80 years ago, following the resounding victories of the Soviet Red Army, German fascists were forced to surrender themselves to the Allies. In Asia, on 14 August 1945, Japanese fascists also had to surrender unconditionally. The Second World War ended; Japanese forces in Indochina were in panic like a snake lost its head.

Domestically, thanks to elaborate preparations in terms of politics, ideology, and organisation, the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and leader Ho Chi Minh opportunely took the historic opportunity to call for the entire people to conduct a General Uprising for seizing power. With the earth-shattering strength of millions of citizens, within a fortnight only, under the sound leadership of our CPV and Uncle Ho, the General Uprising achieved a complete victory across the country. On 2 September 1945, at Ba Dinh Square, President Ho Chi Minh solemnly read the Declaration of Independence giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam - the first worker - peasant state in Southeast Asia, opening a new history chapter, marking the most glorious milestone in the millennium-long history of national construction and protection of the Vietnamese people.

Illustrative photo

With the August Revolution Victory, our people smashed the yoke of French colonialism of nearly 100 years, driving Japanese fascists out of our country, overthrowing the obsolete feudal system which had existed for thousands of years, ushering our country into a new era - the era of independence, freedom, and socialism; from slavery, our people became the masters of the country; our CPV became a ruling party, leading the cause of national construction. It was also an epoch-making victory that broke down an important link of the colonial rule, leading to the complete collapse of the old-style colonialism worldwide, thereby strongly inspiring and urging the colonies and oppressed peoples in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, and peace-loving forces around the world to unite, rise up, and fight for national liberation, social class liberation, and human emancipation.

Victory of the August 1945 Revolution did not take place “randomly” or came “by luck” as frequently distorted by hostile forces; it was the result of applying and creatively developing Marxism - Leninism in Vietnam’s practical conditions, alongside the sound and clear-sighted leadership of our CPV headed by President Ho Chi Minh as well as our people’s protracted, resilient, indomitable struggle via revolutionary movements. It was also the victory of the entire nation’s unity, patriotism, indomitable spirit, courage, knowledge, burning desire, and unwavering faith in the revolutionary path selected by our CPV and Uncle Ho. It was the victory of pure internationalism and a perfect combination of national strength and the strength of the times under the Party’s leadership.

Thanks to the August 1945 Revolution, our people’s national construction and protection entered a new stage, with the CPV as a ruling Party, with a State of the people, by the people, and for the people, and with our people being able to decide their own destiny in the face of numerous difficulties and challenges. To safeguard the revolutionary fruits, our people had to enter 30-year-long arduous but extremely heroic resistance wars against French colonialists and US imperialists, achieving great victories; typical examples included the 1954 Dien Bien Phu Victory that “resounded across the five continents and shook the globe” and the great 1975 Spring Victory that completed the cause of national liberation, unified country, and advanced the whole country to socialism.

After peace had been restored, our country entered the period of socialism building and Fatherland protection in the extremely difficult condition; however, with the indomitable spirit of the August Revolution, our country gradually settled the severe consequences of the wars, overcoming embargoes and economic crisis, safeguarding Southwestern and Northern borders and national sovereignty over seas and islands. After nearly 40 years of Doi Moi (national renovation), under the CPV’s leadership, our country has made a robust, all-round, and profound transformation. From a poor, underdeveloped nation, Vietnam has become one of the most dynamic developing economies in Asia, ranking 32^nd globally in terms of economic scale. The people’s material and mental life has been increasingly improved; political stability has been maintained; defence and security have been strengthened; Vietnam’s prestige and position in the international arena have been raised as the basis for realising the aspiration for a mighty nation.

It could be affirmed that from the Revolutionary Autumn to a bright future ahead is a resilient and extraordinary journey of the Vietnamese people - a journey from slavery to mastery, from poverty to development, from war to peace, and from aspiration for national independence to aspiration for a mighty nation. Today’s aspiration for a mighty Vietnam is the continuation of the aspiration for national independence in the past when our ancestors willingly sacrificed their blood and bones for national independence and freedom. Hence, generations of Vietnamese citizens nowadays must be responsible for continuing the epic of building a prosperous, civilised, happy country on a par with major powers across the five continents as Uncle Ho always wished.

To win the great victory in the August Revolution and gain independence for our country, countless cadres, party members, compatriots, and soldiers heroically sacrificed their lives. Our CPV, State, and people are forever indebted to the great contributions of heroes and martyrs and revolution contributors who dedicated their entire life to fighting for the Fatherland’s independence and freedom. On those historic August days, we solemnly express our deep gratitude to President Ho Chi Minh - the genius leader of our CPV and Vietnamese Revolution, hero of national liberation, great man of culture of the world, who led our nation to rise up from slavery and brought glory to our Fatherland. We also express our sincere thanks to our international comrades and friends for their support and assistance in our revolutionary struggle.

Our Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) was born from the people and fights for the people. In the August Revolution, despite being a fledgling army, the revolutionary armed forces - the forerunner of the VPA, played a core, vanguard role in providing solid support for the masses and the entire nation to rise up, conduct the General Uprising, seize power, and protect the revolutionary government. Bringing into play its heroic, glorious tradition, the whole VPA will uphold its sense of unity and sharpen its fighting morale. The VPA will continue well performing its functions as “an army ready for combat, for work, and for production” to contribute to building and firmly protecting the Socialist Vietnamese Fatherland, maintaining peace and stability for national development.

80 years has elapsed since the historic Autumn of 1945; under the CPV’s leadership, our country has surmounted numerous difficulties and challenges and obtained great achievements of historic significance; never before has our country had such fortune, potential, position, and international prestige as it does today. Time will pass by, but the indomitable spirit and great accomplishments of the August Revolution will be forever a source of pride and incentive for the entire CPV, people, and VPA to devote more efforts to building an increasingly mighty, prosperous Vietnam on par with major powers across the five continents as Uncle Ho always wished.

Glory to our Fatherland!