The Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) will celebrate its 80th founding anniversary on December 22, 2024, a milestone in the army’s glorious history of serving and defending the nation.
A parade celebrates the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7, 1954 – May 7, 2024). (Photo: VNA)
This occasion offers the entire nation a moment to reflect on the army’s historical journey, honouring and remembering the soldiers who have made invaluable contributions to protecting the homeland and developing the country through many tumultuous periods.
An exhibition themed “80 Years Steadfast Under the Glorious Flag of the Party” opens in Hanoi on December 6 to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army.
On December 1, 2024, the Vietnam House in Washington, D.C., hosts an event for students in celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army. (Photo: VNA)
A grand celebration of the 80th anniversary of the VPA will be held on December 20 at the National Convention Centre, with the participation of top leaders of the Party and State.
In recent days, numerous activities across various fields have been launched, including cultural, literary, artistic, and sports events, as well as exhibitions, fairs, seminars, and forums honoring the nation’s heroes and martyrs, all taking place across the country.
According to the Ministry of National Defence, 1,832 projects worth over 262.6 billion VND (more than 10.3 million USD) have been undertaken to mark the occasion, with 1,424 projects completed and 408 still in progress.
The VPA has provided funds and built thousands of homes for veterans and disadvantaged families, helping to replace temporary shelters and dilapidated houses in various regions.
More than 300 officers and soldiers from Military Region 2 aid residents in Lang Nu village of Bao Yen district, Lao Cai province, after severe landslides and flooding in September 2024. (Photo: VNA)
On September 12, 2024, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visits Lang Nu village in Phuc Khanh commune, Bao Yen district, Lao Cai province, to oversee and direct rescue operations for victims and missing persons following a landslide. (Photo: VNA)
The affection of Lang Nu villagers for the soldiers (Photo: Lao Cai Newspaper)
GLORIOUS JOURNEY OF THE VPA
On December 22, 1944, in a forest in the northern mountainous province of Cao Bang, the Vietnam Propaganda Unit of Liberation Army was founded with just 34 soldiers. This was the precursor to the modern VPA.
General Vo Nguyen Giap, the first Commander-in-Chief of the Vietnam People’s Army, and soldiers (Photo: VNA)
From the very beginning of the revolutionary struggle, the Communist Party of Vietnam identified the army as a force of the working people, established to fight for the rights and welfare of the people.
“Our Army is a people’s army, born from the people, fighting to regain independence and unification of the Fatherland, to protect freedom and happiness of the people. Our Army has no other interests than the interests of the people.”
President Ho chi minh
During a conversation with the Vanguard Division on September 19, 1954, President Ho Chi Minh told the soldiers before marching to liberate the capital: “The Hung Kings founded the nation and we must together protect it.” (Photo: VNA)
This ideology became the guiding principle that defined the revolutionary nature of the VPA, creating immense strength that allowed the army to overcome every obstacle and achieve victory in each historical stage, from the struggles for national liberation and reunification to the cause of national building and development today.
Since its formation, the VPA has made unceasing efforts to protect the nation, bring peace, and ensure the happiness of the people.
During the resistance war against French colonialists, the Vietnam People’s Army demonstrated the spirit of “fighting for the people” through every campaign. In the photo: Vietnamese troops entering Hanoi from the city gates to take over the capital on October 10, 1954. (Source: VNA)
During the Viet Bac Campaign (1947), the Vietnamese troops and people worked closely together to repel enemy attacks, protect vital strongholds, and maintain the people’s trust in the revolution. (Photo: VNA)
The Border Campaign (1950) marked a significant turning point, breaking the enemy’s encirclement, expanding liberated zones, and paving the way for a prolonged resistance. In the photo: Vietnamese troops and civilians participating in the campaign. (Source: VNA)
The most resounding victory is the Dien Bien Phu Campaign (1954), where Vietnamese army, with the wholehearted support of the people, decisively defeated the French colonialists, compelling them to sign the Geneva Accords to cease hostilities in Vietnam. (Video: VNA)
During the resistance against French colonialism, the army demonstrated its “fight for the people” ethos in every battle. In the 1947 Viet Bac Campaign, the army and the people worked together to repel enemy attacks, protect vital strongholds, and maintain the people’s trust in the revolution.
The legendary Truong Son Trail became a symbol of the courage and sacrifice of the army. (Photo: VNA)
The Border Campaign in 1950 marked a turning point in the war, breaking the enemy’s encirclement and expanding the liberated area, creating an impetus for the extended struggle. The greatest victory was the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954, when, with the unwavering support of the people, the army decisively defeated the French, forcing them to sign the Geneva Agreement on the Cessation of Hostilities in Vietnam.
Lieutenant Bui Quang Than, head of Tank Company 4 (holding the flag, in front), enters and raises the flag on the roof of the Saigon puppet regime’s Presidential Palace at noon on April 30, 1975. (Photo: VNA)
After the complete liberation of North Vietnam, the army and people embarked on the struggle against American imperialism, with the noble mission of reunifying the country. The legendary Ho Chi Minh Trail became a symbol of the army’s courage and sacrifice, as tens of thousands of soldiers died to ensure the safe passage of troops and supplies to the South.
Major campaigns like the 1968 Spring General Offensive and Uprising and the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign of 1975 clearly demonstrated the army’s resolve in liberating the people from the control of American imperialists and the Saigon regime, bringing peace to the nation. The victorious Ho Chi Minh Campaign in 1975 marked the end of the war and the reunification of the country, demonstrating the heroism of the VPA.
Soldiers clear war-left unexploded ordnance. (Photo: VNA)
The army always leads the charge, reaching the most difficult and dangerous places to rescue storm and flood victims. (Photo: VNA)
Soldiers assist people in remote areas in education and health care. (Photo: VNA)
After the war ended, the army played a key role in production activities, rebuilding infrastructure, and helping regions devastated by war.
The military became a central force in reconstructing damaged areas, providing healthcare, education, and essential goods to underdeveloped regions, making significant contributions to stabilising the country and helping it enter the era of Doi Moi (Renewal).
Since the country began the Doi Moi cause, the VPA has continued to serve the people, always present in the most challenging and dangerous areas, risking lives to protect people’s safety and property.
The army has always taken the lead in efforts to eliminate poverty, build new-style rural areas, respond to natural disasters, fight against sabotage attempts and hostile forces, and maintain national peace and security.
The images of Uncle Ho’s soldiers whether repairing dikes, rescuing people during floods, constructing much needed homes, helping communities recover from natural disasters, or combating pandemics, has further highlighted the noble qualities of the VPA.
Soldiers help people overcome the aftermath of storms and floods. (Photo: VNA)
Soldiers help people in disadvantaged areas build new rural-style countryside. (Photo: VNA)
Phan Van Mai, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, said on December 19, 2021, after the COVID-19 pandemic:
“During the pandemic, the army fought not only by orders from their commanders but also by the command of their hearts, standing by the people in their most difficult moments. The days when the army helped the people fight the epidemic create more proud chapters in the VPA’s history with beautiful images of the ‘Uncle Ho’s Soldiers'”.
At the same event, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed with deep emotion: “The army has served the people with all their heart and soul”.
Soldiers assist people during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo: VNA)
The VPA’s spirit of “fighting for the people” has extended beyond national borders. Generations of Vietnamese military personnel, including volunteer soldiers and military experts, have stood side by side with the people and armed forces of Laos and Cambodia, enduring hardship and sacrifice to help them achieve independence, fostering the deep bond of solidarity between Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. This spirit continues today, embodied in Vietnam’s peacekeeping missions, reflecting the country’s role and responsibility on the international stage.
On November 18, 2024, a joint military exercise among the armies of Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam with the theme “Rescue and Relief Operations at Collapsed Structures” commenced in Kampong Chhnang province of Cambodia. (Photo: VNA)
On December 10, 2024, UN Deputy Secretary-General Atul Khare highlighted the outstanding contributions of Vietnam’s peacekeeping units, especially the Level-2 field hospitals and engineering teams in Africa, while expressing gratitude for the fallen soldiers in the liberation of Vietnam and for international peace and security.
After 80 years of construction and development, the VPA has truly proven its revolutionary nature as an army “born from the people, fighting for the people, and serving the people”./.
