The great day recalls President Ho Chi Minh's Testament

For every Vietnamese, September 2, 1945 is a milestone that opened an era of independence for the entire nation. That was the day President Ho Chi Minh, the beloved leader, read the Declaration of Independence, giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Since that important historical milestone, the country has added to its heroic tradition with glorious victories in the struggle for national liberation, building and defending the Fatherland. Cherishing the infinite value of peace and unity, we are even more deeply aware of the meaning and achievements of independence and freedom.

Celebrating the 78th anniversary of National Day, remembering President Ho Chi Minh, every Vietnamese person is even more passionate about building a “more decent” country. And the advice to “fight against the old and corrupt things, to create new and fresh things” in his Testament is shining and reminding the entire nation on the journey of nation building.

Why does this important day remind us of President Ho Chi Minh's Testament?

Looking back 78 years ago, the feudal regime in Vietnam during its decline was stagnant, corrupt, and rotten, leaving the country far behind the rest of the world. The country's internal strength was weak in all areas. That was the main reason for the loss of the country when the French colonialists opened fire, starting the invasion of Vietnam in 1858. Our people were oppressed under the domination of the colonialists and feudalists. The patriotic movements in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, although rising strongly, all failed.

It was not until the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President Ho Chi Minh that our people launched a General Uprising in the fall of 1945 to give birth to the first people's democratic state in Southeast Asia.

After independence, the country experienced many heroic and arduous changes, but the entire Vietnamese people under the leadership of the Party and President Ho Chi Minh devoted all their spirit and strength, lives and property to maintain and protect to the end the right to freedom and independence, to lead the Vietnamese Revolution from one victory to another.

Right at the time when the resistance war against the US imperialists to save the country was extremely fierce and had important milestones, and was on the path to victory, on the morning of September 2, 1969, President Ho Chi Minh passed away, leaving our Party and people a historic Testament. Those were his final instructions, his feelings and beliefs for the present and future generations, and were the torch that lit the way for the revolutionary cause and the construction of socialism in our country.

In his Testament, he gave many instructions, especially the essential tasks that must be done when our people's cause of fighting against the US and saving the country achieves complete victory. He emphasized: "This is a fight against what is old and corrupt to create new and fresh things."

From the intellectual and ideological height of President Ho Chi Minh, we can feel these “extremely large, complicated and difficult” tasks. Because the new situation will require the country not only to develop all aspects of social life, such as economy, education, health, hygiene, etc., but also to fight against all the corruption from the process of building and constructing the country to create new and fresh things.

During his lifetime, Uncle Ho reminded: “It is relatively easy to defeat imperialism and feudalism; it is much more difficult to defeat poverty and backwardness.” Therefore, when the whole nation had just entered the resistance war against French colonialism, facing the risk of corruption of a part of cadres and party members, he warned that “those in public offices all have more or less power. If they do not maintain Diligence, Thrift, Integrity, and Uprightness, they can easily become corrupt and become pests of the people.”

In order to remember his great merit, on September 9, 1969, at the Memorial Service for President Ho Chi Minh, General Secretary Le Duan read the Eulogy of the Party Central Committee before his spirit; including 5 oaths to fulfill President Ho Chi Minh's Last Will and bring the country to final victory. Those oaths were: Determined to liberate the South, unify the country; realize the noble ideals of socialism and communism, bring prosperity to the country, happiness to the people; maintain solidarity and unity within the Party; promote the noble and pure spirit of internationalism; study and follow his morality and style.

During 54 years of implementing Uncle Ho's Testament, our entire Party, army and people have strived tirelessly, overcome countless difficulties and challenges, and achieved great and historic achievements. It is also a journey of persistent struggle to overcome and eliminate the remnants of the old social regime, to create and foster new elements of the new social regime; at the same time, it is also a process of self-elimination and self-struggle to overcome and overcome our own weaknesses and shortcomings on the path of development.

After the reunification, from a poor and backward country, Vietnam has risen up, surpassed the threshold of a poor and underdeveloped country, and become a middle-income developing country. People's lives have improved, politics and society have been stable, independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity have been maintained.

Vietnam's prestige and position in the international arena are increasingly high as Vietnam is a developing country, having diplomatic relations with 192 countries on all continents. In 2023, visits by many heads of state and senior leaders of countries such as the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, the Prime Minister of Australia, the President of the Ivory Coast's National Assembly, the President of South Korea, the President of Kazakhstan, the Prime Minister of Singapore, or this September, US President Joe Biden is expected to visit Vietnam at the invitation of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong..., have affirmed Vietnam's position and role in the region and in the international arena.

The fact that Vietnam has sent teams and units to participate in UN peacekeeping operations over the past nine years also has important political significance, not only affirming that Vietnam is a responsible member of the international community, but also making practical contributions to resolving security issues and protecting peace and stability in the region and the world.

According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), by 2023, Vietnam will be the country with the 35th largest economy in the world.

After 54 years of implementing President Ho Chi Minh's Testament, our country has achieved many important achievements, but there are still many things that have not been fulfilled according to Uncle Ho's instructions. That is bureaucracy, being distant from the masses, going against the interests of the people in a part of cadres and party members, affecting the prestige and weakening the strength of the Party.

Furthermore, the problems among cadres, party members, major corruption and economic cases involving strategic-level cadres such as the Viet A case, the “rescue flight”… although have been brought to justice, warn of unpredictable consequences, causing the risk of erosion and people’s skepticism towards the Party’s goals and ideals, threatening the survival of the Party, the State and the regime!

Entering a new stage of development, with complex and unpredictable developments in the world situation, the road ahead will certainly not be smooth and easy, but will be full of bumps and uncertainties.

To continue developing the country on the path that Uncle Ho, our Party and people have chosen, "fighting against the old and corrupt things to create new and fresh things" is an urgent requirement, a vital requirement for the Party and State.

Looking straight at the truth, clearly recognizing the difficulties and limitations, is not to belittle the achievements the country has made. Courageously seeing weaknesses, determined to overcome shortcomings, is also for the country to move forward steadily. That is also an extremely important foundation, fostering trust in the Party and the State, so that people believe, love and wholeheartedly build and protect the Party, the State and the regime.

As General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong pointed out: “With new confidence, new spirit, new motivation, our entire Party, people and army will continue to unite and strive with greater determination and effort; be more proactive and creative to wisely grasp all opportunities and advantages; firmly overcome all difficulties and challenges; successfully complete the goals and tasks set for the entire 13th term, contributing to building the country to become increasingly developed and prosperous; more and more dignified and beautiful, as beloved Uncle Ho always expected.”