From that historic and sacred moment, a State of the people, by the people, and for the people was insituated, fundamentally transforming the status of both the nation and every Vietnamese citizen: from a nation deprived of independence to one that became master of its own destiny; from an enslaved people to citizens of an independent country...
When the Party’s will converges with the people’s aspirations, and sound objectives are translated into effective organisation and decisive action, the nation is able to surmount every challenge. Under the glorious banner of the Party and guided by the light of President Ho Chi Minh, Vietnamese people have advanced from one victory to another. Two protracted resistance wars against colonialism and imperialism, waged in the spirit of “Determined to sacrifice for the survival of the Fatherland”, culminated in the Dien Bien Phu Victory of 1954, which “resounded across the five continents and shook the globe”, and the Great Spring Victory of 1975, which reunified the country.
Those heroic epics inscribed brilliant milestones to the nation’s glorious history, becoming part of the millennia-old continuum of national construction and defence. They have continually nurtured and crystallised the mettle, wisdom, will, and strength of the Vietnamese nation, becoming symbols of faith and a firm foundation for generations to come. The glory of the August Revolution and National Day on September 2, together with the enduring significance of the Declaration of Independence, belongs not only to the past. It remains a powerful source of strength and spiritual inspiration, encouraging the nation while placing great responsibilities upon it on the journey ahead.
Eighty-one years on, the immortal Declaration continues to resonate as an unwavering pledge to uphold the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness of the entire Vietnamese nation. The enduring values embodied in the six words “Independence – Freedom – Happiness” are not merely the national motto beneath the country’s official name; they are also a solemn political pledge and the highest yardstick by which all guidelines and policies must be evaluated.
After 40 years of Doi Moi (Renewal), creatively applying Marxism-Leninism and President Ho Chi Minh’s Thought to revolutionary practice under the Party’s comprehensive, regular, and direct leadership, the country has attained accomplishments of historic significance. National independence and sovereignty have been firmly safeguarded; national defence and security have been strengthened; political and social stability has been maintained; the scale and competitiveness of the economy have increased; people’s living standards have improved markedly; and an independent and self-reliant foreign policy for cooperation and development has been consistently pursued. Viet Nam’s national strength, potential, position, and prestige have earned growing international recognition, creating new momentum and resources for even greater aspirations.
Yet looking back at the past also means gazing towards the future and asking: What place will Viet Nam occupy in a world undergoing epochal change? Viet Nam’s GDP per capita reached 5,026 USD in 2025, placing the country in the upper-middle-income bracket — an achievement worthy of pride when viewed against the journey of 40 years of Doi Moi (Renewal). Yet the challenge of escaping the middle-income trap remains. So too does the challenge of achieving rapid and sustainable development.
The 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Viet Nam has opened a new chapter in the nation’s history, with decisions that tackle both urgent needs and long-term strategic imperatives. Amid increasingly fierce strategic competition, and as science, technology, and innovation profoundly and fundamentally transform countries’ modes of production and governance, our Party has clearly identified and consistently emphasised the need to renew development thinking, the development model, and the growth model.
The third Plenum of the 14th Party Central Committee enacted decisions on many unprecedented and groundbreaking issues of historic significance, helping shape Viet Nam’s national development model through 2045 and beyond. In particular, the growth model must shift decisively from extensive to intensive development, underpinned by science, technology, and innovation. A nation’s competitive advantage lies not only in the resources it possesses, but also to a great extent in its ability to mobilise and effectively utilise those resources, remove bottlenecks, and transform potential and advantages into drivers of development. The Party’s leadership capacity is therefore reflected not only in identifying issues and adopting sound and well-targeted policies and resolutions to address urgent practical challenges, but also in bringing about fundamental improvements in the quality of governance and personnel, as well as in accountability and implementation capacity.
The glorious 81-year history of the Vietnamese revolution has endowed us with a solid foundation of national strength, standing, and considerable international prestige. The new era places new responsibilities and expectations upon us to turn unprecedented development potential and opportunities into reality. It also demands courage in both thought and action to identify, confront, and successfully overcome intertwined challenges. From the day the Declaration of Independence first resounded to today’s process of Doi Moi and ever-deeper international integration, every step forward by the country has been built upon an aspiration for change, a determined will and decisive action, and the strength of the great national unity of the Vietnamese people, forged through countless contributions and sacrifices.
Throughout the course of the Vietnamese revolution, the goal of “Independence – Freedom – Happiness” must continuously be augmented in substance and broadened in scope and significance, remaining steadfast in its enduring values while being applied flexibly at every step and stage in accordance with specific circumstances. As Party General Secretary and State President To Lam has affirmed, independence must be guaranteed by national strength and the capacity for autonomy and self-determination; freedom must be safeguarded by law, discipline, and the people’s right to mastery; and happiness must be reflected in employment, income, education, healthcare, safety, and opportunities for every individual to develop.
The people repose their trust in, closely follow, and supervise a genuinely leading Party with sufficient governing capacity to fulfil its mission of guiding the nation. The Fatherland calls for loyal and courageous citizens in both national construction and defence, equipped with intellect, morality, and fortitude. The country is undergoing a profound transformation to overcome stagnation and advance towards bold and determined renewal.
The 80-year Party membership badges reverently presented by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam and other Party and State leaders, and pinned on the chests of veteran Party members who have devoted their lives to working and striving for the people and the country — on the occasion of the 81st anniversary of the successful August Revolution and the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam — represent both gratitude to preceding generations and a solemn commitment of responsibility before the Party, the Fatherland, and the people.
This year’s celebration of the 81st anniversary of National Day on September 2 coincides with the 57th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh’s passing. Before his departure, he bequeathed to the nation his sacred Testament. Over the years, the entire Party, people, and armed forces have made concerted efforts to study and follow President Ho Chi Minh’s thought, morality, and style in accordance with the spirit of the Politburo’s Directive No.05-CT/TW, dated May 15, 2016.
In the new stage of development, the task of building and rectifying a clean and strong Party and political system requires the study and following of President Ho Chi Minh’s thought, morality, and style to shift decisively towards regular, voluntary, and practical application, intimately tied to the quality and effectiveness of task performance and tangible results in serving the people.
The Politburo’s Directive No.07-CT/TW, dated July 13, 2026, mandates stronger leadership and direction in studying and practising President Ho Chi Minh’s thought, morality, methods, and style, identifying this as a key and regular task of the entire political system and every official and Party member. The Directive requires that studying and following President Ho Chi Minh be associated with the responsibility to set an example, uphold public-service ethics, and adopt scientific and democratic working methods that keep officials close to the people, attentive to the people, and dedicated to serving them. It also calls for effectively implementing the principle that “the people are the root”, respecting and listening to the people, and promoting their right to mastery; contributing to building a Party that is truly “moral and civilised”; and creating an important driving force for successfully achieving the country’s development goals.
This is precisely how Viet Nam can meritoriously perpetuate its glorious historical traditions, realise the Party’s vision and President Ho Chi Minh’s Testament, and advance towards rapid and sustainable development for a strong and prosperous nation that brings prosperity and happiness to its people.
