Vietnam People’s Army – the pride of the nation, says Party leader To Lam

Glorious tradition and remarkable achievements

In his article, the Party leader affirmed that the Vietnam People’s Army, born from the people and fighting for the people, is a source of national pride for various historical cultural and practical reasons.

The army was founded on December 22, 1944, under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President Ho Chi Minh, tasked with safeguarding the nation’s independence, freedom, and territorial integrity. The army achieved numerous legendary triumphs, such as the victory of the August 1945 Revolution, of the 1945 Dien Bien Phu campaign over French colonialism, and of the 1975 Ho Chi Minh Campaign over American imperialism, significantly contributing to national liberation and reunification.

Among those victories, the success of the August 1945 Revolution led to the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam – the first people’s democratic state in Southeast Asia, ushering in a new era of independence and freedom. Meanwhile, the success of the Ho Chi Minh Campaign gloriously accomplished the mission of national liberation and reunification, marking a turning point for the whole nation to advance toward socialism.

Not only did it achieve national independence and freedom, but the army also actively fulfilled its noble international duties. It helped the Lao people firmly safeguard the achievements of their revolution and assisted the Cambodian people in escaping genocide and rebuilding their nation. In addition, it achieved victories in the wars to defend the Vietnamese Fatherland along the Southwestern and Northern borders.

In peacetime, the army has actively engaged in socio-economic development, assisting in building infrastructure, promoting rural modernization, supporting poverty reduction programmes, and partaking in disaster relief, search-and-rescue operations. Many military units have also participated in United Nations peacekeeping missions, enhancing Vietnam’s international standing.

During the country’s renovation period, he said, the army has continued to shine in the mission of building and safeguarding the socialist state, by setting an exemplary role model in implementing the Party’s resolutions, directives, and conclusions, consistently striving with determination, unity, and solidarity to overcome all difficulties and challenges. It has strengthened the close, inseparable bond between the army and the people, building a strong “All-People Defense posture” and reinforcing public trust in the Party, the State, and the socialist regime.

To obtain such achievements, the Party leader affirmed that the Vietnam People’s Army has always been under the absolute, direct, and comprehensive leadership of the Party, embodying the essence of the working class. It is an army of the people, by the people, and for the people. It relies on the strength of the people, is deeply connected with them, and always strives for a prosperous and happy life for the people. Apart from the interests of the homeland and the people, the army has no other interests, he added.

According to the Party leader, the goal of building the army is to defend the nation, gain independence for the homeland and freedom for the people, protect sovereignty and territorial integrity, and maintain peace and stability, while contributing to peace and stability in the region and globally. The army fights with no other objective than to achieve the ideals of the Party and the working class, for the sake of national independence and socialism.

In addition, the generations of officers and soldiers, with their steel spirit, courage, intelligence, and willingness to overcome difficulties and sacrifices, have always upheld the flag of national independence, freedom, the happiness of the people, and socialism. Furthermore, the solidarity and support from international friends have also played a vital role in strengthening the power of the Vietnam People’s Army.

Strategic vision for the army

In the context of the world’s unpredictable changes with intertwined challenges and opportunities, the Party leader highlighted the importance of the Party’s leadership for the army, affirming that in all circumstances, it is essential to maintain and strengthen the absolute and direct leadership of the Communist Party over the army.

The army, he said, must set an example and lead in implementing the resolutions, directives, and conclusions of the Party, especially Resolution No. 44-NQ/TW of the 13th Party Central Committee regarding national defense in the new situation. Accordingly, the army must closely monitor and accurately forecast the situation, promptly give advice and effectively handle defense-related scenarios, ensuring that Vietnam is never caught off guard in any circumstance.

It must steadfastly protect the socialist Fatherland from the earliest stages, both near and far. It is crucial to be resolute and persistent in defending the independence, sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity, and maritime and airspace rights of the nation.

The Party leader stressed the need to build a truly clean, strong, regular, elite, and modern army to meet the requirements and tasks of the new era of development and prosperity. Accordingly, the army must be modernized and proactively prepare for modern warfare in all aspects, including mastering outer space, advancing to control surface waters, oceans, and seabeds, as well as researching and developing air defense and aviation capabilities to control the airspace, efficiently manage unmanned aerial vehicles in the air and at sea, and deploy seabed robots.

In his view, it is essential to enhance the army’s engagement in achieving the strategic goals for 100 years of the Communist Party of Vietnam (2030) and 100 years of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam), and maintaining peace and stability in the region and globally.

While pursuing the strategic goals of the Party, we face numerous challenges and difficulties, in addition to the opportunities and advantages. These challenges require the collective efforts of the entire Party, people, and military. The People's

The army must be a key force in advising the Party and the State, seizing opportunities, and overcoming challenges. It must truly be a fighting force, a workforce, and a labour production force, in developing the national defense industry within the broader framework of building an independent and self-reliant economy.

Last but not least, the Party chief encouraged the army to further engage in maintaining peace and stability in the region and worldwide through activities, including defense cooperation to build trust, reduce conflicts, and prevent disagreements.

The army should actively participate in international rescue and relief efforts and contribute to the United Nations peacekeeping forces, he concluded.