On the morning of December 13, 2024, National Economics University (NEU) held a ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army (December 22, 1944 – December 22, 2024) and the 35th anniversary of All-People’s National Defense Day (December 22, 1989 – December 22, 2024).

A view of the commemorative ceremony

Guests attending the ceremony included Major General Hoang Kien, Hero of the People’s Armed Forces; Colonel Pham Minh Chinh, Head of the Organization and Inspection Committee of the Hanoi Veterans’ Association; Colonel Pham Ho Quang, Deputy Head of the Propaganda and Education Committee of the Hanoi Veterans’ Association; and representatives of Bloc 487 of the Veterans’ Associations of Hanoi Universities and Colleges.

Representing NEU were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Duc Tho, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chair of the University Council; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Huy Nhuong, Vice President; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu, Vice President; Dr. Nguyen Huu Dong, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Chair of the NEU Trade Union; and representatives of the leadership of schools, departments, faculties, institutes, and centers. Also attending were Executive Committee members and members of the Veterans’ Association; former military personnel and reserve officers currently working at NEU; generations of lecturers and students who put aside their studies to serve in the military; and representatives of public employees, workers, lecturers, and students at NEU.

As people and soldiers nationwide solemnly and proudly marked the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People’s Army (December 22, 1944 – December 22, 2014) and the 35th anniversary of All-People’s National Defense Day (December 22, 1989 – December 22, 2024), the ceremony provided an opportunity to recall the heroic chapters of history and glorious victories achieved by the army and the people. It also honored the courage and indomitable will of preceding generations who sacrificed their youth and devoted their prime years to the nation’s independence, freedom, peace, and reunification.

Throughout 80 years of development, the Vietnam People’s Army has consistently demonstrated the mettle of a revolutionary army originating from the people and fighting for the people—a special political force and a fighting force absolutely loyal to and trusted by the Party, the State, and the people.

Over the past 35 years, society’s sense of responsibility for defending the nation and the combined strength of all-people’s national defense have also grown. The movement engaging all people in building and defending the nation has developed strongly. The “people’s hearts-and-minds posture” and “military-civilian relations” have been strengthened through political and spiritual consensus and unity on the goals and tasks of national construction and defense. This is a major achievement in building an all-people’s national defense that is comprehensive, independent, autonomous, self-reliant, resilient, and increasingly modern—a national defense of the people, by the people, and for the people.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Duc Tho, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chair of the University Council of NEU, delivers remarks

On behalf of NEU’s leadership and teaching community, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Duc Tho, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chair of the University Council, extended warm regards and best wishes to the delegates and veterans.

Assoc. Prof. Bui Duc Tho emphasized: “Through two resistance wars and the years of defending the nation, our army has grown stronger, matured, and continued to develop. Every battle and every advance of the army has been tied to the immense sacrifices of countless officers, soldiers, and civilians. Those very sacrifices have added luster to the red flag with its yellow star, leading the country from one victory to another.

During the war years, alongside young people across the country, hundreds of outstanding NEU students “put aside their studies to set out to defend the nation.” Together with them, generations of staff, students, and learners devoted their youth not only to the two resistance wars but also to the subsequent years of national defense. Many gave their lives or suffered the loss of limbs so that the country could enjoy peace and reunification today. On behalf of NEU’s teaching community, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Duc Tho expressed profound gratitude to the preceding generations and fallen heroes who sacrificed their lives for the country’s independence and reunification.

As the country enters a new era—the era of the nation’s rise—and on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the army and the 35th anniversary of All-People’s National Defense Day, Assoc. Prof. Bui Duc Tho wished the delegates and veterans good health, happiness, and success, and expressed his hope that they would continue to uphold the army’s glorious traditions in nation-building, economic development, and national defense.

Colonel Pham Ho Quang, Deputy Head of the Propaganda and Education Committee of the Hanoi Veterans’ Association, delivers remarks

Speaking at the ceremony, Colonel Pham Ho Quang, Deputy Head of the Propaganda and Education Committee of the Hanoi Veterans’ Association, acknowledged and highly commended the achievements of the NEU Veterans’ Association over the years. He also expressed his hope that NEU veterans would continue to uphold the fine traditions of “Uncle Ho’s soldiers” in all areas of their work.

Throughout its establishment and development, the NEU Veterans’ Association has received considerable attention, partnership, and support in every aspect from the Party Committee and the NEU Board of Presidents. On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army, the Vietnam Veterans’ Association awarded commemorative medals to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Huy Nhuong, Vice President, and Dr. Nguyen Huu Dong, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Chair of the NEU Trade Union. On this occasion, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Veterans’ Association and the Hanoi Veterans’ Association also awarded certificates of merit to the NEU Veterans’ Association.

Colonel Pham Ho Quang, Deputy Head of the Propaganda and Education Committee of the Hanoi Veterans’ Association, presents Vietnam Veterans’ Association commemorative medals to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Huy Nhuong, Vice President, and Dr. Nguyen Huu Dong, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Chair of the NEU Trade Union

Colonel Pham Ho Quang, Deputy Head of the Propaganda and Education Committee of the Hanoi Veterans’ Association, presents certificates of merit from the Central Committee of the Vietnam Veterans’ Association and the Hanoi Veterans’ Association to the NEU Veterans’ Association

Continuing to uphold the army’s glorious traditions, the NEU Veterans’ Association was established in April 1995, nearly 30 years ago. It was among the early veterans’ associations to be established. The Association has brought together veterans and former military personnel who have worked and participated in activities at the University across different periods. At its establishment in April 1995, the Association had 54 members who were combat veterans of the nation’s two protracted resistance wars, with a seven-member Executive Committee chaired by People’s Teacher Nguyen Quang Thai. To date, the NEU Veterans’ Association has held five congresses and has consistently led emulation movements, maintaining its standing as a strong and outstanding Veterans’ Association within Bloc 487. It currently has 100 members, including those still working and retirees who continue to participate in the Association’s activities. Four members are professors, 17 are associate professors, and 31 hold doctoral degrees. As in previous periods, the NEU Veterans’ Association’s functions and tasks are to bring veterans together, foster their unity, and encourage them to uphold the character and glorious traditions of the Vietnam People’s Army; advise the leadership; and educate generations of students about these traditions to build NEU into a leading university in economics, management, and business administration nationally and internationally.

Upholding the character and fine traditions of the Vietnam Veterans’ Association, the NEU Veterans’ Association has consistently preserved the cherished qualities of Uncle Ho’s soldiers in teaching, scientific research, and service over the years. Many members have worked tirelessly to make intellectual contributions and become respected scholars, excellent teachers, successful entrepreneurs, and exemplary workers admired by generations of students and learners and recognized by society. NEU’s achievements today owe a considerable debt to the contributions of individual veterans in particular and the University’s Veterans’ Association as a whole.

Major General Hoang Kien, Hero of the People’s Armed Forces, shares his experiences and engages with participants at the program

Also at the program, Major General Hoang Kien, Hero of the People’s Armed Forces, shared his experiences and spoke with delegates attending the ceremony. A witness to history and one of the exemplary figures of the Vietnam People’s Army, Major General Hoang Kien is particularly noted for his major contributions to military engineering and infrastructure construction in the Truong Sa archipelago, as well as his significant contributions alongside the armed forces and the people to building and defending the country.

Delegates attending the ceremony pose for a commemorative photo

Earlier, representatives of the University’s leadership and the NEU Veterans’ Association offered incense at the Memorial Room and flowers at the “Putting Aside Studies to Set Out to Defend the Nation” monument to remember the University’s staff, lecturers, and students who devoted themselves and sacrificed their lives in the nation’s resistance wars and defense of the country.

Some photos from the ceremony:

Article and photos: Department of Communications

This is an automated translation. If you notice any errors, please contact the Department of Communications, National Economics University at phongtruyenthong@neu.edu.vn.