Seventy-one years ago, late President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence establishing the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam, now the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, and the country turned towards a new era of independence and freedom.  Since then, Viet Nam has rapidly developed into an independent and self-reliant state in the international arena.

The Declaration stated, “The interim government of the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam officially announces to the world that Viet Nam has the right to enjoy freedom and independence, and in fact has become an independent and liberal country.  All Vietnamese people are determined to give whatever it takes to protect the country’s freedom and independence.”

A golden page in Viet Nam’s history

2 September 1945 was a milestone in Viet Nam’s thousands of years of national construction and defence.  The Declaration of Independence was the first legal document to establish the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam, confirming the freedom and independence of Vietnamese people internationally.  It laid a foundation for a Vietnamese state governed by law, striving for independence, freedom, and happiness, and guiding the revolutionary cause to build a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

The Declaration marked the victory of the Vietnamese people’s fight against feudalism and colonialism after nearly a century.  The Vietnamese, under the leadership of the Communist Party, continued the revolutionary cause to liberate the south and unify the nation in 1975.

The Democratic Republic of Viet Nam became the first worker-peasant state in Southeast Asia.

Momentum for the future

Over the past 71 years Viet Nam has continuously developed, and particularly rapidly during the renewal process of the last 28 years.  Viet Nam has become a symbol of social stability, poverty reduction, and humanity in the 21^st century.

Viet Nam aims to become an industrial nation by 2020, with political and social stability, improved living conditions for its people, and national sovereignty and territorial integrity firmly protected.  Former State President Truong Tan Sang said, “Viet Nam has overcome a number of challenges.  The Party, State, and people have exerted great efforts and have made remarkable achievements.  The urgency of national construction and defence requires a high consensus of will and actions.  We must commit to work harder, and to honour our ancestors and the nation’s triumphant history for future generations”.

On National Day, Vietnamese people enjoy a day off work to commemorate the event’s historical significance.  A notable symbol of the cheerful spirit of the day is the appearance of the national flag everywhere, colouring the whole country with lively red backgrounds and the jovial yellow stars.  The streets explode with a boom of red and yellow banners of celebration, and oversized posters of Uncle Ho speaking into a microphone in 1945.

There is also an annual parade in Ba Dinh Square, Ha Noi, and fireworks are set off in some of Viet Nam’s major cities.

(Source: VOV/ Internet/ Da Nang Today)