Building on the glorious 80-year tradition of the Vietnam People’s Army in construction, combat, victory, and development, agencies and units continue to deeply grasp and effectively implement the function of the “Army for work”, enhancing the work of mass mobilisation, maintaining close ties with the people, harnessing the strength of the masses, and contributing to the steadfast protection of the Fatherland in the new context.

In the Directive on establishing the Vietnam Propaganda and Liberation Army, the predecessor of the Vietnam People’s Army, Leader Ho Chi Minh clearly stated the mission of the army: “Politics is more important than the military,” and “propaganda is more important than military operations.” Embracing this spirit, even from its early days, despite of its small scale, the army has always stayed close to the people, carrying out propaganda and mobilising the masses to engage in the revolutionary struggle, build political foundations, and expand the revolutionary base areas. The army coordinated and supported the people in the movement for partial uprisings leading to the General Uprising in 1945 to seize the power. During the two wars of resistance against French colonialists and American imperialists, the Vietnam People’s Army gradually grew into a formidable force, achieving glorious victories. In these wars, despite the challenging conditions and difficult combat tasks, our Army paid particular attention to and excelled in its function as the “Army for work”. Cadres and soldiers of the Army “ate together, lived together, and worked together”, forming a close bond with the people, actively mobilising them to participate in the resistance and nation-building under various forms suited to the conditions and needs of each period and region. This created a deep military-civilian relationship, akin to fish in water. The effectiveness of the “Army for work” has become a tremendous driving force, both mentally and materially, enabling the Army to mature quickly and achieve resounding victories, accomplishing all the missions entrusted by the Party, State, and People.

Troops of Tank and Amoured Brigade 416 under Military Region 9 help local people havest crop (photo: qdnd.vn)

In the period of national renewal, by deeply grasping and seriously implementing the Party’s resolutions and directives, as well as the policies and laws of the State, the mass mobilisation work of the Army has been carried out in a synchronous, comprehensive, solid, and substantive manner, with depth and in line with the practical situation, yielding practical results. The Central Military Party Commission, the Ministry of National Defence, and the General Political Department have led, directed, and guided agencies and units throughout the army to innovate the content and form of mass mobilisation, closely aligning with the local situation and the political tasks of each agency and unit. Every year, the Army has sent tens of thousands of cadres and soldiers, contributing over a million working days to participate in socio-economic development; supporting localities to strengthen thousands of political and social organisations and mass organisations; eliminating the situation of “lack of party members” and “lack of party cells”, especially in strategic, key areas, remote, border regions, islands, and areas with ethnic minorities and religious communities. They have propagated and mobilised the people to create social consensus, raise awareness, and recognise the schemes and tactics of hostile forces exploiting issues related to “ethnicity”, “religion”, “democracy”, and “human rights” to sabotage, weaken strength, and destroy the national unity bloc.

In recent years, the Army has implemented many effective programmes, models, and creative approaches, leaving a good impression with a wide-reaching impact, significant political, social, and humanitarian meaning, and receiving recognition and high appreciation from local Party committees and authorities. Notable examples include: Working with the people to complete criteria for building new rural areas; Doing things the people need and supporting difficult tasks; In the face of storms and strong winds, there are soldiers; The Vietnam People’s Navy provides support for fishermen to venture offshore and stick to the sea; The Coast Guard stands alongside fishermen; Civilian settlements adjacent to border posts, border militia posts; Strengthening the connection between Kinh households and ethnic minority communities; Enhancing the solidarity, friendliness, support, and assistance for ethnic and religious communities; Intercropping rice; Rice jars connecting communities; The great unity house, military-civilian houses, and houses for the poor in border areas; Military-Civilian Tet celebrations; Military-civilian health clinics; Joining hands for community health; Border Guard-  fostered children and Supporting children’s schooling; Youth supporting the homeland’s seas and islands; Military women standing by border women, etc. In addition, the units have cooperated with various central and local agencies to build hundreds of projects serving socio-economic development, national defence, and security in strategic and key areas, contributing to consolidating the people’s trust in the Party, State, Army, and local Party committees and authorities.

Especially in the stationing areas, military troops have always been deeply engaged and close to the people, “eating together, living together, working together, and speaking the people’s language,” standing side by side with the people in both sweet and bitter moments, helping them through their difficulties. Many cadres and soldiers, undeterred by hardship, have been dedicated to working in remote and revolutionary base areas to propagate, mobilise, and encourage the people to successfully implement the Party’s policies and guidelines, the State’s laws, revolutionary movements, and the political tasks of local areas. At the same time, the Army has always been a core force, taking the lead in disaster prevention, disease control, search and rescue, and addressing environmental issues. Most recently, in 2024, during the response to Typhoons No. 3 and No. 4, the Army was truly a reliable and solid support for the Party, the State, and the people, proving itself to be “the Army of the people” and “the Army in the hearts of the people.”

Thus, it can be affirmed that performing well the function of “the workforce” is both the essence and tradition of our Army. Through the Army’s mass mobilisation work, the function of the “workforce” has become more profound, further strengthening the close, inseparable bond between the Army and the people. This has contributed to building a politically strong Vietnam People’s Army, laying the foundation for enhancing overall quality, combat strength, and effectively fulfilling the missions entrusted by the Party, the State, and the people. It is worth noting that the results of the Army’s mass mobilisation work in recent times have also made significant contributions to the construction of a people’s national defence, solidifying the people’s national security strategy, and enhancing the image of “Uncle Ho’s Soldiers” - the Army of the people in the new era.

To continue to effectively implement the function of “the Army for work,” contributing to consolidating the people’s trust in the revolutionary cause of the Party and the nation, and strengthening the military-civilian unity in the new context, the Army needs to thoroughly grasp and strictly implement the directives, resolutions of the Party, and the State’s policies and laws on mass mobilisation. The focus should be on the following key issues:

1. Strengthening propaganda and education to raise awareness among cadres and soldiers about the position and role of mass mobilisation work in the new era. This is the most important solution for all areas and fields of work throughout the Army. Specifically, in mass mobilisation work, it plays an especially crucial role because a unified understanding and determination in action will be the key to improving the quality and effectiveness of this vital work. Therefore, agencies and units must intensify the thorough dissemination of the resolutions and directives of the Politburo, the Secretariat, and the Central Military Party Commission on mass mobilisation work, focusing on Resolution No.25-NQ/TW of the Party Central Committee (the 11th Tenure) on enhancing and renewing the Party’s leadership over mass mobilisation in the new context; Regulation No.718/QC-QUTW, dated 5 January 2021, by the Central Military Commission on the mass mobilisation work of the Vietnam People’s Army; and Guideline No.831/HD-CT, dated 22 February 2024, by the General Political Department on implementing Directive No.597-CT/QUTW, dated 30 November 2023, by the Standing Committee of the Central Military Commission on strengthening leadership and direction to improve the quality and effectiveness of the Army’s propaganda work in the new situation. Based on this, the mass mobilisation work should be promoted, educating cadres and soldiers to have an even deeper understanding of the Party’s mass mobilisation work and the Army’s role in the new era; recognising that this is not only a political responsibility but also a matter of affection and the deep connection between the Army and the people. The principle should be: wherever there is difficulty or danger, the Army must be present, standing shoulder to shoulder with the people; continuing to uphold and make the noble title of “Uncle Ho’s Soldiers,” “the Soldiers in the hearts of the people,” and “the Soldiers of the people” shine even brighter. At the same time, the Army should enhance responsibility, emphasise the pioneering and exemplary role of officers and party members, particularly leaders and commanders at all levels, creating a strong transformation in both understanding and practical organisation of mass mobilisation activities.

2. Strengthening and improving the effectiveness of coordination between the Army, local Party committees, local government, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and socio-political organisations in carrying out this important task. Mass mobilisation work is a complex, cross-sectoral task, involving multiple levels, industries, forces, and localities; in which the Army is recognised as the core force. Therefore, strengthening and improving the coordination between military agencies, units, and related levels, sectors, and forces across the country in carrying out this task is of paramount importance. In this regard, it is essential to continue renewing and improving mechanisms to enhance the quality of coordination with Party committees, local governments, and socio-political organisations in the mass mobilisation work; effectively implement the National Target Programme for building new rural areas, sustainable poverty reduction, economic, cultural and social development in ethnic minority and mountainous regions; disaster prevention and response, relief, social policies, and the Party and Government’s movements, contributing to strengthening national unity bloc. Good implementation of the Party and State’s ethnic, religious policies and grassroots democracy regulations, as well as enhancing internal unity and military-civilian solidarity, is key. The implementation of the units’ “Determination-to-Win” movement should be closely linked with the local patriotic emulation movements and the “Good Mass Mobilsation” movement; identifying and replicating new factors, advanced examples, and good deeds in the  mass mobilisation work; and preserving and promoting the quality of “Uncle Ho’s Soldiers - Soldiers of the People” in the current context.

3. Enhancing the capacity for research, advising, proposing, guiding, and organising the implementation of the mass mobilisation agencies and cadres at all levels. To achieve this, it is necessary to focus on theoretical research, summarising practical experience, and building a basic documentation system; and organising training and fostering political awareness, professional competence, research ability, and the capacity to advise, propose, guide, and implement at all levels of mass mobilisation staff. It is also essential to continue studying proposals on the organisation and staffing of mass mobilisation agencies to align with the new structure and staffing of the Army and the role of the mass mobilisation work in the current era.

It must be closely aligned with reality, actively study and innovate the content, forms, and methods of the mass mobilisation work to suit local conditions and the types of agencies and units, particularly in urban areas, industrial zones, and regions with ethnic minorities, religious groups, and key national defence and security zones. Coordination with forces both in and out of the Army should be strengthened, focusing on adhering to the grassroots level, understanding the situation, improving the quality of advice, and responding to the legitimate demands of the people. At the same time, new social issues should be resolved effectively in a spirit of “sincerity, substance, and close attention to the people’s lives.”

The mass mobilisation work should be closely tied to the responsibility of setting an example by the leadership at all levels. Regular attention should be given to building mass mobilisation agencies and staff with good character and ethics, as well as knowledge and skills in propaganda and mobilising the masses. There should be an ongoing commitment to the mass mobilisation style of “respecting the people, being close to the people, understanding the people, learning from the people, and being responsible to the people” – “listening to the people, speaking in their language, and acting to gain their trust.” It is also vital to focus on selecting, training, fostering, and arranging mass mobilisation staff at all levels with stability, continuity, and a clear development direction.

4. Continuing to promote administrative procedure reform and improving the effectiveness of public engagement, and addressing complaints and denunciations. Accordingly, agencies and units must effectively implement administrative procedure reform in compliance with legal regulations; ensure transparency in administrative procedures within the scope of their management; and tightly control the issuance of documents related to civil affairs work with a focus on revising and supplementing the working regulations and procedures of Party committees and unit commanders. Regular checks and monitoring should be carried out to maintain democratic dialogue practices, eliminate authoritarian tendencies, subjectivity, information restrictions, and formal democracy, while strictly enforcing discipline. This will help enhance the role and responsibility of cadres and soldiers in carrying out the mass mobilisation work. Additionally, it is essential to thoroughly understand and adhere to regulations concerning the inspection, supervision, and monitoring of the mass mobilisation work. Public engagement and addressing petitions and complaints should be carried out regularly and in full compliance with legal procedures, and violations of civil affairs work and military-civil relations should be promptly identified and dealt with seriously.

Effectively performing the function of the “Army for work” and executing the mass mobilisation work well is a matter of “serving the people”, reflecting the gratitude of the Army towards the people who have supported, protected, and helped the Army grow stronger. In response to the new requirements and challenges, agencies and units must continue to thoroughly implement this important function and task, fostering unity and cohesion, ensuring that “the Army and the people are of one mind”, enhancing the Army’s strength, and making a significant contribution to the entire Party and people’s efforts to successfully carry out the strategic task of building and firmly safeguarding the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Major General BE HAI TRIEU, Director of the Department of Mass Mobilisation