“Towards a New Era: Forging Ahead with Historic Feats”

10 May, 2025

General Secretary To Lam delivers a speech at the ceremony – VNA Photo

On April 30, 2025, half a century since the country’s reunification, Ho Chi Minh City, the place that marked this historic moment, was adorned with vibrant flags and flowers during the solemn ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of Southern Vietnam and National Reunification. At this event, General Secretary To Lam delivered an important speech, emphasizing the significance of the victory on April 30, 1975, and affirming the role of national unity and the aspiration for national development in the new era.

General Secretary To Lam highlighted that, at this solemn moment, we pay our deepest respect and express our infinite gratitude to President Ho Chi Minh, our beloved leader, a genius leader of our Party and nation, a great teacher of the Vietnamese revolution, a national liberation hero, and a world cultural celebrity. His burning aspiration for liberating the South and reunifying the country will always be cherished.

We will forever remember and be grateful for the great contributions of our revolutionary forefathers, heroic martyrs, Vietnamese heroic mothers, heroic soldiers of the people’s armed forces, generations of officials, generals, officers, soldiers, militia and guerilla fighters, youth volunteers, logistics engineers, war invalids and sick soldiers, families with meritorious services to the revolution, former soldiers, and all people from all walks of life across the country, as well as overseas Vietnamese, who devoted themselves and made sacrifices for the cause of completely liberating the South and reunifying the country.

General Secretary To Lam affirmed that time may pass, but our people’s victory in the resistance war against America will forever be etched in our nation’s history as a shining symbol of revolutionary heroism. It was a victory of righteousness, of the Vietnamese will, spirit, and intellect; of our people’s ardent love for our country and desire for independence, freedom, and national reunification, with the belief that “Vietnam is one, the Vietnamese people are one.” This victory marked the realization of President Ho Chi Minh’s most fervent wish and instruction, fulfilling the mission of completely liberating the South and reunifying the country, bringing the North and the South together as one.

The victory in the resistance war against America stemmed from the Party’s correct and creative leadership; from the people’s war strategy, carried out through the strength of great national unity and international solidarity; from the combination of military, political, and diplomatic struggles, along with the art of choosing the right moment to concentrate forces for the general offensive and uprising; from the strength of the Northern rear supporting the Southern battlefield, with the spirit of “not a grain short or a person missing; determined to split the Truong Son Mountains to save the country”; and from the great support, both materially and morally, from the Soviet Union, China, and other socialist countries, as well as the special Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia solidarity, peace-loving people worldwide, and progressive people in the United States.

In particular, the Great Spring Victory in 1975 greatly encouraged the struggle for national liberation of people around the world, for peace, national independence, democracy, and social progress. It marked the beginning of the downfall of the new colonial system worldwide, a significant turning point in the history of humanity in the 20th century.

General Secretary To Lam delivered an important speech, emphasizing the significance of the victory on April 30, 1975, and affirming the role of national unity and the aspiration for national development in the new era – Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Great Achievements After 50 Years of National Reunification

General Secretary To Lam emphasized that, after 50 years of national reunification and nearly 40 years of renewal, our country has overcome numerous difficulties and challenges, achieving great successes with historical significance. Today, we have built a country with potential, strength, international standing, and prestige.

From a poor and backward country ravaged by war and under embargo and blockade, Vietnam has become a developing country with a lower-middle income, deeply integrated into world politics, the global economy, and human civilization. We have actively taken on many important international responsibilities and proactively participated in many important multilateral forums.

Our independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity have been firmly safeguarded, and our national interests have been guaranteed. In 2024, the size of our economy ranked 32nd globally and among the top 20 economies in terms of trade and foreign investment attraction.

People’s lives have improved significantly, and the poverty rate has dropped sharply, now standing at only 1.93% (according to multidimensional standards) compared to over 60% in 1986. Our economic, political, cultural, social, scientific, technological, defense, and security potentials have been continuously consolidated.

Our foreign relations have been expanded, and our country’s position and prestige have been continuously enhanced. To date, Vietnam has established diplomatic relations with 194 countries that are members of the United Nations. We have built cooperative relations and strategic partnerships, including comprehensive strategic partnerships, with all major countries and powers in the world, including the United States. The year 2025 also marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-US diplomatic relations.

The leader of our Party emphasized that half a century has passed, and with the great achievements we have made, we are now at a new historical starting point to propel our country forward and soar to new heights, “standing side by side with the powers of the five continents.”

Recognizing the Private Sector as an Important Driver of the National Economy

To realize the aspiration of building a “more prosperous” Vietnam, General Secretary To Lam stated that we must unleash all productive forces, tap into all resources, and promote all potential and strengths of the country to strongly boost socio-economic development.

In 2025, we aim for an economic growth rate of 8% or higher, and we are determined to achieve a double-digit growth rate during the 2026-2030 period. We are committed to successfully realizing the strategic goals by 2030, with Vietnam becoming a developing country with modern industry and upper-middle income, and by 2045, a developed country with high income according to the socialist orientation.

The General Secretary requested focusing on resolving institutional bottlenecks and constraints on development; adjusting the economic space, expanding the development space, strengthening decentralization, delegation, and allocation of resources, and combining economic resources; establishing a new growth model driven by science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation to bring about substantial changes in productivity, quality, efficiency, and competitiveness of the economy. We must recognize the private sector as one of the most important drivers of the national economy. We should continue to innovate in thinking and methods to create new production forces, new types of labor, and new quality.

In particular, with a deep understanding of the immense strength of our great national unity and the Vietnamese people, we thoroughly grasp and consistently implement the viewpoint of “the people are the root,” considering people as the center, the subject, and the goal of national construction, development, and defense. We strongly promote the policy of national harmony and reconciliation with the spirit that we all share the same blood of Lac Hong, are all brothers and sisters, and are “like a tree with the same roots and a house with the same beams.”

All Vietnamese people, regardless of their ethnicity, religion, political affiliation, or social status, are children of Vietnam, entitled to life, work, freedom, and happiness, and have the responsibility to contribute to the construction of the country. With the principle of closing the past, respecting differences, and looking to the future, our entire Party, people, and army unite to build a peaceful, unified, prosperous, and developed Vietnam.

General Secretary To Lam and leaders, former leaders of the Party, State, and international guests attending the ceremony – Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Safeguarding the Fatherland “Early,” “Remotely,” and “When the Country Is Not in Danger”

According to General Secretary To Lam, the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of Southern Vietnam and National Reunification is also a historical moment for all Vietnamese people, all strata of the population, compatriots of all ethnic and religious backgrounds, Party members, and all people in and outside the country to unite and join hands for the goal of building a strong, prosperous, civilized, and happy Vietnam.

In the context of complex international developments, as a nation that has endured great losses and pain due to war and deeply understands the value of peace, independence, and freedom, we need to continue strengthening and modernizing national defense and security, building a people’s defense for peace and self-defense, and safeguarding the Fatherland “early,” “remotely,” and “when the country is not in danger.”

We must build and promote the “people’s heart and mind front,” consolidate the people’s defense and security foundation, and build a people’s army and people’s public security force that are revolutionary, regular, elite, and modern. They serve as the core force in firmly protecting national independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, as the “sword and shield” defending the Party, State, people, and regime, and always being the people’s trusted reliance.

Proud of our glorious Party and the great victories of our military and people under the Party’s leadership, we strive to build a pure and strong Party, one that is truly “ethical and civilized,” representing the intelligence, honor, and conscience of our nation and era, worthy of the trust and expectation of our people.

We continue to innovate the Party’s leadership methods, ruling capacity, and combativeness; successfully carry out the revolution in organizing the political system and administrative units to ensure a streamlined, efficient, and effective apparatus; build and gradually perfect the mechanism to control power, resolutely push back corruption, wastefulness, negativity, and bureaucracy; and build a contingent of officials at all levels, especially strategic-level officials and leaders, with sufficient virtues, intelligence, dedication, dynamism, and responsibility for the interests of the country and people.

“With Vietnamese will, intellect, and strength, we achieved the Great Spring Victory in 1975. We will certainly continue to gain even greater achievements, setting new milestones in the new era, an era of a powerful, prosperous, civilized, and flourishing nation, building our country to be more ‘decent and beautiful,’ standing side by side with the powers of the five continents, as wished by President Ho Chi Minh and aspired by our entire nation,” affirmed General Secretary To Lam.

Representing the forces that participated in the Ho Chi Minh Campaign, Major General Tran Ngoc Tho, former Chief of Staff of the 7th Military Region, emotionally recalled his fellow comrades-in-arms who fought and sacrificed their lives for the nation’s victory. He also expressed his deep gratitude to the Vietnamese heroic mothers who dedicated their husbands and children to the country. He acknowledged the great contributions of the people from all over the country, who selflessly sheltered and supported the soldiers throughout the long and arduous years of war.

Major General Tran Ngoc Tho shared that, as a veteran of the resistance war against America, he and his comrades were proud and happy to witness the country’s great achievements after nearly 40 years of renewal initiated and led by the Party. “We always remind ourselves to be worthy of the glorious tradition of the Vietnam People’s Army, steadfast in our ideals, and exemplary in our conduct. We follow the Party’s guidelines and the State’s policies and laws, actively participating in protecting the revolutionary achievements, the Party, the government, and the socialist regime, and contributing to the construction of the country,” he expressed.

On behalf of the younger generation, Ms. Huynh Manh Phuong, a member of the Executive Committee of Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union and Secretary of the Youth Union Chapter at the University of Economics and Law, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, expressed her gratitude to the older generation who sacrificed for the nation. She affirmed the younger generation’s awareness of their sacred responsibility and mission in carrying forward the revolutionary torch passed down by their predecessors, cherishing the truth that “Vietnam is one, the Vietnamese people are one.” The younger generation will cultivate their moral character, foster patriotism, autonomy, self-reliance, self-confidence, and national pride, preserve and promote the country’s values, and spread Vietnamese values internationally, living up to their role as young citizens of a heroic Vietnam.

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