Speaking at the event, Chairman of the HCM City People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong highlighted the heroic, resilient and brave spirit of the soldiers and people of Saigon (now HCM City) and South Vietnam on September 23, 1945. Following the successful August 1945 Revolution, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam came into existence, opening a new era in national history after more than 80 years under French colonial rule. However, with the ambition to invade Vietnam again, on September 23, 1945, the French colonialists followed their British allies to occupy the headquarters of the People’s Committee of South Vietnam and other important agencies of the Vietnamese government in Saigon, signaling their second invasion.
In response to such an act of invasion, on the morning of September 23, 1945, Chairman of the Southern Resistance Committee Tran Van Giau issued an appeal “Independence, freedom or death!” urging the people to take up arms to fight the invaders. With rudimentary weapons, the soldiers and people of South Vietnam rose up to expel the invaders, thereafter joining the whole country to successfully end the nine-year resistance war against the French colonialists with the Dien Bien Phu Campaign in 1954.
Phong affirmed that the Party, authorities and people of HCM City would continue to uphold the tradition of solidarity, dynamism, creativity and affection, while taking advantage of opportunities, overcoming challenges, comprehensively speeding up the renewal cause, and striving to complete all tasks to be worthy of a city named after the beloved President Ho Chi Minh.
As part of the activities to mark the 75th anniversary of the Southern Resistance War, an exhibition is being held at three venues in HCM City from September 22 to 30, with more than 200 photos on display.
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Delegates tour the exhibition at Lam Son Park in District 1, HCM City.
The exhibition introduces the historical struggle period and the heroic courage of the people in South Vietnam who stood up to fight the French invaders and resolutely defend the country’s independence. In addition, HCM City’s outstanding achievements in various aspects are also being showcased during the week-long event.
