70 years ago, on September 2^nd 1945, at Ba Dinh Square, on behalf of the nation and its people, President Ho Chi Minh delivered the Declaration of Independence announcing the birth of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam – the first worker-peasant State in Southeast Asia. The Declaration was short, but it included immortal contents which had not only historical value for the Vietnamese nation but also great significance of the times.

Illustrative photo

First, the Declaration supported progressive views on human rights, and from human rights, Ho Chi Minh upgraded them to rights of nations. At the beginning of the Declaration, Ho Chi Minh quoted the US Declaration of Independence written by Thomas Jefferson and delivered on July 4^th 1776 as follows: “All men are created equal, they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”. He also mentioned views on freedom, equality and humanity in French Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen 1791: “All men are born and remain free and equal in rights”. Those are immortal views on human rights and truths to be self-evident.

By recognizing freedom and equality of men, Ho Chi Minh came to affirm the rights of nations: “All the peoples on the earth are equal from birth, all the peoples have a right to live, to be happy and free”. Holding the national flag and fighting for basic rights of the Vietnamese and worldwide peoples are an outstanding view of Ho Chi Minh.

Second, in the Declaration, Ho Chi Minh strongly accused and condemned colonialist exploitation of Vietnam that went against the propaganda of colonialists and imperialists in their colonies.

Colonialists’ ruling policies and tricks demonstrated their brutality and hostility towards small and weak nations under their rule. Fighting against colonialism and imperialism for liberty is a vital demand to protect legitimate rights of life and national self-determination. The Vietnamese nation’s struggle led by the Communist Party and Ho Chi Minh was successful, making contribution to the development of theory, politics, and practice of colony’s revolution – an integral part or even focal point of the world revolution in the 20^th century. In the 1920s, Nguyen Ai Quoc was the first man who wrote a verdict on the colonial regime. In the Declaration of Independence, his accusation more clarified the nature of colonialism, awakening nations in the struggle for their right to live. Therefore, the Declaration itself was significant to both Vietnam and the times. The 1945 August Revolution was a typical revolution for national liberation, contributing to the development of theory and practice of nation issues.

Third, the Declaration highlighted the Vietnamese people’s struggle for independence and freedom against French and Japanese invasion; at the same time, affirming practical value and legal foundation of the independent Vietnam. It clearly stated that ‘the truth is that we have gained our independence from the Japanese, not from the French. The French have fled, the Japanese have capitulated, and Emperor Bao Dai has abdicated. Our people overthrew the colonist regime which for nearly a century have fettered them and have won independence for the Fatherland. Our people then ousted the monarchic regime that reigned supreme for centuries to establish the Democratic Republic”. That was the heroic historical reality of Vietnam made by the whole people’s strength, the great solidarity, the thirst for independence and freedom, and the leadership of the Communist Party and President Ho Chi Minh. That historical reality changed the status of a nation, “a process of history”, and also life of each Vietnamese citizen, ushering in a new era and creating a motivation for the country’s sustainable development.

Besides, the Declaration clarified legal ground for the independence of Vietnam. “We are convinced that the Allied nations which at Tehran and San Francisco have acknowledged the principles of self-determination and equality of nations, will not refuse to acknowledge the independence of Vietnam”. “A nation which has courageously fought against French domination for more than eight years, a nation which has fought side by side with the Allies against the Fascists during these last years, such a nation deserved to be free and independent. For these reasons, we, members of the Provisional Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, solemnly declare to the world that Vietnam has the right to be a free and independent country—and in fact is so already. The entire Vietnamese people are determined to mobilize all their physical and mental strength, to sacrifice their lives and property in order to safeguard their independence and liberty”.

The 1945 August Revolution in Vietnam is a typical revolution for national liberation, in which a colony nation fought against colonialists and fascists, eventually liberated themselves  in the last days of the Second World War. That was the outcome of 15-year struggle led by the Communist Party and President Ho Chi Minh. Ho Chi Minh’s decision “we must resolutely gain our independence even if Truong Son range has to be burn out” was supported by the Tan Trao Congress. Mr. L.A. Partti, an American, commented that “In the Congress, they declared their determination to gain independence and voted Ho Chi Minh as their leader”. That typical struggle for national liberation, along with the historic Declaration of Independence encouraged oppressed nations to liberate themselves. That is the truth of the times: “All the peoples on the earth are equal from birth, all peoples have a right to live, to be happy and free”. The revolution has just broken out, the Declaration of Independence has just been delivered, but they soon had dramatic impacts, drawing worldwide countries’ attention. That revolution, as Mr. L.A. Partti said, ushered in an era.

Assoc Prof, PhD Nguyen Trong Phuc

Nguyen Cao Son