President Ho Chi Minh’s ideology on revolutionary morality represents a fundamental component of his ideological legacy. Today, given the requirements of building the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA), defending the Fatherland, and strengthening and rectifying the Party, the application of Ho Chi Minh’s ideology to improve revolutionary ethics among all cadres in general, political cadres at grass-roots military units in particular is a long-term, routine, urgent task.

Having founded, educated, and trained the VPA to be revolutionary and “invincible” one, President Ho Chi Minh always paid special attention to building a comprehensively strong contingent of military cadres, including political cadres, with particular emphasis on their purity of revolutionary ethics.

According to President Ho Chi Minh, morality is the root of a revolutionary. He likened it to the roots of a tree or the source of a river: “A river must have a source to have water; without a source, it dries up. A tree must have roots; without roots, it withers. A revolutionary must have ethics; without ethics, one cannot lead the people, no matter how talented they are”.

Graduation ceremony for cadets of the Political Officer College (photo: daihocchinhtri.edu.vn)

In their capacity as Party cadres in military and defence fields, political cadres in the VPA are “directly responsible for commanding, guiding, inspecting, and organising Party and political work according to their assigned duties, designing and implementing their units’ general plans”. In reality, throughout the process of building, fighting, and development of grass-roots units, political cadres, especially those in key leadership positions, play a role of great importance. President Ho Chi Minh clearly stated that: “The character of political commissars has a very important influence on their soldiers. A good political commissar makes good soldiers. If political officers fail to fulfil their tasks, their troops will not be good”. He reminded that “to the troops, a political commissar must be as close as a sister, as fair as a brother, and as knowledgeable as a friend”, adding that political commissars “must act as a role model in all matters”.

President Ho Chi Minh also stressed that in order to successfully fulfil their duties and responsibilities, political cadres must possess adequate qualifications, ethic qualities, and professional capabilities. Foremost among these is an exemplary standard of revolutionary ethics, absolute loyalty to the Fatherland, the Party, and wholehearted devotion to the people. They must always uphold solidarity, care for their soldiers and comrades, maintain strict discipline, and embody the virtues of diligence, thrift, integrity, uprightness, impartiality, and selflessness, along with a noble spirit of internationalism.

Deeply imbued with President Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, over the years, thanks to the education and guidance of Party organisations, political cadres at grass-roots units have consistently demonstrated a strong sense of responsibility, actively studying and cultivating revolutionary ethics to meet their task requirements. However, there are a few cadres who lack a sense of discipline and exemplary conduct in self-training, etc. That has, to some extent, negatively impacted on the VPA’s tradition and prestige, as well as the noble qualities of the “Uncle Ho’s Soldiers”.

Currently, in light of the tasks of VPA building, national defence consolidation, and Fatherland protection, there are increasingly higher requirements for revolutionary ethics among cadres and Party members. Therefore, enhancing revolutionary ethics for cadres in general, political cadres at grass-roots units in particular, in line with Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, is of great importance. To that end, it is necessary to focus on several key solutions as follows.

First, raising political cadres’ awareness of the meaning, role, importance, and necessity of improving revolutionary ethics according to Ho Chi Minh’s ideology. Accordingly, Party committees and organisations, key cadres, and competent agencies at all levels should adopt diverse and flexible forms and methods of propagation and education. The goal is to help political cadres clearly understand that Ho Chi Minh’s ideology on revolutionary ethics is a “lodestar” for them to learn, follow, and train to become “both red and expert” cadres and Party members. This reflects the sacred affection and responsibility of political cadres towards President Ho Chi Minh and their own self-improvement. At the same time, it is important to thoroughly study and implement key documents of the Party on revolutionary ethics, particularly the 12^th Politburo’s Conclusion 01-KL/TW, dated 18 May 2021, on continuing to accelerate the study and following of Ho Chi Minh’s thought, ethics, and lifestyle, the 13^th Politburo’s Regulation 144-QĐ/TW, dated 9^th May 2024, on revolutionary ethical standards for cadres and Party members in the new era, the 13^th Politburo’s Directive 42-CT/TW, dated 16^th January 2025, on enhancing the Party’s leadership over education of diligence, thrift, integrity, uprightness, impartiality, and selflessness, and the Central Military Commission’s Resolution 847-NQ/QUTW, dated 28^th December 2021, on promoting the qualities of “Uncle Ho’s Soldiers” and resolutely combating individualism in the new situation. These documents provide clear guidance, both inheriting and creatively applying Ho Chi Minh’s ideology and the Party’s previous regulations, addressing the urgent practical needs of revolutionary ethics today, thereby upholding a sense of responsibility and self-discipline in the implementation process.

Second, heightening self-discipline, self-improvement, and a sense of example-setting responsibility among political cadres at grass-roots units in the practice of revolutionary ethics. President Ho Chi Minh once affirmed that: “Revolutionary ethics do not fall from the sky. They are nurtured and consolidated through daily struggle and persistent training. Just as the more a gem is polished, the brighter it shines; the more gold is refined, the purer it becomes”. He also underlined that: “All commanders, whether in military or political roles, must lead by example. They must uphold the ethics of a revolutionary soldier”. Under that spirit, political cadres at grass-roots units should actively cultivate and train themselves, while setting good examples through their actions. This must stem from an intrinsic need and must be carried out regularly, persistently, and voluntarily at all times, in all places, and in all social relationships. Political cadres should consistently demonstrate high political determination and strong effort and adopt specific, practical, and effective measures to achieve set objectives and targets. Political cadres must place collective interests above personal gain, while cultivating a lifestyle of integrity, diligence, eagerness to learn, and a drive for progress. In their work, political cadres should act with honesty and straightforwardness, showcase their courage to defend what is right and criticise what is wrong, and value dignity and honour. Furthermore, it is necessary to proactively assume responsibility rather than evade or shift blame. Political cadres should avoid extravagance, wastefulness, and superficial behaviour, or ostentation. Most importantly, due attention should be paid to resolutely fighting individualism and its negative consequences among political cadres in grass-roots units.

Third, regularly conducting self-criticism and criticism, “self-review and self-correction”, helping each cadre assume ethical responsibility and enhance their self-discipline. Accordingly, Party committees and organisations at grass-roots units should consistently educate cadres and Party members, especially political officers and raise these cadres’ awareness of the role, purpose, content, methods, and requirements of self-criticism and criticism according to Ho Chi Minh’s ideology. This approach serves as a sharp tool for building and rectifying the Party, enabling every cadre and Party member to “self-review and self-correct”. Party committees and organisations should strictly enforce discipline and regulations on self-criticism and criticism. Each political cadre should practise self-criticism and criticism with sincerity, honesty, and a spirit of construction, unity, and camaraderie, aiming for the progress of their organisation, their comrades, and themselves. It is essential to face reality, correctly assess the reality, and propose feasible solutions to their own weaknesses while avoiding complacency, evasion, or superficial harmony. Efforts should also be made to prevent the misuse of self-criticism and criticism for flattery, prejudice, suppression, or defamation.

Fourth, Party committees and organisations, and key cadres should intensify their leadership in fostering revolutionary ethics among political cadres at grass-roots units. To this end, Party committees and organisations at all levels should continue synchronously carrying out tasks and solutions to build an ethically strong Party. Due regard should be paid to accelerating the study and following of Ho Chi Minh’s thought, ethics, and lifestyle, linked with the Campaign of promoting tradition, devoting talent, deserving to be “Uncle Ho’s Soldiers” in the new era. Additionally, it is required to effectively organise the Determined to Win Emulation Movement and regularly conduct preliminary and final reviews to opportunely commend and multiply typical examples in the education and practice of revolutionary ethics. In parallel, Party committees and organisations should uphold their leadership role in personnel assessment and planning in accordance with the Party’s principles and regulations. Consideration should be given to inspecting and supervising the observance of revolutionary ethical standards by political cadres at grass-roots units, while measures should be drastically taken to prevent and overcome signs of political, ethic, and lifestyle degradation, as well as “self-evolution” and “self-transformation” from within. Furthermore, it is vital to foster a pure and healthy military cultural environment at grass-roots units. Emphasis should be placed on building strong Party organisations, commands, mass organisations, and soldiers’ councils according to their functions and duties.

Great weight should be added to improving material and spiritual well-being, as well as safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of political cadres at grass-roots units. By doing so, political cadres will feel assured and encouraged to dedicate themselves to cultivating and training their revolutionary ethics, building “exemplarily, typically” comprehensively strong offices and units capable of accomplishing all assigned tasks.

NGUYEN VAN THUONG, PhD

Political Officer College