Over more than eight decades of building, fighting, winning, and growing, the Vietnam People’s Army has consistently demonstrated its revolutionary nature, truly deserving President Hồ Chí Minh’s praise: “Our Army is loyal to the Party, devoted to the people, always ready to fight and sacrifice for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland and for socialism. Any task assigned, it fulfills; any difficulty, it overcomes; any enemy, it defeats.”

Under the glorious banner of the Party, the People’s Army will forever remain a trusted political force, absolutely loyal, worthy of the confidence and affection of the Party, the State, and the people.

General Secretary Tô Lâm and leaders of the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense visit and work at the Vietnam Military History Museum, December 2024. Photo: People’s Army Newspaper

Eighty-one years ago, in a forest area between the Hoàng Hoa Thám and Trần Hưng Đạo districts, Nguyên Bình, Cao Bằng Province, following the directive of President Hồ Chí Minh, the Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Army Team – comprising 34 soldiers in simple brown uniforms- was established. This force was the forerunner of today’s Vietnam People’s Army. Throughout its formation, combat, and development, the Army has been a core force, together with the entire Party and people, achieving numerous glorious victories in the struggle for national liberation and in building and defending the Fatherland. These victories were the result of many converging factors, among which the Party’s absolute and direct leadership over the Army in all aspects has been decisive.

The Party’s leadership over the Army was affirmed as early as 1930 in the “Brief Political Platform,” which emphasized the strategic task of “organizing a workers’ and peasants’ army,” considering the building of armed forces a key factor for the success of national liberation and national defense. This foundational viewpoint marked the beginning of a new-type army with a working-class nature, absolutely loyal to the goal of national independence and socialism.

With a consistent military line, the Party built the armed forces from early workers’ and peasants’ self-defense groups, gradually developing into guerrilla units and combat self-defense forces, and by December 1944, establishing the Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Army Team under the Party’s direct leadership through Party cells, ensuring absolute and direct leadership in all tasks.

It was the Party organization within the Army that created a high degree of unity in will, discipline, and combat strength, enabling early victories and establishing the tradition of “Determined to Fight, Determined to Win.” The Party’s leadership was further demonstrated in the August 1945 General Uprising. Under the wise guidance of the Party Central Committee and President Hồ Chí Minh, revolutionary armed forces played a vanguard role, coordinating with the political forces of the masses to seize power nationwide.

During the resistance war against French colonialism, the Party’s leadership over the Army was embodied in the line of “people’s war – comprehensive, long-term, and relying primarily on our own strength.” From a young and modest force, the Army developed into a well-organized main force with increasingly sophisticated operational art, culminating in the historic victory of Điện Biên Phủ – “resounding across the five continents, shaking the globe”—which marked the beginning of the collapse of colonialism and strongly encouraged national liberation movements worldwide.

Helicopters of the heroic Vietnam People’s Air Force carrying the Party flag and the National flag flying over the capital’s sky.

During the resistance war against the United States for national salvation, the Party’s leadership was even more clearly demonstrated. The Party combined military struggle with political and diplomatic struggle; directed the building of the three-tier armed forces; and developed the people’s war posture. The Army launched decisive strategic campaigns, notably the Spring 1975 General Offensive and Uprising, culminating in the Hồ Chí Minh Campaign, which ended the war against the United States, completed national reunification, and wrote a glorious chapter of the Hồ Chí Minh era.

Under the Party’s leadership, the Army also achieved victories in the wars to defend the Fatherland along the southwestern and northern borders; fulfilled noble international obligations by helping the Lao people protect the fruits of their revolution and assisting the Cambodian people in escaping genocide.

Victories against colonialism and imperialism, and in defending territorial integrity and national sovereignty, affirmed the steadfast will of the entire Party, Army, and people, demonstrating the great strength of the all-people unity under the Party’s leadership and the Army’s core role. These victories not only created a peaceful, stable environment for national development but also contributed to peace and stability in Southeast Asia and the world.

The Vietnam People’s Army continues to affirm its role as a trusted political force of the Party, the State, and the people. Photo: Nguyệt Ánh.

Implementing the Party’s renovation policy, the Army continues to affirm its role as a trusted political force, successfully fulfilling its three functions: a fighting force, a working force, and a productive labor force. The Army proactively grasps situations, enhances strategic advisory capacity, handles situations effectively, and avoids passivity or surprise—especially in protecting maritime and island sovereignty and maintaining independence and territorial integrity – thus contributing to strengthening the all-people national defense associated with the people’s security posture. Defense diplomacy is enhanced, contributing positively to a peaceful and stable environment for national development. The Army leads by example in Party building and rectification, studies and follows Hồ Chí Minh’s ideology, ethics, and style, and actively counters hostile and erroneous viewpoints.

Under the Party’s leadership, the Army upholds self-reliance and actively participates in socio-economic development, contributing significantly to the success of renovation. The entire Army fulfills “peacetime combat missions,” playing a core role in disaster prevention and relief, search and rescue, poverty reduction, building new rural areas, and strengthening local political systems. The image of soldiers present in difficult and dangerous areas, risking their lives to protect people and property, highlights the noble qualities of “Uncle Hồ’s Soldiers” in the new era and strengthens the close bond between the Army and the people, building a firm “people’s hearts and minds posture.”

General Secretary Tô Lâm visits officers and commanders of Army Corps 34. Photo: Thống Nhất/VNA.

Entering a new stage of development, the international and regional situation continues to evolve rapidly and complexly, with many unpredictable factors. Strategic competition among major powers is intensifying; traditional and non-traditional security challenges intertwine, affecting national defense tasks. Domestically, after nearly 40 years of renovation, the country’s strength has grown significantly; however, the task of strengthening national defense and protecting sovereignty faces new demands. Building a “revolutionary, regular, elite, and modern” Army requires higher, more proactive, and stronger efforts. To continue affirming the Army’s role in national construction, development, and defense, the Military Party Committee and the entire Army must focus on key tasks:

First, steadfastly uphold and strengthen the Party’s absolute and direct leadership over the Army in all aspects. This is a vital issue determining the Army’s nature and strength. In all circumstances, Party leadership over the Army is a prerequisite. The Army must maintain its revolutionary nature, adhere to Marxism–Leninism and Hồ Chí Minh Thought in organizing and performing its duties.

The Military Party Committee must thoroughly implement the Party’s military and defense lines, especially Resolution No. 44-NQ/TW of the 13th Party Central Committee on the Strategy for Fatherland Protection in the New Situation; accurately forecast situations; and effectively advise and handle defense issues without passivity. The Army must also effectively advise the Party and State on military and defense matters; implement resolutions and directives on building the people’s armed forces and strengthening all-people national defense linked with people’s security; and enhance overall quality and combat strength.

In pursuing the strategic goals toward the centennial of the Party’s leadership and the nation’s founding, the Army must remain a core force in seizing opportunities and overcoming challenges; truly be a fighting force, a working force, and a productive labor force; and make breakthroughs in developing defense industry to meet modernization requirements within an independent, self-reliant economy, while contributing to regional and global peace and stability.

Second, focus on building a truly clean, strong, comprehensive, exemplary Military Party Committee. This is decisive in maintaining the Party’s absolute leadership and ensuring the Army’s success in all tasks.

The Military Party Committee must thoroughly implement Central resolutions and directives on Party building; link Party rectification with studying and following Hồ Chí Minh Thought and Resolution No. 847-NQ/QUTW on promoting the qualities of “Uncle Hồ’s Soldiers” and combating individualism; strengthen political steadfastness; uphold democratic centralism; collective leadership with individual responsibility; self-criticism and criticism; and enhance unity within the Party.

At the same time, innovate leadership content and methods, especially at the grassroots level; link strong Party organizations with comprehensively strong units; build a healthy military cultural environment with high discipline; and resolutely prevent corruption, waste, bureaucracy, and actions that harm the Party’s and Army’s prestige.

Third, continuously enhance comprehensive leadership capacity, combat strength, and the effectiveness of Party and political work.

Review and improve regulations and leadership mechanisms; consolidate Party organizations in line with Army restructuring; strictly observe Party principles; improve Party cell activities; strengthen political capacity and leadership skills of grassroots cadres; and coordinate to enhance the effectiveness of local military and defense leadership.

Party and political work must truly be the central force that connects, guides, and spreads influence throughout the Army. Cadres and political agencies must closely follow developments, promptly translate Party lines into suitable programs and plans, accurately grasp soldiers’ thoughts, and maintain unity. Integrate ideological work with organizational, personnel, mass mobilization, policy, internal political protection, and inspection to create comprehensive strength.

Fourth, resolutely combat and defeat hostile forces’ schemes and activities.

Hostile forces are intensifying “peaceful evolution” and promoting “self-evolution” and “self-transformation,” especially around major Party congresses. Party committees and political agencies must strictly implement Resolution No. 35-NQ/TW on protecting the Party’s ideological foundation and countering hostile viewpoints; build core forces for ideological struggle, particularly in cyberspace; and strengthen Party building and discipline. Enhance education to improve political resilience among cadres and soldiers; and promote accurate, timely information and communication aligned with the Party’s orientation.

Proud of its glorious 81-year tradition, the Party, State, and people firmly believe that the Vietnam People’s Army will continue to uphold its noble qualities, build a revolutionary, regular, elite, and modern force, firmly protect the Fatherland, and contribute to building a peaceful, prosperous, and happy country in the new era.

TÔ LÂM
General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam
Secretary of the Central Military Commission