Speech By Comrade To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam

At the National Ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification 

(Ho Chi Minh City, 30 April 2025) 

Comrades Leaders and former Leaders of the Party, State, and the Viet Nam Fatherland Front! 

Venerable revolutionaries, Heroic Vietnamese Mothers, Heroes of the  People’s Armed Forces, Heroes of Labor, generals, officers, veterans, and families with contributions to the cause of the Nation! 

Distinguished international guests, 

Dear compatriots, comrades and soldiers across Viet Nam, and overseas  compatriots, 

Today, in the stirring atmosphere of the historic 30th of April, in the heroic  city bearing the name of our beloved and revered President Ho Chi Minh, we, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, the President of  the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, the National Assembly and the Government of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, and the Central Committee of the Viet  Nam Fatherland Front, are honored to hold this solemn ceremony in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and  reunification of Viet Nam! Here stands the most illustrious milestone in Viet Nam’s history of national construction and defense, marking the resounding end  of the resilient struggle spanning thirty years for national independence, freedom  and reunification, that put to an end the yoke of old and neo-colonialism alike, and took Viet Nam into a new era of national independence and socialism.

On behalf of the leaders of the Party, State and the Central Committee of  the Viet Nam Fatherland Front, I offer my warmest welcome, most respectful  salutations and finest wishes to the comrades leaders and former leaders of the  Party, State and the Viet Nam Fatherland Front, to the revered revolutionaries and  Heroic Mothers of Viet Nam, to the Heroes of the People’s Armed Forces and 

Heroes of Labor, to the generals, officers, soldiers, veterans, self-defense militia,  guerrilla fighters, youth volunteers, frontline workers, and families with  contributions to the cause of the Nation, to all international guests, comrades and compatriots throughout Viet Nam and overseas fellow Vietnamese, and to the  Party Committee, authorities and people of Ho Chi Minh City. 

In this sacred moment, we solemnly commemorate and express our  boundless gratitude for the immeasurable contributions of our beloved and revered President Ho Chi Minh, the ingenious leader of our Party and nation, the  great teacher of the Vietnamese revolution, the Hero of National Liberation and  Great Man of Culture of the Vietnamese nation, and an eminent fighter of the international communist and workers’ movement. Ardent was his desire for the  liberation of the South and national reunification, and unwavering was his trust in the country’s ultimate victory: “No matter how arduous the struggle may be, our people will certainly triumph, our Fatherland will certainly be reunified, and our  compatriots from North to South will once again be of one family.” 

We shall forever remember and remain deeply grateful for the grand  contributions of revolutionary leaders before us, of heroes and martyrs, of Heroic  Mothers of Viet Nam, of Heroes of the People’s Armed Forces, of generations of officials, generals, officers, soldiers, militia, guerrilla fighters, youth volunteers  and frontline workers, of ill and wounded veterans, of families of martyrs and  those with contributions to the Revolution, of various field veterans, the entire Armed Forces and the people of Viet Nam from every locality, as well as  Vietnamese nationals overseas, who had made tremendous sacrifices in the cause of complete liberation of the South and reunification of the nation. 

We extend our heartfelt gratitude for the immense and invaluable support  and assistance given in altruism and faithful solidarity by international brothers,  comrades, friends and the progressive forces and peace-loving peoples around  the world to the Vietnamese people’s struggle for national liberation and  reunification. 

Dear comrades, compatriots, and guests, 

Immediately following the victory of the August Revolution of 1945 and  the birth of the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam, our people was thrust into two protracted wars of resistance to defend national independence and deliver  reunification. As the resistance against French colonialism concluded vitoriously,  like many other nations in the world, the Vietnamese people desired peace,  independence and freedom. Yet U.S. imperialism swiftly intervened and supplanted France in Viet Nam. They designed to divide Viet Nam and turn the South into a neo-colony, a so-called bastion against communism in Southeast  Asia and other international progressive movements globally. In their invasion of  Viet Nam, U.S. imperialism marshaled a vast number of troops, armed with the  most advanced, cutting-edge weapons of the time, conducted a multitude of  dangerous methods of warfare and two brutal wars of destruction against the  North. The losses and sufferings they caused were innumerable to our people in  both regions, and the consequences remain to this very day. 

Faced with a multitude of adversities, sufferings and brutality, yet, by  upholding the proud tradition of resistance against foreign invasion of our forefathers, building upon the lessons gleaned throughout the protracted resistance war against French colonialism, harnessing the power of the people and  the all-nation solidarity through bravery, wisdom and foresight, and making the most of the support from international friends, progressive forces and peace 

loving peoples worldwide, under the leadership our Party and President Ho Chi  Minh, the entire Army and people of Viet Nam pursued two strategic tasks all at  once: the Socialist revolution in the North, and the national democratic revolution  in the South, with the strong resolve to drive out foreign invaders. 

Driven by the ardent desire to defend Viet Nam’s independence and deliver  national reunification, and the spirit of “Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom”, across Viet Nam, “from Nam Quan gate to Ca Mau  cape”, the whole nation stood together to resolutely drive out the invaders. Everywhere in Viet Nam is emblazoned with the mark of bravery, sacrifice and  heroic battlefield exploits of our Army and people. With an indomitable will to “march onward to liberate the South”, our Army and People recorded one victory  after another, dismantling enemy forces piece by piece, culminating to the complete triumph, with its apex being the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign that  finally reunified the country. 

The years will come and go, yet the victory of our people in the resistance  against U.S. aggression for national salvation shall be etched forever in the  annals of the nation as a shining symbol of revolutionary heroism, and as the triumph of justice, of Viet Nam’s willpower, valor and wisdom, of patriotism  and the fervent desire for national independence, freedom and reunification,  under the axiom “Viet Nam is one, and the people of Viet Nam is one.” This milestone affirms that our Party, people and Army were able to fulfil Uncle Ho’s  most heartfelt wish and profound teaching: that is, to complete the liberation of  the South, reunite Viet Nam, and bring the North and South back under one roof. 

The triumphant resistance against the U.S. for national salvation stemmed  from the correct and innovative leadership of the Party. This entails the People’s War conducted with the collective strength of the great national unity and  international solidarity, the combination of military, political and diplomatic  struggles, and the art of seizing opportunities to organize a coordinated general uprising and offensive. The victory is owed, too, to the power of the grand  homefront of the North in support of the grand frontline of the South, espousing the spirit of “Not one kilogram of rice short, not one single soldier short, we shall split open the Truong Son range to deliver national salvation”. It was also  thanks to the immense, altruistic and effective assistance from the Soviet Union,  China and fraternal socialist countries, to the special solidarity between Viet  Nam, Laos and Cambodia, and the support from the people and peace-loving,  progressive forces around the world, including the progressive American people. Most strikingly, the Great Victory of Spring 1975 also, in turn, was a fervent  source of inspiration for national liberation movements worldwide for peace,  national independence, democracy and social progress. It marked the beginning  of the demise of neocolonialism across the globe, and ushered in a watershed  moment in human history in the 20th century. 

Along with its epochal significance, the Great Victory of Spring 1975  offered invaluable lessons, in theory and in praxis, for the revolutionary cause of  our Party and nation. These included: 

(1) Harnessing the strength of the people and the great national unity, and the  seamless combination of the strength of the nation and that of the time. 

(2) Making every effort to uphold patriotism, national pride and dignity, the  spirit of independence, self-reliance, courage and resilience, and the determination  to fight and seize victory of our entire Party, people and Army. 

(3) Holding high the banner of national independence and socialism, and  identifying a correct path in accordance with the conditions and characteristics of  the revolution in Viet Nam. 

(4) Creatively applying and developing methods of conducting a  comprehensive revolutionary struggle and People’s War, and establishing the theory behind the People’s War and a creative, unique art of warfare “to contend  with the many by the few”, and “to use benevolence to supplant tyranny”. 

(5) Identifying and seizing opportunities, and advancing in a bold, rapid,  proactive, sharp, flexible and creative manner, with which the General Offensive  and Uprising of Spring 1975 arrived at its full victory 

(6) Embracing compassion for others, national reconciliation, and setting  aside the past to strive towards the future after the victory.  

(7) And the most important lesson of all, one of decisive significance behind the Great Victory of Spring 1975, was that of maintaining the Party’s complete  leadership, giving due attention to building a strong party in all respect, and bolster  the Party’s leadership and combativeness throughout the entire struggle for national  liberation and reunification, and in defense of the gains that socialism has won. 

Dear compatriots, comrades, and guests, 

Building upon the invaluable lessons from the victory of the resistance  war against U.S. aggression for national salvation, under the leadership of the  Party, our entire people and Army have joined hands and hearts to embark on  the journey of national reconstruction, rejuvenation, building and development,  as per Uncle Ho’s last wishes: “My last desire is that our whole Party and  people should stand in solidarity, striving to build a Viet Nam of peace, unity,  independence, democracy and affluence, that would play a commensurate part  in the international revolutionary cause. After fifty years of national  reunification and nearly forty years of Doi Moi, Viet Nam has overcome a  multitude of difficulties and challenges to achieve immense triumphs of historic  significance, building for ourselves the fortune, the power, the international standing and prestige that we enjoy today, From a poor, backward country  ravaged by war, under embargo and isolation, today Viet Nam has become a  developing country approaching upper-middle income, that is deeply integrated  into international politics, the global economy, and the civilization of humankind. We have assumed a multitude of international responsibilities and  are playing an active role at various prominent international organizations and  multilateral forums. National independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity are secure and national interests guaranteed. Viet Nam’s economy last  year ranked 32nd globally in size, counting itself as one of the top 20 economies in terms of trade volume and investment attraction in the world. The people’s  living standards have been markedly improved, and poverty rate is on a sharp  decline to 1.93% according to the multidimensional poverty standard, compared to 60% in 1986. Economic, political, cultural, social, scientific, technological,  defense and security capabilities have all been steadily enhanced. Viet Nam has  also further expanded its external ties and elevated its international standing and prestige. Viet Nam today enjoys diplomatic relations with 194 members of the  United Nations, and has established strategic and comprehensive strategic partnerships with all major powers in the world, including the United States,  with whom this year we celebrate 30 years of diplomatic ties. 

Dear compatriots, comrades, and guests, 

Half a century has passed. With the remarkable achievements recorded,  we are at the threshold of a new historic era of national advancement “to stand  side-by-side with the powers of the five continents”. To deliver on the aspiration of building a Viet Nam “ten times greater than what it is now”, we must unleash  all productive forces, mobilize all resources, build on the entirety of our nation’s  potential and strength of our country to drive robust socio-economic  development. This year, we are setting our sight on an economic growth of 8%  or higher, and a two-digit growth between 2026 and 2030. We are determined to successfully implement our strategic targets – to become a developing country  with a modern industrial base and upper-middle income by 2030, and a socialist oriented developed, high-income country by 2045. We will focus on fully  addressing bottlenecks and barriers in our developmental institutions, adjust economic and expand development spaces, step up decentralization and  delegation of authority, allocate and combine economic resources, establish a new growth model driven mainly by science, technology, innovation and digital  transformation to bring about a strong quantitative improvement in productivity,  quality, effectiveness and competitiveness of the economy, and identify the  private sector as a most important driver of the national economy. We will  continue to break new ground in thinking and methods, generating new  productive drivers, productive forces, and quality. 

With our pride in the glorious history of our nation and our boundless  appreciation for the contributions and sacrifices beyond words by our soldiers  and compatriots across the whole country, we become all the more conscious of  our responsibility to deliver on Uncle Ho’s teaching before his departure: Our Party must put in place a truly sound plan for economic and cultural  development to continually improve the lives of our people”. Taking good care  of the people and ensuring ever better material and spiritual lives of the people, especially those living in remote areas, border and island localities, and former  revolutionary and resistance bases, have always been a target to which the Party  strives. We must focus on adopting just policy instruments for social progress, security and welfare, and for those who had contributed to the revolution. Free  primary and secondary education will be delivered, and determined efforts be  made on the program to put an end to temporary housings and slums across the country and build more social housing for low-income people. Healthcare and  medical services for the people shall also be given due attention as we move towards free universal healthcare, so that all Vietnamese will truly enjoy a life of  safety, security, freedom, wellbeing and happiness. 

Being fully aware of the immense and unparalleled power of the people and  the great national unity, we must instill in ourselves a deep understanding of the  view that “the people is the root”, the heart, the actor and the purpose of national construction, development and defense, and consistently act upon that notion. We  will continue to implement the policy of national unity and reconciliation, mindful that we are all born of the blood of Lac Hong and are brothers and sisters: “trees of  the same root, children of the same family” so to speak. All Vietnamese are sons  and daughters of this country. All are entitled to live, to work, to pursue their happiness and love on their home soil, as well as enjoy the right and have the  responsibility to contribute to building the Fatherland. In the spirit of putting the  past behind, respecting differences, and striving towards the future, the whole Party, people and Army shall make every effort to build a Viet Nam of peace,  unity, happiness, prosperity and development. 

As a nation that has endured profound suffering and loss from the ravages  of war, and as one that has reaped the great rewards of peace, cooperation, and  friendship over recent decades, Viet Nam earnestly aspires to join the international community in building a future of peace, prosperity, solidarity, and  sustainable development. Let us commit ourselves today to doing all that we  can, with the hope of bequeathing to future generations not only a better world,  but also a lasting legacy of trust, admiration, and pride in the sense of  responsibility and wisdom demonstrated by our time. 

We will continue to deepen our bonds of friendship and cooperation with  nations of the world, and further advance the motto of “Viet Nam is a friend, a reliable partner, and an active and responsible member of the international  community”. We are committed to further innovating our policies and  mechanisms to best facilitate the undertakings of international friends and the overseas Vietnamese community, of those who embrace the Vietnamese cultural  identity, and of those who have matured and established themselves in developed countries, who are well-versed in professional and administrative know-hows and  have an extensive international network to count on, so that they can be part of the socio-economic development drive in Viet Nam. The celebration of fifty years  since the liberation of the South and national reunification is also a historic moment  for the entire Vietnamese nation, people from all walks of life, compatriots across various ethnicities and religions, Party members and all Vietnamese nationals both  at home and abroad, to stand together millions as one in the common effort to build  their Fatherland, as we strive for a strong, prosperous, progressive and happy Viet Nam. 

In a world of increasingly complex and unpredictable developments, and  as a nation having suffered so much losses and pain from past wars, we are deeply aware of the value of peace, independence and freedom. As such, we  must continue to strengthen and modernize Viet Nam’s national defense and security, and build an all-people national defense service for peace and self defense, in order to steadfastly defend the Fatherland “at an early stage” and  “from afar” while “the country is yet in danger”. It is necessary to build and robustly marshal the defensive posture of the people’s heart, and consolidate the  whole-of-people national defense and security posture. We shall focus on building a People’s Army and People’s Public Security Force that are  revolutionary, regular, elite and modern, as the core force to firmly defend the Fatherland’s independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, as the  “treasured sword and shield” to defend the Party, the State, the people, and the  socialist polity, and as the perennial support for our people. 

As we take pride in the glorious Party and the remarkable exploits that our  Army and People had achieved under the Party’s leadership, we must redouble our efforts to build an untarnished, strong and well-rounded Party, so that it would truly  be “moral and civilization” embodied, representing the intellect, honor and conscience of the nation and the time, and living up to the trust, the choice and the  expectation of the people. We will, therefore, continue to innovate the method of  leadership and governance of the Party, and enhance its combativeness, and successfully carry out the revolutionary streamlining of the political apparatus and  administrative divisions, ensuring that said system would be compact, effective and  efficient in its operation. It is also necessary to refine mechanisms for power control, and resolutely combat corruption, extravagance, negativity and  bureaucratic inefficiency. In addition, we will cultivate a pool of capable cadres at  all levels, especially strategic-level officials and leaders with necessary qualities, and wisdom, that are driven and dedicated, and that dare to think, act and take  responsibility in the interest of our country and people. 

Dear compatriots, comrades, and guests, 

As we celebrate 50 years of the liberation of the South and national  reunification, the International Workers’ Day, the 135th anniversary of the birth of  President Ho Chi Minh and other important milestones this year, on behalf of the leaders of the Party, State, and the Viet Nam Fatherland Front, let me once again  give my heartfelt gratitude to our compatriots and comrades as a whole, those who  had selflessly sacrificed themselves for the Fatherland. And I thank you, the peace 

loving peoples and friends, and progressive forces around the world, who have  given your support and assistance to the people of Viet Nam in the struggle for  national liberation in the past, and in our national construction and defense of today. 

Let us build upon the spirit of the Great Victory of Spring 1975 and the  values and triumphs over the past 40 years of Doi Moi. The entire Party, people  and Army shall make every effort to successfully fulfil the 2021-2025 Five-Year Socio-Economic Development Plan, and emulate one another to achieve greater  successes to welcome the Party Congresses at all levels in the lead-up to the 14th National Party Congress. Endowed, as we are, by the will, intellect and strength of Viet Nam, we have brought about the Great Victory of Spring 1975. There is,  then, no reason why we cannot reap greater triumphs and forge new miracles in  the new era of prosperity, civilization and abundance, the era of national advancement, and transform Viet Nam into a “better and more magnificent  country”, to stand side-by-side with the powers of the five continents, as per  President Ho Chi Minh’s wish and the aspiration of our entire nation. 

May the spirit of the Great Victory of Spring 1975 remain imperishable! Long live the glorious Communist Party of Viet Nam! 

Long live the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam! 

Glory eternal belongs to the people! 

May President Ho Chi Minh forever live on in our cause!