In Autumn 1945, under the leadership of the Party and President Ho Chi Minh, the people in the whole country rose to make a great victory of the August Revolution, opening the era of independence for the nation. Especially, the uprising to seize power in Hanoi in 19 August 1945 had a decisive meaning, creating the position and power for the General Uprising to win throughout the country. This victory left many precious lessons on the resolute, sharp and creative spirit, proactively seizing the chance, and bringing into play the strength of national unity, which still has full value in the cause of building the prosperous, cultural, civilised and modern Hanoi nowadays.

Historical significance and lessons of the August Revolution, and the application by Hanoi in the cause of building, safeguarding and developing the Capital.

The August Revolution in 1945 in Hanoi, in which the enemy set its headquarters, took place with a rising spirit and lighting attacks, gaining a rapid and resounding victory. Together with the uprisings in Hue, Sai Gon and other important cities, the victory by the people of Hanoi in 19 August 1945 had a great impact which strongly encouraged and fostered the General Uprising in the whole country to the complete victory.

The victory of the August Revolution added another brilliant victory to the history of indomitable struggle by Thang Long – Hanoi; affirmed the significant growth of the Hanoi Party Committee – a vanguard of the working class and people of the City. Over 15 years of patience, hardship struggle and sacrifice; having been trained and challenged during the revolutionary periods of 1930 - 1931, 1936 - 1939 and 1939 – 1945, Hanoi Party Committee had made an important contribution to the victory of the August Revolution; directly creating new position and power for the Hanoi revolutionary movement to enter a period of building and strengthening the people’s democratic government.

This victory was the result of a long and meticulous preparation, under the lucid leadership of the Party, President Ho Chi Minh, directly the Tonkin Party Committee and Hanoi Party Committee, which clearly described the correct revolutionary path and scientific uprising method, affirmed the theoretical value of Marxism – Leninism on the armed uprisings and the roles of political forces combined with armed forces; affirmed the policy of great national unity, bringing into play the people’s patriotism, the strategy on dividing the enemies, and the art of creating and seizing chances. Hanoi became a cheering flag and a trust for the entire country; contributed precious real experience enriching the treasure of Vietnamese revolutionary theories on armed uprisings in urban areas.

Large crowd of people gathering in front of the Big Theatre on 19 August 1945 (a file photo)

Bringing into play the August Revolution victory and the traditions of revolutionary struggles, together with its spirit and skill, intelligence, activeness and creativity, Hanoi Party Committee has concretised viewpoints, resolutions and policies of the Central Committee, made correct and suitable decisions, led the people to achieve many glorious victories. During the resistance war against French colonialism, the army and people of Hanoi began the nationwide resistance with the will of “Being determined to brave death for the survival of the Fatherland”, together with the whole country made the historic victory of Dien Bien Phu, which “resounded all the continents, shaking the globe” in 1954. In the resistance war against America for national salvation, Hanoi quickly recovered and developed the economy, with the people of the North to support the Southern revolution in the spirit of “No shortage of rice, no shortage of soldiers”, “All for defeating the American invaders”, at the same time, led many emulation movements including “3 readies”, “3 responsibilities”, “Truong Son walking stick”, etc. with the pinnacle of “Hanoi – Dien Bien Phu in the air” in 1972, making an important contribution to making the Great Spring Victory of 1975 for the reunification of the country.

After the national reunification, Hanoi stepped into a new revolutionary period when they both made economic recovery and development, and protected the national borders, safeguarding the sacred territorial sovereignty and carrying out the noble international duties. Since the 10^th City Party Congress (October 1986), Hanoi has taken the lead in implementing the innovation policy, together with the whole country to overcome the socio-economic crisis, enhancing the cause of industrialisation and modernisation in the direction of socialism and international integrity.

For nearly 40 years of reform, under the leadership of the Party, inheriting and bringing into play the revolutionary traditions, Hanoi Party Committee, the army and people have gained many great achievements. Hanoi has been leading in implementing guidelines the Party, policies and law of the State, which has received high appreciation from the Central Committee, the pride and love from the whole people. It is the lively reality that provides precious experience for the Party and State to plan and implement great policies on a nationwide scale. Especially, after 17 years of being expanded with the administrative boundaries, Hanoi has effectively implemented the Law on the Capital, developing strongly both size and image, maintaining the 3 main pillars, i.e. socio-economic development, security and defence, and social welfare; affirming the position as the political-administrative centre and the heart of the nation, the locomotive of economy, culture, education and training, science and technology, and international integrity.

Given such excellent achievements, the Party Committee, the army and people of Hanoi have been awarded the Flag of “Determined to defeat the American invaders” by President Ho Chi Minh, 03 Orders of Gold Star, Order of Ho Chi Minh, First-class Order of Independence, the Title of “Hero of the Armed Forces” by the Party and other noble awards. This is a great pride and encouragement for Hanoi to continuously keep going and accomplish their responsibilities for the Party and nation.

In recent years, grasping and implementing the Resolution of the 12^th National Party Congress and the 14^th Municipal Party Congress, Hanoi has drastically implemented the resolutions and conclusions of the Party Central Committee, especially Resolution No. 15-NQ/TW, dated 05 May 2022 by the Politburo (12^th tenure) on “The directions and tasks of developing the Capital to 2030 and vision to 2045”; promoted programmes on socio-economic development in the region, etc. Despite many difficulties and challenges, with the effort and high determination of the Party Committee, governments, people and the business community, the economy of Hanoi has been maintaining an impressive growth. In 2024, its Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) increased by 6.52%; its national budget reached VND 513,000 billion, which was the highest in the country (and increased by nearly 28.3% compared to 2023). In the first half of 2025, the GRDP increased by 7.63%, the national budget reached VND 392.2 thousand billion, making up 29.4% of the total national revenues. Hanoi continues to affirm its leading role and motive of the Capital Region, the key economic zone of the North and the entire country.

The urban planning, building, managing and developing have been actively changed in the smart, green and sustainable way; the Capital has looked spacious, civilised and modern. The City has intensely directed the implementation of the Capital Law (revised), the Capital planning to 2045, vision to 2065, the planning of industries and fields; enhanced the completion and taken into use many projects of socio-economic infrastructure, particularly in traffic, creating motivation and new development space for Hanoi and other provinces in the Capital Region.

In building the digitalised society and governments, Hanoi has actively conducted the Project on “Building the smart City of Hanoi to 2025, and orientations to 2030”; continued to complete and apply the digital database for the common use within the City, especially connect the national population database, improve the quality of solving the administrative procedures, electronic transactions, and gradually realise the smart city.

Hanoi always takes the lead in developing culture, considering it as the motivation, social foundation and the centre of sustainable development. The City has effectively implemented Resolution No. 09-NQ/TU, dated 22 February 2022 by the City Party Committee on “Developing the cultural industry in the Capital in the 2021-2025 period, orientation to 2030, and vision to 2045”; successfully organised many international and national cultural events, becoming a leading region in developing the cultural industry, which both preserves and brings into play the cultural values of thousands of years of civilisation, and gradually turns the cultural industry into the key economic sector of the Capital.

The construction of the Party, governments and political system has achieved positive results. With the “disciplinary, responsible, acting, creative, developed” spirit, Hanoi has completed the arrangement of the communal administrative units (decreased from 526 to 126) with a very high rate of agreement from the people.

Together, Hanoi Municipal Party Committee has concretised Directive No. 45-CT/TW, dated 14 April 2025 by the Politburo on the all-level Party Congress towards the 14^th National Party Congress; built documents, especially the Draft of Political report, making them close to the direction and reality, expressing new thinking, and clearly defining the development direction of the Capital in the new tenure and following years.

The defence and security have received a comprehensive leadership and direction, combining the socio-economic development with enhancing the defence-security and foreign affairs; built the all-people defence combined with the people’s security posture; built the strong defence zones and armed forces of the City; safeguarded the safety of main targets, political, diplomatic and cultural events at international and national level in the region, contributing to maintaining the political stability, social order and safety and creating the favourable environment for the sustainable development of the Capital and the country.

A modern Hanoi with scenic beauty

Building the prosperous, cultural, civilised and modern Capital, firmly entering the new era

Our country is entering a new era – the era of national rise in strong, civilised and prosperous development. The Politburo has issued 04 “breaking” resolutions, “…which are basic institutional pillars to create a driving force to move our country forward in the new era, realising the vision of developed and high-income Vietnam in 2045”.

In this situation, with its role as the Capital City – the heart of the nation, Hanoi is assigned to take the lead in striving for development, creating new motivations and sources for the country. In working sessions with the Standing Committee of the Hanoi Party Committee, the General Secretary To Lam requires Hanoi to be deeply aware of the specially important position, outstanding potentials and advantages; bring into play the cultural and heroic traditions, raise the spirit of innovation, creativity, daring to think and work, innovate the thinking and working methods to gain comprehensive and strong development; quickly building Hanoi to become the “Socialist Capital”, the model city of the country, contributing to leading the country to a new era.

Implementing Resolution No. 15-NQ/TW, dated 05 May 2022 by the Politburo (13^th tenure) on the directions and tasks of developing the Capital to 2030, vision to 2045; at the same time, bring into play the courage of the army and people of Hanoi in the August Revolution in 1945, the Party Committee and government of Hanoi have considered performing the main tasks as follows:

Firstly, speeding up, drastically directing the completion of goals on socio-economic development, defence and security, mobilising the general power of the whole political system and the people, promoting sources, solving all congestion and obstruction, striving to complete all goals and tasks defined in the Resolution of 17^th Hanoi Party Congress, the difficult ones in particular; making valuable contribution to successfully accomplishing the Resolution of the 13^th Party Congress.

Secondly, intensely building the pure, strong, exemplary and pioneering Party Committee and political system; effectively operating the 2-level model of local governments in the motto of taking the people as the centre, subject, source and target of all development strategies; cementing the close relationship between the Party, governments and the people, basing on the people to build the Party and the political system; taking the people’s satisfaction as the measures to evaluate the efficiency in the leadership and management of the party committees and governments at all levels.

Thirdly, promoting the education of politics, ideology, moral qualities and lifestyle for cadres, party members and young generations; building the contingent of all-level cadres who have steady political spirit, good working capability, pure moral qualities, healthy lifestyle, the sense of solidarity, the awareness of discipline and high responsibility; instilling the pride and desire for development in each cadre, party member and citizen; creating the motivation and inspiration for the Party Committee, government, the army and the people of the Capital to be determined to firmly step into the new era.

Fourthly, taking the lead in implementing the digital transformation, completing the digital infrastructure, forming the big data, developing new technological apps; enhancing the development of green and digital economy, the construction of digital society, smart cities, etc. Continuing to effectively carry out such tasks as promoting the decentralisation and authorisation; enhancing the regional connection, properly distributing the space for socio-economic development; building a learning society combined with the cultural development, building Hanoi people who are elegant and civilised, have the comprehensive development of intelligence, morality, physicality and creativity, deserving to be the thousand-year cultural traditions, and representing the intelligence and traditions of Vietnam; building Hanoi to be the cultural centre of the country.

Fifthly, actively implementing the “Four main resolutions”, the Capital Law 2024, effectively promoting the specific mechanism and policies, solving any “bottlenecks”, “knots”, releasing resources, boosting the strong development of the City combined with the implementation of the Hanoi Urban Planning in the 2021-2030 period, vision to 2050, and adjusting the Hanoi General Plan to 2045, vision to 2065 according to Decision No. 1668/QĐ-TTg, dated 27 December 2024 by the Prime Minister. Speeding up the completion progress of main projects, creating new image and stature for the Capital in the era of creation.

Finally, successfully convening the party congresses in the 2025-2030 tenure at all levels towards the 18^th Hanoi Party Congress with the spirit of innovation and highest determination, expressing the exemplary and leading role of the Capital in realising the desire for developing the country in the new era. Maintaining the political stability; frequently reinforcing and strengthening defence and security potentials, consolidating the all-people defence posture combined with the people’s security posture, maintaining the stability for the Capital to achieve rising development. At the same time, promoting the activities of foreign affairs and international cooperation; proactively and timely struggling and defeating any enemy’s plots sabotaging the Party, State, dividing the great national unity bloc, and destroying the achievements of the renovation process.

The 80^th Anniversary of the August Revolution and the Independence Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is an occasion for the entire Party, people and army including the cadres, party members, soldiers and people of Hanoi to express their deep gratitude for the contributions of the Party, President Ho Chi Minh and previous generations to the nation's independence and freedom so that we could feel more proud of the glorious Party, great Uncle Ho, heroic nation, “The Capital with a thousand years of culture”, “The heroic Capital”, “The City of peace”, “The City of innovation”. This is also the motivation for the Party Committee, government, armed forces and the people of the Capital to bring into play the spirit of Thang Long – Hanoi, continuously make reforms, creativity, self-reliance, resilience, unity and responsibility, building the more prosperous, civilised and modern Capital with happy people; deserving to be the heart of the country, together with the country to enter the new era of national rise in strong, civilised and prosperous development, standing shoulder to shoulder with other powers of the five continents.

Dr. NGUYEN VAN PHONG, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee