forces of the Military Region to the revolutionary cause of the Party, State, and people.

General Secretary To Lam and delegates offer flowers and incense at the Victory Monument. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

Earlier, in the morning of the same day, in Can Tho city, General Secretary To Lam, Secretary of the Central Military Commission and the Central working delegation came to offer incense and flowers at the Victory Monument, the monument to the heroic martyrs and the memorial house of President Ho Chi Minh. In a solemn atmosphere, the General Secretary, the working delegation and delegates expressed their respect, remembrance and gratitude for the great contributions of the great President Ho Chi Minh and the heroic martyrs. On this occasion, General Secretary To Lam attended and cut the ribbon to inaugurate the Military Region 9 Command Headquarters.

According to VNA

General Secretary To Lam offers incense to commemorate heroic martyrs of Military Region 9. General Secretary To Lam, Secretary of the Central Military Commission and the working delegation offered flowers and incense at the Victory Monument, the Monument to Heroic Martyrs and the Memorial House of President Ho Chi Minh in Can Tho.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/tap-trung-xay-dung-llvt-quan-khu-9-cach-mang-chinh-quy-tinh-nhue-hien-dai-2470436.html