I was haunted by the tearful eyes of people from Hue, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, and Lam Dong during the historic floods at the end of last year. In these early days of 2026, I have witnessed their smiles as they received new homes completed under the lightning-fast Quang Trung Campaign.
Bonds forged through shared hardship
After a year of abnormal flooding, life in disaster-hit areas was turned upside down. Forces from the Viet Nam People’s Army, local militia, and self-defence units swiftly launched the Quang Trung Campaign to rebuild and repair collapsed and damaged homes for those affected. They were tasked with completing construction before the Lunar New Year (Tet) 2026 so families could celebrate in their new homes.
Phan Duy An, a soldier from Company 4, Battalion 11, Artillery Brigade 368, Military Region 5, has been stationed with his comrades in Phu Phong Village, Hoa Thinh Commune, Dak Lak Province, since December 2025. He said: “We always consider building houses for the people as if we were building our own home. With Tet approaching, the people urgently need new houses to celebrate this major festival, so we resolved to exert ourselves fully to complete them as quickly as possible in response to their heartfelt hopes.”
The Artillery Brigade 368 was assigned to build eight new houses and repair three in the most severely affected area of Dak Lak. On 4 January, four new houses and three repaired homes were handed over, the remaining four new builds followed nine days later.
“During the campaign, the greatest difficulty was transporting building materials amid erratic rain. Our unit overcame all challenges, working day and night to stay on schedule,” Phan Duy An confided.
The words are modest, but the reality was far harsher. After storms and floods destroyed countless homes, fields, and gardens, people were left homeless under the open sky. Crops, livestock, and poultry were swept away, roads were repeatedly flooded, and landslides struck. Both army and people strained every nerve to battle the disaster.
Rain without end, work without pause
In the early days of 2026, with the spirit of “rain unceasing, work unstopping”, nearly 400 houses were built and handed over to families before Tet.
On December 30, 2025, General Phan Van Giang, Politburo member, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission, and Minister of National Defence, sent a letter praising officers and soldiers of the People’s Army, local militia, and self-defence forces participating in the Quang Trung Campaign.
Under directives from the Politburo, Secretariat, and prime minister, as well as guidance from the Central Military Commission and Ministry of National Defence, officials and soldiers from Military Regions 4, 5, and 7 upheld the glorious traditions of the heroic Viet Nam People’s Army. They exemplified the noble qualities of Uncle Ho’s Soldiers, embodying the spirit of “bold, resolute, lightning-fast”, promptly devising plans, mobilising forces, vehicles, and equipment, organising mobile construction teams, and closely coordinating with localities to rebuild homes.
In the early days of 2026, with the spirit of “rain unceasing, work unstopping”, nearly 400 houses were built and handed over to families before Tet.
Defence Minister Phan Van Giang’s words reflected the army’s will in these opening days of the new year: “To complete the Quang Trung Campaign on schedule, the Central Military Commission and Ministry of National Defence trust and call on comrades to further promote revolutionary heroism, the tradition of ‘determined to fight, determined to win’ of the Viet Nam People’s Army, the noble qualities of Uncle Ho’s soldiers, and the spirit of unity and compassion, overcoming difficulties to outstandingly complete the task before January 1, 2026, helping the people quickly stabilise their lives and joyfully celebrate the Lunar New Year — the Year of the Horse.”
Carrying revolutionary traditions into the new era
In the new era, the Viet Nam People’s Army’s tradition of “filial duty to the people” has extended beyond national borders, reaching globally and into cyberspace. General Phan Van Giang emphasised: the entire army implements the motto “Respect the people, stay close to the people, trust the people, understand the people, learn from the people, rely on the people, and be responsible to the people.”
In two years, the army contributed over seven million workdays to support the people; examined and provided free medicine to nearly 2.5 million individuals; and helped build 6,613 social houses, among many other meaningful activities, contributing to social security and cultural life.
Viet Nam’s rescue and relief forces left a lasting impression internationally, especially in Myanmar after the earthquake disaster. When devastating earthquakes struck Turkey and Myanmar, the Central Military Commission and Ministry of National Defence immediately directed forces to provide relief, helping local people stabilise their lives.
Contributions to United Nations peacekeeping missions have further spread the noble image of Uncle Ho’s Soldiers worldwide, embodying a pure internationalist spirit.
The entire army implements the motto “Respect the people, stay close to the people, trust the people, understand the people, learn from the people, rely on the people, and be responsible to the people.”
Politburo member, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission and Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang
A poignant reminder is the sacrifice of 13 officers and soldiers during search and rescue at Rao Trang Hydropower Station in Phong Dien District, Thua Thien Hue Province, on October 12, 2020. Their readiness to face danger and hardship to aid compatriots has deepened public faith in Uncle Ho’s Soldiers.
The army’s spirit of “filial duty to the people” was elevated during Storm No.3 (Yagi) in September 2024 and Storm No.10 (Bualoi) in late September 2025. That spirit was shown through urgent action, heedless of sacrifice, undaunted by hardship, reaching isolated “hotspots” as quickly as possible to deliver medicines, food, and necessities.
As if innate, the noble quality of “filial duty to the people” has become the ideological wellspring of every revolutionary soldier — an inexhaustible spiritual force driving officers and soldiers to persevere in all circumstances, always ready to contribute and sacrifice for the people’s safety, peace, and happiness. It is this enduring spirit that makes them worthy of the title “Uncle Ho’s Soldiers” in the nation’s new era.
