Proud of the Heroic City

Where the last French soldiers withdrew from Vietnam

Hai Phong is the land of the waves, the wind, the eastern "fence" of the Fatherland, having a strategic position in the entire process of building and defending the country of our people. Hai Phong people with their passionate patriotism, bravery, resilience, dynamism, and creativity, have witnessed and participated in many decisive and strategic battles in the war of national liberation and defense of the Fatherland.

After the 1954 Geneva Agreement, Hai Phong became the last area in the North still under the control of French colonialists. The 300-day struggle to take over the city demonstrated the Party's ingenuity and political mettle, combining diplomatic, military and mass struggles to force the French to withdraw peacefully, preserving the infrastructure and people's lives intact.

On July 20, 1954, the Agreement on Ending the War and Restoring Peace in Indochina was signed in Geneva. France pledged to withdraw its troops from the three Indochinese countries. The Agreement on the Cessation of Hostilities in Vietnam stipulated that the temporary military demarcation line for the two sides to regroup was the 17th parallel: the Vietnam People's Army was north of the demarcation line, the French army was south of the demarcation line. The withdrawal and transfer schedule of the French army was stipulated: Hanoi perimeter 80 days, Hai Duong perimeter 100 days, Hai Phong perimeter 300 days.

As the most important strategic location of the 300-day assembly area, with a system of seaports, Cat Bi airport, Kien An airport, Do Son airport... Hai Phong - Kien An became the only bridge between the South and the North during this period. This was where the French colonialists transported soldiers to the South, together with the US imperialists, carried out a plot to sabotage the Geneva Agreement, and planted spies before withdrawing from the North.

This struggle lasted for 300 days, until May 13, 1955, when the French army withdrew from Hai Phong, ending the struggle to implement the Geneva Agreement in the city. This was also the event that marked the complete liberation of the North. From here, the North entered a new period - economic and cultural recovery and the transition period to socialism.

Rare photos on the day of Hai Phong's liberation show a regular, elite Vietnam People's Army that has continuously grown after many hardships. Photo source: Flickr.

Hai Phong was cleared of enemies, the North was completely liberated. The port city was bustling when the train carrying the red flag with yellow star and Uncle Ho's picture entered the port. Factories, offices and ships simultaneously sounded long whistles to welcome the glorious historical day of the port city and the nation. The red flag with yellow star of victory proudly fluttered in the sky of Hai Phong, signaling the beginning of a new page of history. On May 13, 1955, the heroic moment of glory of the city "Loyalty - Determination to Win" was forever engraved in the memory of the people of the port city. In Nhan Dan Newspaper, he was moved to write lines of pride and admiration: “After more than 80 years of humiliation, today Hai Phong has risen up to liberate itself. Throughout the streets, red flags with yellow stars flutter brilliantly like flowers blooming in spring. Tens of thousands of compatriots, old and young, men and women, of all classes, spread out to welcome the soldiers and cadres. Everyone's faces were like flowers blooming in spring. The years of enduring hardship and fighting in solidarity have had glorious results. The North has been completely liberated. Hai Phong has been completely liberated.”

The victory of the struggle was the basis for creating conditions to build Hai Phong into one of the important industrial, economic, commercial and defense centers of the North, contributing significantly to building a strong North, becoming a revolutionary base of the whole country, becoming a great rear base of the great front line of the South in the resistance war against the US to save the country.

With those outstanding feats and achievements, the Party Committee, army and people of Hai Phong, Uncle Ho sent letters of praise three times and presented the rotating flag "Determination to defeat the American invaders" and was awarded many noble medals by the Party and State.

During the years 1955-1965, Hai Phong was the place where patriotic emulation movements were implemented, the origin of the "Sea Waves" emulation movement in industrial production, and also the beginning of the emulation movement to build socialist labor teams and groups in the North. To support the Southern battlefield, Wharf K15 was built. This was the secret departure place of the unnumbered ships, the beginning of the epic at sea: the legendary Ho Chi Minh trail, which became a proud symbol of the nation, the embodiment of the will and aspiration for independence, freedom and national unification. Many officers and sailors of the "unnumbered" ships were the outstanding sons of Hai Phong. During these years, beloved President Ho Chi Minh visited Hai Phong 9 times. His teachings will forever be a precious legacy, guiding the development of Hai Phong yesterday, today and forever...

During the years 1965 - 1975, Hai Phong was the focus of attacks by American aircraft and warships. The Party Committee, army and people of Hai Phong promoted the tradition of "Loyalty - Determination to Win" to fight and win, shooting down 317 American aircraft, breaking the siege and blockade of the port with enemy mines, ensuring smooth traffic in all situations. In 1969, the great President Ho Chi Minh passed away, Hai Phong was honored and proud to have successfully produced P.600 cement to build his mausoleum. During the war years, tens of thousands of Hai Phong's outstanding sons "Cut through Truong Son to save the country", countless people remained with the Truong Son mountain range, and transformed into Vietnamese land. The Fatherland will forever be grateful for that noble sacrifice.

The last French soldiers boarded a ship leaving Hai Phong under the supervision of two Vietnamese People's Army officers at Ben Nghieng.

Hai Phong becomes champion in the Competitiveness Index ranking

During the years 1976 - 1985, Hai Phong together with the whole country carried out two strategic tasks: building and defending the Fatherland. Hai Phong is the origin of the product contracting mechanism in agricultural production. Those creative steps and approaches of Hai Phong contributed to the formation of the Party's comprehensive innovation policy.

From 1986 to present, Hai Phong has undergone a strong transformation, with many breakthrough policies, leaving many outstanding marks in all fields. Especially in more than 5 years of implementing Resolution 45 of the Politburo, Hai Phong has achieved many outstanding results, always being in the top of the country in many aspects. In 2024, Hai Phong's economic scale rose to the 5th position in the country; the highest economic growth rate among the 5 localities with the largest economic scale. Hai Phong is the only locality in the country to maintain a double-digit growth rate for 10 consecutive years; budget revenue ranked 3rd in the country; attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) ranked 2nd in the country.

On May 6, for the first time, Hai Phong City was recognized and evaluated by the business community as the locality holding the first position among 63 provinces and cities nationwide. In the era of national development, the private economy is identified as the most important economic driving force of the national economy, the "lever for a prosperous Vietnam". The mission of Hai Phong City is to take the lead in the cause of industrialization and modernization; to become a modern international port city, on par with typical Asian cities...

In the coming time, Hai Phong is determined to unlock development drivers, focus on implementing reforms and breakthroughs in administrative organization; create modern, transparent and open development institutions; focus on investing in modern urban infrastructure and transportation systems; support businesses in developing science, technology, innovation, digital transformation, green transformation, etc.

Wherever the French army withdrew, our army immediately took over Hai Phong.

The Provincial Competitiveness Index, which has been conducted periodically since 2005, is one of the indicators to assess the ability of local governments to build a business environment and attract investment. Hai Phong, from 3rd place last year, rose to first place in this list with 74.84 points. This is the third consecutive year that the city has been in the top 3 localities with the best economic management quality. Hai Phong has also maintained a 7-year streak in the top 10 leading provinces and cities nationwide in the Competitiveness Index...

On the occasion of the 135th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birthday (May 19, 1890 - May 19, 2025), the 70th anniversary of Hai Phong Liberation Day (May 13, 1955 - May 13, 2025), Hai Phong Museum and Library in collaboration with Ho Chi Minh Museum organized the thematic exhibition "Hai Phong - Faith and aspiration to rise up".

Part I: Using our own strength to liberate ourselves (1888 -1955) From very early on, Nguyen Ai Quoc highly appreciated the importance of Hai Phong as the "Great Port of Bac Ky", an important traffic hub on the international maritime route and an industrial center of the whole country...

Part II: Hai Phong - The City of Loyalty and Victory (1955 - 1975) After 20 years of the resistance war against the American imperialists (1955 - 1975), the Party Committee, army and people of the city continued to promote the tradition of loyalty and victory and successfully completed two strategic tasks: defeating the American invaders and building socialism, making an important contribution to the liberation of the South and national reunification.

After the liberation, in 10 years (1955 - 1965), while actively building and developing the economy, Hai Phong enthusiastically competed in labor and production, becoming the homeland of the "Sea Waves" emulation movement in industrial production, the small stone group Ca A became the "leading bird" of the movement to build socialist labor teams..., the cradle to nurture students - children of Southern cadres who gathered in the North to study.

During the 10-year period from 1965 to 1975, following his teaching "Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom", the Party Committee, army and people of Hai Phong united in "fighting well, producing well", wholeheartedly devoting human and material resources to support the great frontline in the South, ensuring "not a pound of rice was missing, not a soldier was missing".

With the competitive spirit of “Steady hand with hammer, steady hand with gun”, the people of the city enthusiastically work in production and protect their homeland. Hai Phong is also the starting point of the “unnumbered” ships that make up the legendary Ho Chi Minh trail on the sea…

Part III: Hai Phong - Reaching new heights (1975 - 2025)After nearly 40 years of implementing the renovation policy, Hai Phong today is developing at an unprecedented speed with a new look and new momentum. It is the first and only locality in the country to achieve double-digit growth for 10 consecutive years, continuing to be in the top of the country in economic development. Hai Phong is and will reach new heights, worthy of being the most dynamic economic development center of the region, worthy of becoming a "model city in the country" as wished by beloved Uncle Ho.

With nearly 400 documents, images and artifacts, the thematic exhibition highlights President Ho Chi Minh's special affection and concern for Hai Phong city as well as the journey of building, protecting and developing the city. Since the liberation (May 13, 1955), from a traditional industrial and seaport city, Hai Phong city has risen to become one of the major economic centers of Vietnam, a key growth pole in the Northern region, currently in the group of 5 localities with the leading economic scale in the country. The city's GRDP scale in 2024 is 6.32 times higher than in 2010, 1.62 times higher than in 2020. Hai Phong is the only locality with double-digit growth for 10 consecutive years, with a rate of 11.01% in 2024, 1.55 times higher than the national average.

In the period of 2021-2024, the average growth rate will reach 11.53%/year. The economic structure of the city continues to shift towards modernization and urbanization, reducing the proportion of the agricultural, forestry and fishery sectors, increasing the proportion of the industrial - construction and service sectors. Within the economic sectors, the proportion of high-tech and modern sectors will gradually increase.

Phuong Uyen - Minh Chau

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/tu-hao-thanh-pho-anh-hung-post548103.html