Building on the heroic legacy of the People’s Army, for the past 70 years (since the complete liberation of the Capital), generations of Hanoi veterans have consistently set a shining example, actively and effectively contributing to the cause of nation-building and defence. They have rightfully earned the trust of the Party committees, the government, and the people of the Capital as a reliable political force.

Following the historic victory at Dien Bien Phu and the signing of the Geneva Accords, on 10^th October 1954, the soldiers of the Capital Regiment, alongside the victorious army, marched in to take over and liberate Hanoi, bringing a glorious end to the resistance against French colonialists and marking the beginning of a new era of development for both the nation and the Capital.

However, under the terms of the Accords, only the North was fully liberated, leaving the South under enemy domination. In this context, answering the call of the Fatherland, the sons and daughters of Hanoi once again set out to battle across various fronts. Regardless of their location, the unwavering resolve and spirit of “Determined to Brave Death for the Survival of the Fatherland” has been carried forward by successive generations of Hanoi’s soldiers, leading to resounding victories. Notably, alongside their compatriots, they triumphed over the strategic air raids launched by the US imperialists, safeguarding the capital and securing the “Hanoi - Dien Bien Phu in the air” victory in December 1972. This victory played a significant role in the eventual success of the nation’s struggle for independence and reunification.

Standing Deputy Secretary of Hanoi Party Committee, per procurationem of the state leader,  presents the Third-class Labour Medal for Hanoi Veterans' Association

In the current phase of national construction and defence, particularly since the establishment of the Hanoi Veterans’ Association, under the leadership of the Central Veterans’ Association of Vietnam, the Hanoi City Party Committee, and its People’s Committee, the Association has continued to uphold the tradition and values of the “Uncle Ho’s Soldiers.” They have firmly established themselves as a trustworthy socio-political organisation for the Party, the government, and the people of the capital. All levels of the Association have tirelessly contributed, leading by example in all local and grassroots activities. They have actively participated in building and safeguarding the Party and the government, serving as a vital bridge between the Party, the authorities, and the people. Their efforts have fostered unity, harnessing collective strength to successfully implement the policies of the Party, State, and the City on socio-economic development, strengthening national defence and security, and developing Hanoi in line with its stature as a heroic capital, steeped in millennia of civilisation. In doing so, they have made meaningful contributions to the cause of national construction and defence.

Currently, alongside the multifaceted impacts of global and regional developments, hostile forces are intensifying their efforts to undermine our nation’s revolution across all fields. Traditional and non-traditional security challenges continue to grow in both complexity and scale. In response, Hanoi is concentrating on implementing Resolution No.15-NQ/TW, dated 5^th May 2022, issued by the Politburo (the 13^th Tenure), which outlines the “Direction and tasks for the development of Hanoi Capital to 2030, with a vision towards 2045.” To contribute to the Party, government, and people of the capital in achieving the set goals and targets, the Hanoi Veterans’ Association continues to uphold the spirit of “Uncle Ho’s Soldiers” and the tradition of “Loyalty - Solidarity - Exemplarity - Innovation,” actively participating in the construction and defence of the Fatherland through various policies and solutions, focusing on the following key aspects:

Firstly, the Association will continue to play a pivotal role as a core political force, leading by example in building and safeguarding the Party, the government, and the socialist regime. Bearing in mind that participating in the building of a clean, strong Party and government is both a central political task and a practical social activity contributing to the Party’s and the nation’s revolutionary cause, the Hanoi Veterans’ Association will continue to closely coordinate with organisations and forces across the Capital. They will actively monitor the situation, advise, communicate, and effectively participate in the implementation of the Project on “Improving the quality of participation in the construction and protection of the Party, the government, the socialist regime, and the people, contributing to the successful implementation of the City’s Party Congress Resolution.” The Association will focus on renewing its operational methods to align with practical conditions and promote the pioneering, exemplary role of its members in implementing the City’s key programmes.

In line with existing regulations on supervision and social critique, the Association at all levels will actively and proactively engage in providing feedback and contributing to socio-economic development plans, with a focus on enhancing national defence and security. The Association will also participate in movements such as building new rural areas and civilised urban environments, as well as policies concerning social welfare and policies for those who have contributed to the nation, in line with the tasks and solutions outlined in the Politburo’s Resolution No.15-NQ/TW. Furthermore, the Association will contribute research and recommendations for the draft political reports and personnel work for the Party Congresses at all levels for the 2025-2030 term. It will also actively counter and refute erroneous and hostile viewpoints, resolutely combat corruption, waste, and negative practices, and contribute to the construction of a clean, strong Party, government, and political system of the capital that operates effectively and efficiently.

President of the Hanoi Veterans' Association encourages new servicemen

Secondly, the Association will set an example by complying with and promoting the Party’s directives, policies, and the State’s laws, encouraging the people of the capital to follow suit. As former soldiers who sacrificed their youth and blood to defend the nation, the veterans, though no longer as physically strong as before, remain spirited, and with the motto of “veteran but not outdated,” they not only lead by example in adhering to the Party’s policies and the State’s laws but also actively encourage the public to do the same. In recent years, the Association at all levels has closely coordinated with local military units to participate in defence zone exercises and campaigns to encourage youth to enlist in the army. They have also taken part in guard duties, maintaining political security, social order and safety, and traffic safety within their localities. They have worked with the Hanoi Public Security to effectively prevent and combat illegal protests and incitement to unrest. Notably, at the end of 2019, when the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, in the spirit of “Fighting the pandemic like fighting the enemy,” the City’s veterans stood side by side with the government, organisations, and people, working day and night to guard and prevent the spread of the disease. They actively coordinated in raising awareness, ensuring that the people understood and adhered to the City’s policies and regulations in combating the pandemic, fostering unity, consensus, and the collective strength of national solidarity to push back the disease and protect the health and lives of the people.

Building on these achievements, in the coming time, the Association must enhance the dissemination of the Party’s, State’s, and City’s policies to each member. Key among these are the Central Resolution No.8 (the 13^th Tenure) on the Strategy for National Defence in the New Situation, the Civil Defence Law, the revised Capital Law, the Military Service Law, the Master Plan for Hanoi Capital until 2045 with a vision to 2065, and the Development Plan for Hanoi from 2021 to 2030 with a vision to 2050. On this basis, the Association will continue to push forward with the implementation of the Project on “Enhancing the dissemination of legal knowledge among veterans in Hanoi for the 2023-2025 period,” ensuring unified understanding and action. To achieve this effectively, the Association must work closely with the Fatherland Front and other socio-political organisations to develop communication plans and materials that are consistent, practical, and tailored to the target audience. Additionally, the “Hanoi Veterans’ Public Opinion Task Force” and its network of collaborators should play a pivotal role in gathering public sentiment and recommendations, allowing for effective propaganda and mobilisation efforts. The Association should continue to promote successful models such as: “Veterans Leading by Example in Safeguarding Political Security and Social Order,” “Veterans Leading by Example in Traffic Safety and Traffic Culture,” and “Capital Veterans Exemplary in Publicising Land Clearance for the Ring Road 4 Project and the Development of Modern Infrastructure for Hanoi.” These initiatives will contribute to the comprehensive development of a “Civilised - Cultural - Modern” Hanoi.

Thirdly, the Association must actively coordinate with the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and military agencies at all levels to promote patriotism and revolutionary traditions among the younger generation. Following President Ho Chi Minh’s teachings that “Nurturing the revolutionary generation for the future is a vital and necessary task,” during the 2019-2024 period, the Association signed and implemented numerous collaborative programmes with the Youth Union to educate the youth on revolutionary traditions. Through a wide range of activities, including historical witness exchanges, seminars, storytelling on wartime experiences, visits to historical and cultural sites, and cultural, artistic, and sports exchanges, the Association has engaged over 10,000 youth members and students. These activities have sparked patriotism, national pride, and a sense of responsibility among the youth in their studies, work, and contributions to nation-building and defence. Building on this success, the Association must continue innovating its educational content, methods, and approach, combining revolutionary tradition with ideological orientation to ensure relevance and effectiveness. The Association must also work closely with schools and mass organisations to develop practical education plans, paying special attention to major national holidays to inspire the younger generation. In particular, in celebrating the 70^th Anniversary of Hanoi’s Liberation, the Association should align its activities with the theme: “Hanoi - Capital of Conscience and Human Dignity - A Place of Convergence, Crystallisation, and Illumination of the Nation’s Noble Values,” ensuring that the educational plans and programmes for the youth are thoroughly reviewed and improved. Special emphasis should be placed on the role of “historical witnesses” in deeply conveying the “Sacrifice for the Nation’s Survival” spirit of previous generations, thereby passing the torch of tradition to the youth.

Alongside this, the Association will continue to strengthen ideological guidance and revolutionary vigilance among youth members through its joint programme with the Hanoi Youth Union for the 2023-2028 period. This programme focuses on “Promoting Revolutionary Ideals, Supporting Youth Entrepreneurship, and Mobilising Youth in Nation-Building and Defence.” Through this effort, the Association aims to foster a generation of Hanoi youth who are “Pure of Heart, Bright of Mind, and Ambitious of Spirit,” fully capable of inheriting and advancing the revolutionary cause of their predecessors.

Finally, the Association will drive innovation in the “Veterans Leading by Example” movement, ensuring the comprehensive development of the Association at all levels. Building on lessons learned from the 2019-2024 Veterans’ Exemplary Competition Congress in Hanoi, and the direction, objectives, and content for the 2024-2029 period, the Association must closely monitor practical conditions and encourage collective wisdom and democracy to formulate and perfect detailed, feasible plans and guidelines. The central aim of the “Veterans Leading by Example” movement must be aligned with the Association’s and the City’s key political tasks, with a focus on new and challenging local issues. During implementation, the Association must raise awareness and responsibility among its members, encouraging broad participation and fostering an active and creative spirit. The Association should also explore and propose new, practical models while expanding successful initiatives such as the “Veterans Leading by Example in Safeguarding Political Security and Social Order” and “Veterans Publicising Legal Education Linked with Revolutionary Tradition.” These efforts should focus on urgent political tasks for the City, such as land clearance for key defence, security, and economic development projects, and the renovation of old apartment blocks. The movement must be tightly linked with other national and local campaigns, particularly the “Veterans Helping Each Other in Economic Development and Sustainable Poverty Reduction” initiative, creating a driving force for the comprehensive strengthening of the Association. By doing so, the Association will continue to uphold its role as a core political force, a reliable support for the Party and government at all levels, and a vital bridge between the Party, the State, and the people. This will contribute significantly to the success of the national renovation and the development of Hanoi.

Major General LE NHU DUC, President of the Hanoi Veterans’ Association