For more than half a century, every May, Vietnamese people throughout the country respectfully commemorate President Ho Chi Minh – the brilliant leader of the nation – who dedicated his entire life to the independence and freedom of the Fatherland and the happiness of the people.
This year, the 135th anniversary of his birth is even more meaningful, reminding us of his immense contributions to the nation. As the late General Secretary Le Duan, speaking on behalf of the entire Party and people, said about him with great emotion: “Our nation, our people, our country gave birth to President Ho Chi Minh, the great national hero, and it was he who brought glory to our nation, our people and our country”[1].
That statement has become a sacred truth, deeply moving the hearts of Vietnamese people whenever they mention the name of the infinitely beloved Uncle Ho. His image is etched in the minds of each person, always present, giving strength to our nation on its path of development. Fifty-six years have passed since his passing, yet he seems to be accompanying us on every journey of our country today and in the future.
THE GREAT LEGACY OF A SIMPLE MAN
The great revolutionary career of President Ho Chi Minh has left an invaluable legacy. From the patriotic young man Nguyen Tat Thanh who left Nha Rong port in 1911 to seek a way to save the country, he traveled across five continents, absorbing Marxism-Leninism and finding the path of proletarian revolution to liberate the nation. He founded the Communist Party of Vietnam in the spring of 1930 – a glorious milestone, ending the crisis of national salvation at that time. Under the leadership of the Party he founded and nurtured, our people achieved the great victory of the August Revolution in 1945, giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and opening an era of independence for the nation. Subsequently, he led the entire nation in two wars of resistance against colonial and imperialist invaders, achieving the glorious Dien Bien Phu victory (1954) and the earth-shattering Spring Victory (1975), reunifying the country and ushering it into an era of independence, unity, peace, and socialist construction.
President Ho Chi Minh working in Viet Bac during the resistance war against French colonialism. Photo: VNA
Not only was President Ho Chi Minh a great leader in the cause of national liberation, but he also laid a solid foundation for the country's future with his noble thoughts and moral example. His thought is a comprehensive and profound system of views on the Vietnamese revolution, embodying the traditional values of the nation and the essence of human thought. At the core of this thought is the aspiration for national independence linked with socialism, with the ultimate goal of bringing freedom, prosperity, and happiness to the people. Even during the most difficult times, he affirmed an unwavering truth: "Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom." This statement has become the guiding principle for the entire Party and people in the struggle to defend the Fatherland, and its value remains intact to this day. Ho Chi Minh's thought is also reflected in all fields: from the view that the people are the foundation of all work to the strategy of national unity; From the ideology of building a State "of the people, by the people, for the people" to a foreign policy of peace, friendship, and cooperation with other countries, he always emphasized the role of the people: "A hundred times easier without the people, but a thousand times harder, with the people, it can be accomplished," highlighting the strength of unity among patriotic Vietnamese people. He always cared about building a truly clean and strong ruling Party; upholding revolutionary ethics with the qualities of "diligence, thrift, integrity, righteousness, and selflessness" as the foundation.
In President Ho Chi Minh, morality and ideology were harmoniously unified in a simple, humble, yet profoundly noble lifestyle. Throughout his life, he lived a pure and humble life. It is precisely because of this pure morality that President Ho Chi Minh left a vivid and concrete example for generations to learn from and follow. The qualities of "diligence, thrift, integrity, righteousness, and selfless dedication" that he taught are not only ideals for every cadre and Party member to emulate but also become standards for everyone to strive for. He affirmed: "A nation, a Party, and each individual, no matter how great and attractive they were yesterday, will not necessarily be loved and praised by everyone today and tomorrow if their hearts are no longer pure."
He was not just a man of words, but always practiced what he preached, leading by example, speaking little and doing much. This style created a vast sense of unity and absolute trust among the people in his leadership. His simplicity, sincerity, and kind, approachable demeanor made him a special leader, forever living in the hearts of every Vietnamese person, and "thinking of him makes our hearts purer."
General Secretary To Lam examines documents and artifacts at the Ho Chi Minh Presidential Memorial Site. Photo: VNA
Not only the Vietnamese people, but also peace-loving and progressive people around the world cherish and remember Ho Chi Minh as a symbol of peace, freedom, and national liberation. UNESCO honored him as a "National Liberation Hero and Outstanding Cultural Figure" in 1987. Ho Chi Minh's ideology contributed to promoting anti-colonial and anti-imperialist movements globally, while also inspiring the building of a more just and humane world.
FOLLOWING IN UNCLE HO'S FOOTSTEPS
More than half a century after President Ho Chi Minh's passing, his thoughts and example continue to guide our nation in achieving many great and historically significant accomplishments. Nearly 40 years of reform have clearly demonstrated that every correct policy of the Party, every policy that is in line with the people's will, reflects the inheritance and creative development of President Ho Chi Minh's thought. Today, in all fields from economics, society, education, health to national defense, security, and foreign affairs, we clearly see the imprint of Ho Chi Minh's thought – the foundation guiding the cause of building and protecting the Fatherland in the new era.
Economically, our country has achieved remarkable progress thanks to the unwavering path chosen by the Party and President Ho Chi Minh. From a poor and backward country before the Doi Moi (Renovation) period, Vietnam has transformed itself into a developing country with a middle-income economy, rapid economic growth, and deep integration into the global economy. The average GDP growth rate from 1986 to 2023 reached approximately 6.5-7% per year, placing Vietnam among the top 35 economies in the world and among the top 20 countries with the largest trade volume. Our country has not only ensured food security for over 100 million people but has also become a leading exporter of rice and many other agricultural products globally. It is evident that, through the creative application of Ho Chi Minh's thought on independence and self-reliance combined with openness and integration, we have built a stronger economic potential than ever before. The achievements of the Doi Moi (Renovation) process have once again affirmed that the Party's development line, based on Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought, is entirely correct and innovative.
In the social sphere, President Ho Chi Minh's ideology of "putting the people first" is clearly demonstrated in social welfare policies, poverty reduction, and improving people's lives. In his Testament, he instructed: "The Party needs to have a very good plan to develop the economy and culture, in order to continuously improve the lives of the people."
Uncle Ho once said, “The Party and Government’s policy is to take utmost care of the people’s lives. If the people are hungry, the Party and Government are at fault; if the people are cold, the Party and Government are at fault; if the people are uneducated, the Party and Government are at fault; if the people are sick, the Party and Government are at fault”[2]. Imbued with these teachings, our Party and State always consider improving the material and spiritual lives of the people as the top priority, a continuous task in all strategies and plans for national development. In recent years, national target programs such as building new rural areas, sustainable poverty reduction and socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas have been widely implemented and have achieved important results; the social security system is increasingly perfected, and the fields of education, health, and culture have all made significant progress. In particular, the policy of eliminating temporary and dilapidated houses is being strongly implemented nationwide, aiming to ensure that no one lives in difficult conditions or without housing by 2025. Cultural and spiritual life is also receiving attention and investment with many practical activities and movements, enriching the spiritual life and improving the quality of life for the people.
Illustration photo: Hoang Ha
Regarding education and training, Ho Chi Minh's thought always emphasized the role of "cultivating people" for the nation's future. He advised: "For the benefit of ten years, plant trees; for the benefit of a hundred years, cultivate people," considering education as a top national priority. Inheriting that thought, our country has focused its efforts on developing the education sector and has achieved many important results. To date, Vietnam has universalized education at all basic levels nationwide, bringing the adult literacy rate to nearly 100%. Many fundamental and comprehensive reforms in education and training have been implemented, closely following the directions set forth by Uncle Ho since the founding of the nation. As a result, today's young generation of Vietnam not only possesses solid knowledge but is also educated in ideals, ethics, and lifestyle, continuing the revolutionary cause passed down by their ancestors.
Regarding public health care, President Ho Chi Minh's ideology of "loving the people and serving the people" has deeply permeated the country's healthcare sector. During his lifetime, he said: "If each citizen is healthy, then the whole country is healthy," setting the task of building a nation healthy both physically and mentally. Today, we have a continuously growing healthcare system, from the grassroots to the central level. The network of hospitals and medical facilities has expanded throughout the country, and many advanced medical techniques on par with the world have been mastered. The spirit of "a good doctor is like a loving mother" has been revived, with medical professionals working tirelessly day and night, following President Ho Chi Minh's example, to care for patients. We are striving to build a healthy Vietnam where all citizens live long, healthy, and happy lives. These achievements and policies all bear the profound imprint of President Ho Chi Minh's humanitarian ideology and philosophy of holistic human development.
Regarding national defense and security, President Ho Chi Minh formulated the strategic guideline of "nation-building goes hand in hand with national defense" for the Vietnamese revolution. He founded the Vietnam People's Army and the People's Public Security Force, laying the foundation for a solid national defense and people's security system. He taught that the revolutionary armed forces are the offspring of the people, originating from the people, and serving the people in their propaganda, work, combat, and sacrifice. Adhering to his teachings, fighting and sacrificing to protect the truth that "Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom," we have been building a revolutionary, regular, elite, and progressively modern armed force, capable of firmly defending the Fatherland in all situations. The national defense posture, linked with the people's security posture, is being strengthened, creating an unparalleled force to protect the country from early on and from afar. Thanks to this, Vietnam has maintained political stability and social order and security for many years, creating favorable conditions for economic development, while being ready to defeat all conspiracies and subversive tactics of hostile forces. Ho Chi Minh's thought on national defense, combining national strength with the strength of the times, continues to be the guiding principle for us to modernize our armed forces, enhance our national defense potential, and firmly protect the socialist Fatherland of Vietnam.
Military parade and procession commemorating the 50th anniversary of national reunification.
In terms of foreign policy, the diplomatic approach of the Ho Chi Minh era has been creatively applied by the Party and the State, helping Vietnam rise to a new level on the international stage. President Ho Chi Minh early on laid down the principle of independent, self-reliant diplomacy, diversification, and multilateralization of relations – the core of which is to safeguard national interests and peace and friendship among nations. From 1947, he affirmed Vietnam's policy of "making friends with all democratic countries and not harboring enmity towards anyone," demonstrating a far-sighted vision for peaceful and cooperative diplomacy.
Today, that ideology has become a guiding principle: Vietnam is a friend, a reliable partner, and a responsible member of the international community. The diplomatic achievements we have attained so far have contributed to maintaining a peaceful and stable environment for development, while simultaneously enhancing Vietnam's position and prestige on the international stage to an unprecedented level. It can be affirmed that these brilliant diplomatic achievements stem from the thorough understanding of Ho Chi Minh's diplomatic thought – a skillful combination of steadfastness in principle and flexibility in strategy, placing national interests above all else, while actively contributing to peace, progress in the region and the world, and to human civilization.
ENDLESS INSPIRATION
More than anyone else, President Ho Chi Minh understood that the revolutionary cause was a long process, requiring successive generations to work together with unity of purpose. Therefore, his thoughts, ethics, and style not only illuminate the path already traveled, but also shine as an endless source of inspiration for the present and the future.
Our Party affirms that Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought will forever remain the ideological foundation and the guiding banner for the nation's progress towards socialism. The strategies and plans for socio-economic development up to 2030, with a vision to 2045, all focus on the goal of "a prosperous people, a strong nation, democracy, fairness, and civilization"—the very aspiration of President Ho Chi Minh during his lifetime for a peaceful, unified, and prosperous Vietnam. Major orientations such as sustainable development, growth coupled with social progress, building a self-reliant economy, and improving the cultural and spiritual life of the people all stem from his overarching ideology. Following President Ho Chi Minh's example, the entire Party and people further uphold the spirit of self-reliance and self-improvement, the aspiration to rise, and the desire for innovation to propel the country forward rapidly and strongly on the path of industrialization and modernization. It is President Ho Chi Minh's spirit of daring to think, daring to act, and wholeheartedly dedicating himself to the country and its people that has inspired today's generation to resolutely pursue great goals and aspirations, leading Vietnam to become a powerful and developed nation in the future.
Ho Chi Minh's moral example and style will forever be a guiding light for every Vietnamese person in self-cultivation and self-improvement. Ho Chi Minh's thoughts on Party building and revolutionary ethics are particularly significant in the current efforts to rectify the Party and combat individualism, corruption, and waste.
Photo: Hoang Ha - Pham Hai
During his lifetime, President Ho Chi Minh always reminded cadres and Party members to "keep our Party truly clean, worthy of being both a leader and a truly loyal servant of the people." Following his example, the entire Party is striving to strengthen discipline and order, resolutely combating all manifestations of degradation, "self-evolution," and "self-transformation" within the Party.
The fight against corruption and negative practices in recent years has achieved many outstanding results, greatly encouraged by the example of integrity and honesty set by President Ho Chi Minh. Every cadre and Party member today should reflect on themselves according to the ethical standards that President Ho Chi Minh upheld, from small matters to large ones, upholding the spirit of "diligence, thrift, integrity, and righteousness" and the consciousness of serving the people.
Especially for the younger generation – the future owners of the country – President Ho Chi Minh is a shining example of patriotism, self-reliance, and dedication. The simple yet touching stories of his sacrifice and humble lifestyle have always strongly inspired Vietnamese youth to learn from and strive for excellence. From young students who know every poem and song about him, to young people and intellectuals diligently creating in various fields, all find in him a great source of spiritual motivation. This inspiration has spurred countless young people to volunteer for difficult tasks, to go to challenging places, and to join hands in building a country that is increasingly "more decent and more beautiful," as he wished. It can be said that the vitality of Ho Chi Minh's thought continues to shine in every Vietnamese person, creating a soft power that propels our nation forward on the path towards the future.
The road ahead for our nation presents many opportunities, but also numerous significant challenges, both objective and subjective. Globalization, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, climate change, and strategic competition among major powers are increasingly impacting all aspects of the country's political, economic, and social life. Domestically, internal difficulties such as low labor productivity, an unstable scientific and technological foundation, development disparities between regions, the decline in political ideology, morality, and lifestyle among some cadres and Party members, corruption, and waste remain urgent issues that require resolute and effective action.
Deeply aware of its responsibility to the people and history, the Party and State of Vietnam are steadfastly pursuing the goal of national development along the socialist path chosen by President Ho Chi Minh, while resolutely implementing strategic breakthroughs to create significant changes in the new era. Key breakthroughs being focused on include: streamlining the apparatus and improving the effectiveness of national governance; reforming the growth model, developing a green economy and digital economy; promoting science and technology and innovation; improving the quality of education and human resources; and building a clean, strong, and comprehensive Party and political system. Each transformation aims to fully realize President Ho Chi Minh's aspirations, building our country to be "ten times better than it is today," and "standing shoulder to shoulder with the great powers of the world."
In this context, continuing to study and follow Ho Chi Minh's ideology, ethics, and style is a constant and urgent requirement. We need to learn from him every day – from the big things to the small things, learning at the level of ideals but also in every behavior and every specific action. We learn from him to live with ideals, discipline, to know how to love, to be responsible, to dare to think, dare to act, and dare to take responsibility for the common good. Learning from him is not about praising him formally, but to further strengthen our faith, motivation, and courage in the task of building the country today.
Every cadre, Party member, and citizen of Vietnam pledges to engrave in their hearts the teachings of Uncle Ho, to continuously cultivate and improve themselves, to unite and work together for the common goal. The strength of national unity under the light of Ho Chi Minh's thought will continue to be an inexhaustible source of energy, helping us overcome all challenges and achieve many victories in the process of reform, integration, and development.
Photo: Nguyen Hue
The 135th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birth is an occasion for us to once again remind ourselves of our responsibility to the Fatherland and the people. The more proud we are of Uncle Ho, the more we must strive to turn his aspirations into reality. Ho Chi Minh's thought, morality, and style will forever be a precious asset for our nation on the path of development. Uncle Ho will forever march with us – he remains vibrant in every action and every victory in the construction and defense of the Vietnamese Fatherland. We pledge to continue the revolutionary path chosen by the Party and Uncle Ho, determined to build a prosperous and happy Vietnam, standing shoulder to shoulder with the world's great powers, worthy of the immense contributions of our beloved President Ho Chi Minh. And that is the sacred truth that has gone down in history: "The great President Ho Chi Minh lives on in our cause! "
[1] Eulogy read by the Central Executive Committee of the Party at the memorial service for President Ho Chi Minh on September 9, 1969.
[2] Ho Chi Minh Complete Works sdd-T9-Tr578.
Vietnamnet.vn
Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/tong-bi-thu-to-lam-bac-van-cung-chung-chau-hanh-quan-2402321.html
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