Proud of the Vietnam People's Army

On December 20th, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam , the National Assembly, the President, the Government, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense organized a ceremony to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army (December 22, 1944 - December 22, 2024) and the 35th anniversary of the National Defense Day (December 22, 1989 - December 22, 2024). General Secretary To Lam, Secretary of the Central Military Commission, attended the ceremony.

General Secretary To Lam , Secretary of the Central Military Commission, and current and former leaders of the Party and State attended the commemoration ceremony.

Attending the ceremony were: Former General Secretary Nong Duc Manh, former Secretary of the Central Military Commission; President Luong Cuong; former Presidents Nguyen Minh Triet and Truong Tan Sang; Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh; former Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung; Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man; former Chairmen of the National Assembly Nguyen Van An, Nguyen Sinh Hung, and Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan; Politburo members: Tran Cam Tu, Standing Member of the Secretariat and Chairman of the Central Inspection Committee ; Do Van Chien, Secretary of the Central Committee and Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front; General Phan Van Giang, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission and Minister of National Defense… Heroic Vietnamese Mothers, Heroes of the People's Armed Forces, Labor Heroes, generals of the People's Armed Forces, and international guests.

General Secretary To Lam delivered a speech at the commemoration ceremony.

Delivering the opening speech at the commemoration ceremony, on behalf of the Party and State leaders, General Secretary To Lam reviewed the glorious and heroic traditions of the Vietnam People's Army throughout its 80 years of building, fighting, winning, and maturing. In particular, following the directive of leader Ho Chi Minh, on December 22, 1944, the Vietnam Propaganda and Liberation Army, the predecessor of the Vietnam People's Army, was established. Immediately after its establishment, with its ingenious, bold, unexpected, and brilliant fighting style, the team destroyed the Phai Khat and Na Ngan outposts in its first two battles, opening the tradition of "Determined to fight, determined to win" of the Vietnam People's Army. In just eight months, the Vietnam Liberation Propaganda Team, together with local armed forces and the people of the whole country, launched a nationwide general uprising to seize power, creating the August Revolution of 1945, bringing power back into the hands of the people, establishing the Democratic Republic of Vietnam - the first people's democratic state in Southeast Asia, opening a new era in the nation's history, an era of independence and freedom.

Leaders and former leaders of the Party, State, Vietnam Fatherland Front, and military generals attended the commemoration ceremony.

Under the leadership, education, and training of our Party and President Ho Chi Minh, and with the nurturing, protection, and support of the people, our Army has developed rapidly and continuously achieved outstanding victories. From its initial "elder brother" with 34 soldiers, our Army quickly grew into 6 infantry divisions, one artillery division, and several main regiments, with hundreds of thousands of soldiers, continuously winning major campaigns, culminating in the victory at Dien Bien Phu, forcing the French colonialists to surrender. The army, just 10 years old, defeated a professional expeditionary force established in the 15th century. This affirms the high level of Vietnamese intelligence and military art, marking the remarkable development of the Vietnam People's Army.

Cultural performances at the commemoration ceremony.

Entering the period of socialist construction in the North, creating a solid bulwark for carrying out the national democratic revolution in the South; implementing the Party's policy of "actively building a powerful people's army, gradually progressing towards regularization and modernization," the Vietnam People's Army continued to mature, becoming a regular, increasingly modern army, comprising the Army, Navy, Air Defense - Air Force, and the establishment of main army corps, meeting the requirements of the extremely arduous, fierce, and sacrificial resistance war against the US for national salvation.

Entering the period of national construction and defense, the Army, together with the people of the whole country, strives to overcome the consequences and heal the wounds of war, develop the economy, culture, and society, and steadfastly fight to defend every inch of sacred land of the Fatherland and fulfill its noble international obligations. In this new stage, the Army consistently performs its functions as a "fighting force - a working force - a productive labor force," making worthy contributions to the great and historically significant achievements of the Vietnamese revolution.

General Secretary To Lam affirmed that, as an army originating from the people, fighting for the people, serving the people, and bound by blood and flesh with the people, the Army always shares the hardships with the people at all times and in all places; acting as the core and vanguard in preventing, combating, and overcoming the consequences of natural disasters and epidemics, and in search and rescue operations, the Army is always present in critical and dangerous areas to protect the lives and property of the people, truly being a solid "pillar of support" for the people in times of danger and hardship. Many officers and soldiers have bravely sacrificed their lives in the fight against natural disasters and epidemics, further illuminating the noble qualities of Uncle Ho's Army in the new era.

Leaders of the Party, State, and Vietnam Fatherland Front pose for a commemorative photo with military generals.

General Secretary To Lam emphasized that, in the new revolutionary period, the prerequisite for the People's Army to continue to excellently fulfill all tasks and, together with the entire Party, people, and army, create new miracles in building and defending the socialist Fatherland, is to maintain and strengthen the absolute and direct leadership of the Party in all aspects, the centralized and unified management and operation of the State over the People's Army and the cause of consolidating national defense and security; and to continuously promote the strength of national unity. It is essential to remain steadfast in the goal of national independence and socialism, steadfast in the line of national defense and people's war, and to strive to build a national defense system linked with a people's security system, a national defense posture linked with a people's security posture, and a solid "people's hearts and minds" posture. Closely combining national strength in the spirit of "self-reliance, self-confidence, self-sufficiency, self-strength, and national pride" with the strength of the times, and the agreement, support, and cooperation for development from international friends.

On behalf of the Party and State leaders, General Secretary To Lam presented the Ho Chi Minh Order to the Vietnam People's Army.

General Secretary To Lam affirmed that, reviewing the glorious 80-year tradition of building, fighting, winning, and maturing, we are even more proud of the Vietnam People's Army, a heroic army of a heroic nation; a political and fighting force that is absolutely loyal and trustworthy to the Party, the State, and the people; an invincible army that, together with the people, has achieved countless glorious victories; always ready to fight and sacrifice for the ideals of the Party and for the happiness of the people. To join the whole country in firmly entering an era of prosperity, development, and progress, the Party, the State, and the people believe that the Vietnam People's Army will continue to uphold its glorious tradition, continue to achieve outstanding victories, and together with the entire Party and people, firmly protect the socialist Fatherland of Vietnam.

In recognition of the immense contributions and outstanding achievements over the years, on this occasion, the President of Vietnam decided to award the Ho Chi Minh Order to the Vietnam People's Army. At the commemoration ceremony, on behalf of the Party and State leaders, General Secretary To Lam presented the Ho Chi Minh Order to the Vietnam People's Army.

Source: https://daidoanket.vn/tu-hao-quan-doi-nhan-dan-viet-nam-10296901.html