In Phu Yen, the people’s uprising struggle, which had begun on August 20, 1945, culminated on August 24, 1945, with the complete victory of the revolutionary administration in the provincial capital.
In Dak Lak, in the afternoon at the town stadium, a rally to seize power took place in front of more than 3,000 people from all social classes and ethnic groups (Ede, M’nong, Kinh...) and about 500 self-defence members from plantations and security troops.
This was a gathering and demonstration of strength by the people of all classes, who came to welcome and celebrate the revolutionary government of the province. A representative of the Viet Minh took to the platform, on behalf of the revolution declaring the abolition of the Japanese regime and its puppets and proclaiming the establishment of the revolutionary government.
At the same time, he called upon compatriots of all ethnic groups, workers, peasants, civil servants, students, and the entire population of the province to resolutely defend the government, safeguard independence, support the revolutionary government, and actively participate in building a new life.
The town stadium resounded with slogans such as “Viet Nam is completely independent”, “Long live Viet Minh”, and “Long live the revolutionary government”.
The uprising of the people of Dak Lak Province achieved a resounding victory, with the Red Flag with a Yellow Star flying above the platform, bright red across the stadium, together with hundreds of other flags fluttering in front of public offices and along the streets.
In Sai Gon, at 18:00, the Uprising Committee of the Southern Regional Party Committee issued the order for uprising. Obeying the order of the committee, from 20:00, the Vanguard Youth shock units, consisting of thousands of outstanding members, most of whom were members of the General Workers’ Union with communist party members as the core, were armed and deployed forces to seize key establishments in the city, such as the Treasury, the power plant, the water plant, the post office, the Governor’s Palace of Cochinchina, the fire department, the police headquarters, the bridges leading into Sai Gon, police posts, the vicinity of Japanese barracks, the French quarter, and the area of French military camps.
While the shock units occupied the public offices, armed youths and workers on trucks with flags drove around the city to mobilise and guard against hooligans and reactionaries.
By 22:00, the entire apparatus of the puppet government in the city was in the hands of the revolution, except for the Governor General’s Palace, the naval port, the Indochina Bank, and Tan Son Nhat Airport, because the Japanese refused to yield. Commissioner Nguyen Van Sam was arrested at the Commissioner’s Palace at 22:00 the same day.
By night, a flagpole inscribed with the names of the members of the Provisional Administrative Committee of the South was erected at the crossroads of Bonnard Boulevard and Charner. From midnight onwards, hundreds of thousands of people from the suburban areas of Ba Diem, Hoc Mon, Binh Dong, Binh Xuyen, Cho Dem, etc., and from the provinces of Gia Dinh, Cho Lon, Tan An, Bien Hoa, Thu Dau Mot, My Tho, with banners, sticks, daggers, spears, and guns, poured into Sai Gon City. The whole city resounded with songs and slogans: “Down with Commissioner Nguyen Van Sam”, “Power to the Viet Minh”, and “Long live Viet Minh independence”.
In Go Cong, nearly 30,000 people from the communes flocked to the provincial capital of Go Cong to demonstrate their strength. On behalf of the Provisional National Liberation Committee of Go Cong Province, Comrade Nguyen Van Con declared that power belonged to the people and that the revolution had triumphed.
