{"id":76098,"date":"2024-11-25T10:55:00","date_gmt":"2024-11-25T03:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/neu.edu.vn\/commemorating-the-80th-anniversary-of-the-founding-of-the-vietnam-peoples-army-and-the-35th-anniversary-of-all-peoples-national-defense-day\/"},"modified":"2024-11-25T10:55:00","modified_gmt":"2024-11-25T03:55:00","slug":"commemorating-the-80th-anniversary-of-the-founding-of-the-vietnam-peoples-army-and-the-35th-anniversary-of-all-peoples-national-defense-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/neu.edu.vn\/en\/commemorating-the-80th-anniversary-of-the-founding-of-the-vietnam-peoples-army-and-the-35th-anniversary-of-all-peoples-national-defense-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the Founding of the Vietnam People\u2019s Army and the 35th Anniversary of All-People\u2019s National Defense Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Central Commission for Information and Education issued an outline for public communications on the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People\u2019s Army (December 22, 1944\u2013December 22, 2024) and the 35th anniversary of All-People\u2019s National Defense Day (December 22, 1989\u2013December 22, 2024).<\/strong> National Economics University (NEU) presents the full text of the outline.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

I. Vietnam People\u2019s Army\u201480 Years of Building, Fighting, Victory, and Growth<\/strong><\/p>\n

1. The Founding of the Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Army Team, the Predecessor of the Vietnam People\u2019s Army, Its Victories in Its First Two Battles, and Its Participation Alongside the People in the General Uprising to Seize Power (1944\u20131945)<\/strong><\/p>\n

From its founding on February 3, 1930, the Party affirmed in its first Political Platform that the path to class and national liberation was to use revolutionary violence to seize power, and called for \u201corganizing a workers\u2019 and peasants\u2019 army\u201d [1]<\/a> to serve as the core force for the entire people\u2019s revolutionary struggle. The Party\u2019s Political Theses (October 1930) defined the essential tasks of the bourgeois-democratic revolution, explicitly calling for \u201cestablishing a workers\u2019 and peasants\u2019 army\u201d [2]<\/a>.<\/p>\n

During the revolutionary movement of 1930\u20131931, which culminated in the Nghe-Tinh Soviets, the Workers\u2019 and Peasants\u2019 Self-Defense Team (Red Self-Defense) emerged from the insurgent forces of workers and peasants. This was the first precursor to Vietnam\u2019s revolutionary armed forces. A succession of armed organizations was subsequently established, including the Bac Son Guerrilla Team (1940), guerrilla teams in Cochinchina (1940), and the National Salvation Army (1941)\u2026<\/p>\n

On December 22, 1944, in a forest between Hoang Hoa Tham and Tran Hung Dao cantons in Nguyen Binh District, Cao Bang Province (now Na Sang Hamlet, Tam Kim Commune, Nguyen Binh District, Cao Bang Province), the Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Army Team\u2014the predecessor of the Vietnam People\u2019s Army\u2014was established under a Directive from leader Ho Chi Minh. In the Directive, he stated clearly: \u201cThe name VIETNAM PROPAGANDA LIBERATION ARMY TEAM means that politics takes precedence over military affairs. It is a propaganda team\u201d [3]<\/a>; \u201cThe Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Army Team is the elder army, and we hope that other younger teams will soon emerge. Although its scale is small at first, its future is very glorious. It is the starting point of the liberation army, and it can travel from south to north, throughout Vietnam\u201d [4]<\/a>. Comrade Vo Nguyen Giap was entrusted by the Party Central Committee and leader Ho Chi Minh with organizing, leading, commanding, and announcing the establishment of the Team. It comprised 34 members organized into three squads, with Comrade Hoang Sam as Commander and Comrade Xich Thang as Political Commissar, under the leadership of a Party cell. December 22, 1944, was designated as the founding date of the Vietnam People\u2019s Army.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Shortly after its establishment, at 5:00 p.m. on December 25, 1944, the Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Army Team skillfully and boldly launched a surprise incursion into Phai Khat Post. At 7:00 a.m. the following morning (December 26), it entered Na Ngan Post in another surprise incursion. Both posts were located in Nguyen Binh District, Cao Bang Province. The Team killed the two post commanders, captured all enemy soldiers, and seized weapons, uniforms, and military supplies. The victories at Phai Khat and Na Ngan marked the beginning of the Vietnam People\u2019s Army\u2019s tradition of determination to fight and win.<\/p>\n

In April 1945, the Party\u2019s Tonkin Revolutionary Military Conference decided to merge revolutionary armed organizations nationwide into the Vietnam Liberation Army. During the August Revolution of 1945, the Vietnam Liberation Army joined local armed forces and the people in the General Uprising to seize power nationwide. Following the victory of the August Revolution of 1945, the Vietnam Liberation Army was renamed the National Defense Corps, then the Vietnam National Army (1946). Since 1950, it has been known as the Vietnam People\u2019s Army.<\/p>\n

2. The Vietnam People\u2019s Army in the Resistance War Against French Colonial Invasion (1945\u20131954)<\/strong><\/p>\n

When the French colonialists invaded Vietnam for the second time, the armed forces grew rapidly under the Party\u2019s leadership and rose up together with the people, determined to fight the invaders. In late 1946, by decision of President Ho Chi Minh, the country was divided into 12 military zones. At that time, National Defense Corps detachments remained the organizational structure in southern Vietnam, while northern and central Vietnam had 30 regiments and several battalions under the military zones. A system of Party organizations in the Army was established, extending from the Central Military Party Committee down to Party cells.<\/p>\n

On the night of December 19, 1946, nationwide resistance broke out. In the early days of the nationwide resistance, Vietnam\u2019s armed forces and people fought hundreds of battles, put thousands of enemy troops out of action, and destroyed large quantities of enemy military equipment. In the spring of 1947, President Ho Chi Minh, the Party Central Committee, and the Government moved to Viet Bac, which became the center directing the nationwide resistance.<\/p>\n

In the fall and winter of 1947, the French colonialists mobilized more than 10,000 elite troops, supported by aircraft and warships, to launch a surprise attack on Viet Bac aimed at destroying the resistance leadership and Vietnam\u2019s main-force troops. After more than two months of a counteroffensive campaign (October 7\u2013December 20, 1947), Vietnamese forces put more than 7,000 enemy troops out of action. This was the first large-scale counteroffensive campaign in which Vietnam\u2019s armed forces and people achieved a victory of strategic significance. It defeated the large-scale offensive and thwarted the French colonialists\u2019 strategy of \u201crapid attack, rapid victory,\u201d preserved and strengthened the main-force troops, and protected the leadership and the resistance base of the entire country.<\/p>\n

Following the Viet Bac Campaign of 1947, the Vietnamese Army had matured but was not yet capable of launching major campaigns. To defeat the enemy\u2019s pacification plans, Vietnamese forces adopted a policy of launching widespread guerrilla warfare and implementing the approach of \u201cindependent companies, concentrated battalions,\u201d both intensifying guerrilla warfare and learning concentrated mobile warfare. The concentrated battalions were consolidated and strengthened, gradually advancing to larger ambushes and raids. From early 1948 to mid-1950, Vietnamese troops launched more than 20 small campaigns across the theaters of war. Forces concentrated for each campaign ranged from three to five battalions, later increasing to two to three regiments, with some campaigns also employing mountain artillery and heavy machine guns. In many battles, Vietnamese troops destroyed enemy units ranging from companies to battalions outside fortifications and overran strongpoints defended by approximately one enemy company.<\/p>\n

From mid-1949, the General Command adopted a policy of withdrawing independent companies to form main-force regiments and divisions. The 308th Division was established on August 28, 1949, followed by the 304th Division on March 10, 1950. Training was intensified. Through the campaigns to \u201ctrain troops and achieve combat merits\u201d and \u201cdevelop cadres and reorganize troops\u201d in 1948, 1949, and early 1950, Vietnam\u2019s armed forces continued to develop and grow stronger.<\/p>\n

In June 1950, the Party Central Committee decided to launch the Border Campaign, taking the initiative in attacking French forces. After nearly one month (September 16\u2013October 14, 1950), Vietnamese forces put more than 8,000 enemy troops out of action and liberated the border area from Cao Bang to Dinh Lap (Lang Son). The Viet Bac base was expanded and consolidated, the encirclement was broken, and communications with China and socialist countries were opened, connecting Vietnam\u2019s revolution with the world revolution. The Border Victory contributed significantly to changing the course of the war: Vietnamese forces entered the stage of strategic counteroffensives and offensives, while French forces gradually shifted to a defensive strategy. It also marked a leap forward in operational art and the growing maturity and strength of the Vietnamese Army.<\/p>\n

Following the Border Campaign, additional main-force divisions were established: the 312th Division (December 1950), the 320th Division (January 1951), the 351st Engineer-Artillery Division (March 1951), and the 316th Division (May 1951). Within six months (December 1950\u2013June 1951), Vietnamese forces launched three successive campaigns named Tran Hung Dao, Hoang Hoa Tham, and Quang Trung. These were the first large-scale campaigns against the enemy\u2019s fortified defensive lines in the northern midlands and delta. Vietnamese forces eliminated more than 10,000 enemy troops, nearly half of whom belonged to mobile units.<\/p>\n

In November 1951, the Politburo decided to launch the Hoa Binh Campaign, concentrating main-force troops on the principal Hoa Binh front while sending a portion of these troops to operate behind enemy lines in the northern delta and intensify guerrilla warfare in areas temporarily occupied by the enemy. The campaign lasted from December 10, 1951, to February 25, 1952. Vietnam\u2019s armed forces and people put more than 6,000 enemy troops out of action on the Hoa Binh front and more than 15,000 behind enemy lines. During this campaign, Vietnamese troops made further progress in tactical and technical proficiency, their ability to sustain combat over extended periods, and coordination among the three components of the armed forces.<\/p>\n

In early September 1952, the Politburo decided to launch the Northwest Campaign. After nearly two months of fighting (October 14\u2013December 10, 1952), Vietnamese forces killed or captured more than 6,000 enemy troops and liberated a large area in a strategically important region, linking the liberated Northwest with the Viet Bac base and Upper Laos, maintaining the offensive initiative, and thwarting the enemy\u2019s plans to expand its occupation.<\/p>\n

On December 5, 1952, the 325th Division was established in Binh-Tri-Thien, further strengthening the combat power of the \u201crevolution\u2019s main striking forces.\u201d By this point, the main forces under the General Command comprised six infantry divisions (308, 304, 312, 320, 316, and 325) and one engineer-artillery division (351).<\/p>\n

Amid changes in the course of the war in Indochina, and based on an accurate assessment of the balance of forces between the Vietnamese side and the enemy, the Politburo decided in September 1953 to launch the 1953\u20131954 Winter-Spring Strategic Offensive. Implementing this policy, the General Command ordered main-force units to coordinate powerful offensives across the battlefields. Vietnamese forces launched five strategic thrusts in Lai Chau, Central Laos, Lower Laos\u2013Northeastern Cambodia, the Central Highlands, and Upper Laos, eliminating large numbers of enemy troops, liberating vast areas, and forcing the enemy to spread its forces thin to respond on all fronts.<\/p>\n

After French colonial forces deployed troops to seize Dien Bien Phu, the Politburo met on December 6, 1953, and, recognizing a favorable opportunity, decided to launch the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. After 56 days and nights of continuous fighting (March 13\u2013May 7, 1954), Vietnam\u2019s armed forces and people crushed the entire Dien Bien Phu fortified complex, put 16,200 enemy troops out of action, shot down or destroyed 62 aircraft, and captured all enemy weapons, depots, and material and technical facilities at Dien Bien Phu. The Dien Bien Phu victory dealt a decisive blow to the French colonialists\u2019 will to pursue aggression, forcing them to sign the Geneva Agreement on the Cessation of Hostilities in Vietnam. The Dien Bien Phu Campaign was an outstanding example and the pinnacle of Vietnamese military art during the resistance war against France. It also demonstrated the extraordinary development of the Vietnamese army over 10 years of building its forces, fighting, and achieving glorious victories (1944\u20131954).<\/p>\n

3. The Vietnam People\u2019s Army in the Resistance War Against the United States for National Salvation (1954\u20131975)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Victory in the resistance war against French colonialism and U.S. intervention opened a new stage in the development of the Vietnamese revolution. The North was completely liberated and entered the transition to socialism. The South continued the people\u2019s national democratic revolution to overthrow the rule of U.S. imperialism and its lackeys. To meet the requirements and tasks of the Vietnamese revolution in this new stage, the expanded 12th Plenum of the Party Central Committee adopted a Resolution on building the army and strengthening national defense in March 1957. The Resolution stated: \u201cOur guiding principle for building the army is to actively build a powerful people\u2019s army, advancing step by step toward regularization and modernization<\/em>\u201d[5]<\/a>.<\/p>\n

By 1960, the Vietnamese army had reached a new stage of development. From a predominantly infantry force with an organizational structure that was not yet fully unified and shortages of weapons and equipment, it had become an increasingly modern regular army comprising the Ground Force, Navy, and Air Defense\u2013Air Force. This was a very important development, laying the foundation for building a regular, modern army ready to meet the revolution\u2019s new tasks.<\/p>\n

In the North, the army actively participated in taking over cities, towns, and areas previously occupied by French troops. It effectively carried out military administration duties, coordinating with public security forces to quickly establish order and security, protect people\u2019s lives and property, and combat enemy abductions, looting, and destruction of public property.<\/p>\n

In the South, from 1954 to 1960, the United States and the Diem regime pursued a brutal policy of terror, inflicting heavy losses on the revolution in the South. In response, the 15th Plenum of the 2nd Party Central Committee (January 1959) set out two strategic tasks for the Vietnamese revolution and identified the use of revolutionary violence as the fundamental path for the revolution in the South. Implementing the Party\u2019s Resolution, the General Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense decided to further accelerate the building of the army. Preparations to send Vietnamese troops to fight in the South were also stepped up. Accordingly, the 338th Division, comprising southern troops who had regrouped in the North, underwent concentrated training before departing for combat in the South. On May 19, 1959, Group 559 was established with the task of opening a route along the Truong Son mountain range to enable Vietnamese forces to enter the South to fight and to transport food, weapons, and ammunition from the North to the South. Group 759 was subsequently established to transport supplies from the North to the South by sea.<\/p>\n

The Resolution of the 15th Plenum paved the way for the revolution in the South to achieve victory. To intensify the mass revolutionary upsurge, the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam was established on December 20, 1960. On February 15, 1961, the Liberation Army of South Vietnam was formed through the unification of the people\u2019s armed forces in the South. It was the component of the Vietnam People\u2019s Army operating directly on the southern battlefield.<\/p>\n

From 1961, U.S. imperialism pursued its \u201cSpecial War\u201d strategy. Under the direction of U.S. advisers and supported by U.S. firepower, Saigon puppet forces launched successive operations against liberated areas and rounded up civilians into \u201cstrategic hamlets.\u201d Vietnam\u2019s armed forces and people fought continuously to defend and expand the liberated areas. Notable among these efforts was the Ap Bac victory (January 1963), which marked the beginning of the failure of the Saigon puppet forces\u2019 \u201cheliborne\u201d and \u201carmored personnel carrier-borne\u201d tactics. It also sparked the vibrant \u201cEmulate Ap Bac, kill the enemy and perform feats of arms\u201d movement throughout the South.<\/p>\n

On August 5, 1964, after fabricating the \u201cGulf of Tonkin\u201d incident and falsely accusing the Vietnam People\u2019s Navy of deliberately attacking U.S. destroyers in international waters to mislead public opinion, the U.S. administration launched a surprise air attack called \u201cPierce Arrow,\u201d striking nearly all Vietnamese naval bases along the northern coastline. Thanks to advance preparations, naval, air defense, and militia and self-defense units detected the attack promptly and fought resourcefully and courageously, shooting down eight aircraft, damaging two others, and capturing one pilot. Victory in this first battle against the U.S. air force strengthened the determination of the armed forces and people nationwide to defeat the U.S. aggressors.<\/p>\n

Building on the victories of 1963 and early 1964, the Central Military Commission directed the armed forces in the South in October 1964 to launch the 1964\u20131965 Winter-Spring operations, destroy a substantial portion of the puppet army\u2019s main forces, and expand the liberated areas. Following Vietnamese victories in the Binh Gia, Ba Gia, and Dong Xoai campaigns, U.S. imperialism\u2019s \u201cSpecial War\u201d strategy collapsed completely.<\/p>\n

From mid-1965, U.S. imperialism shifted to the \u201cLocal War\u201d strategy, pouring U.S. and allied combat troops and large quantities of war materiel into South Vietnam [6]<\/a>, while consolidating and strengthening the puppet army. The overall strategic objectives of U.S. imperialism during this period were to \u201csearch and destroy\u201d the Liberation Army\u2019s main forces and the bodies directing the revolution in the South, \u201cpacify\u201d the South, undermine the Vietnamese people\u2019s resolve to resist, and force the Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam to the negotiating table on terms imposed by the United States.<\/p>\n

In response, from September to December 1965, the Ministry of National Defense decided to establish five infantry divisions (9, 3, 2, 5, and 1) on the southern battlefield, along with a division-equivalent artillery unit designated Artillery Group 69. While building their forces and fighting, Vietnamese troops across the southern battlefields launched attacks and broke up numerous large-scale operations by U.S. and puppet forces, initiating movements to \u201cseek out U.S. troops to fight\u201d and \u201cseek out puppet troops to destroy.\u201d<\/p>\n

During the 1965\u20131966 dry season, U.S. imperialism launched its first strategic counteroffensive on the southern battlefield. After six months of arduous, fierce fighting, the armed forces and people of the South defeated the enemy counteroffensive, putting tens of thousands of enemy troops out of action. In October 1966, U.S. imperialism decided to launch a second strategic counteroffensive to destroy the main forces and leadership headquarters of the revolution in the South. Drawing on a highly developed people\u2019s war posture, local Vietnamese armed forces held their positions and mounted widespread attacks, enabling the Liberation Army\u2019s main-force units to launch offensives that inflicted heavy losses in enemy manpower and war materiel. This forced U.S. forces to end their second strategic counteroffensive of the 1966\u20131967 dry season.<\/p>\n

Following important victories of the revolution in the South, the 14th Plenum of the Party Central Committee in January 1968 adopted the Politburo\u2019s Resolution of December 1967, deciding to launch the 1968 Tet General Offensive and Uprising. Within a short time, Vietnam\u2019s armed forces and people attacked a series of targets deep inside urban areas throughout the South, inflicting extremely heavy losses on the enemy and disrupting U.S. imperialism\u2019s strategic posture. The victory of the 1968 Tet General Offensive and Uprising dealt a decisive blow to the U.S. leadership\u2019s will to pursue aggression, brought about the collapse of the \u201cLocal War\u201d strategy, and forced the United States to de-escalate the war, gradually withdraw its troops, and agree to negotiate with the Vietnamese side at the Paris Conference.<\/p>\n

Stubborn and belligerent by nature, U.S. imperialism refused to accept defeat and, from 1969, shifted to implementing the \u201cNixon Doctrine\u201d and the \u201cVietnamization\u201d strategy. During 1969\u20131972, U.S. imperialism employed its military power to the fullest, combined with highly devious political and diplomatic tactics, in an attempt to isolate and strangle the Vietnamese people\u2019s resistance. In response, Vietnam\u2019s armed forces and people closely coordinated their efforts with the struggles of the fraternal peoples of Laos and Cambodia, securing major victories, notably in the Route 9\u2013Southern Laos Campaign and the Northeastern Cambodia Campaign. They also launched a strategic offensive across the southern battlefield through combined-arms offensive campaigns in Tri\u2013Thien, the northern Central Highlands, and the southeastern region, as well as integrated offensive campaigns in the Mekong Delta and the central region.<\/p>\n

Facing the prospect of failure of its \u201cVietnamization\u201d strategy, on April 6, 1972, U.S. imperialism mobilized large air and naval forces to launch a second war of destruction against the North (Operation Linebacker I), on a larger scale and with greater intensity than the first. With courage and resourceful, innovative tactics, over seven months of fierce fighting, the armed forces and people of the North shot down 654 aircraft and sank or set ablaze 125 U.S. warships.<\/p>\n

In the face of heavy defeats, on the night of December 18, 1972, U.S. imperialism recklessly launched its largest-scale strategic air assault, named \u201cOperation Linebacker II,\u201d against the North, concentrating massive attacks on Hanoi and Hai Phong. Once again, the armed forces and people of the North fought heroically and defeated the enemy\u2019s strategic assault, shooting down 81 aircraft, including 34 B-52s and five F-111s. Having suffered heavy losses and failed to achieve its objectives, U.S. imperialism was forced to announce a halt to bombing north of the 20th parallel and resume negotiations in Paris. World opinion called this battle \u201cDien Bien Phu in the Air.\u201d<\/p>\n

The major victories of Vietnam\u2019s armed forces and people on the southern battlefield, together with the \u201cHanoi\u2013Dien Bien Phu in the Air\u201d victory, forced U.S. imperialism to sign the Paris Agreement on Ending the War and Restoring Peace in Vietnam on January 27, 1973, and withdraw its troops. However, the Saigon puppet administration blatantly violated the Agreement, vigorously pursued its \u201cterritorial inundation\u201d plan, and intensified encroachment on Vietnam\u2019s liberated areas.<\/p>\n

To bring the war to an early end, at the proposal of the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense, from late 1973 to early 1975, the Politburo approved the establishment of army corps: Army Corps 1 (October 1973), Army Corps 2 (May 1974), Army Corps 4 (July 1974), Army Corps 3 (March 1975), and Group 232 (equivalent to an army corps, February 1975). The establishment of these main-force army corps marked a new stage in the development of the Vietnam People\u2019s Army.<\/p>\n

During 1973\u20131974, Vietnam\u2019s armed forces and people secured a succession of important victories, further shifting the battlefield situation in their favor. Politburo meetings in October 1974 and early 1975 identified the emergence of a historic opportunity and affirmed the strategic resolve to liberate the South. Implementing the Politburo\u2019s policy, on March 4, 1975, Vietnamese troops launched the Central Highlands Campaign, opening the Spring 1975 General Offensive and Uprising. Following several battles to establish advantageous positions and conduct operational deception, on March 10 and 11, 1975, Vietnamese forces attacked and liberated Buon Ma Thuot Town. They subsequently completely liberated Kon Tum and Gia Lai Provinces and the entire Central Highlands.<\/p>\n

One day after the Central Highlands Campaign began, on March 5, 1975, Vietnamese forces launched the Tri Thien\u2013Hue Campaign, liberating Quang Tri Province, Hue City, and Thua Thien Province. Building on these victories, from March 26 to 29, 1975, Vietnamese forces conducted the Da Nang Campaign, completely liberating Da Nang, the Son Tra Peninsula, and Hoi An Town. In coordination with local armed forces and people, Vietnamese troops attacked and liberated Binh Dinh and Phu Yen Provinces (April 1), Khanh Hoa Province (April 3), and others\u2026<\/p>\n

Following these victories, the Politburo decided to liberate Saigon and the entire South. The campaign to liberate Saigon was named the \u201cHo Chi Minh Campaign.\u201d Following the guiding principle of \u201cLightning speed, boldness, surprise, certain victory,\u201d on April 26, Vietnamese forces encircled Saigon from five directions, with Army Corps 1, 2, 3, and 4, Group 232, and Division 8 (Military Region 8) assigned to the operation. The campaign began at 5 p.m. on April 26. After numerous fierce battles to capture the outer defenses, on the morning of April 30, Vietnamese forces launched a general assault on inner Saigon, rapidly penetrating deep into the city to seize key targets. At 10:45 a.m., the deep-penetration force of Army Corps 2 captured Independence Palace and arrested the entire cabinet of the Saigon administration, forcing President Duong Van Minh to declare unconditional surrender. At 11:30 a.m. that day, the Liberation Army\u2019s flag was raised atop Independence Palace, marking the complete victory of the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign.<\/p>\n

Alongside the victorious ground offensives, following instructions from the Central Military Commission and the General Command, the Navy urgently prepared its forces and seized the opportunity to launch resourceful, bold, surprise attacks, successively liberating islands in the Truong Sa Archipelago: Song Tu Tay (April 14), Son Ca (April 25), Nam Yet (April 27), Sinh Ton (April 28), and Truong Sa (April 29). This strategically significant victory contributed to safeguarding national sovereignty over the Truong Sa Archipelago.<\/p>\n

The Ho Chi Minh Campaign was the largest joint-service, combined-arms campaign and achieved the greatest victory, marking an extraordinary advance in the Vietnamese Army\u2019s force organization and its ability to command joint-service, combined-arms operations. It represented the pinnacle of Vietnamese military art and made a decisive contribution to ending the resistance war against U.S. aggression for national salvation.<\/p>\n

4. The Vietnam People\u2019s Army in National Construction and Defense (1975\u20132024)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Immediately after the victorious conclusion of the resistance war against U.S. aggression for national salvation, Army units stationed in newly liberated areas coordinated with military administration committees at all levels to urgently establish and consolidate grassroots revolutionary administrations and build local political and armed forces. They organized the reeducation of soldiers and police officers of the former administration and suppressed reactionary elements and organizations, among other tasks. At the same time, the units actively participated in production, economic development, and the construction of numerous key projects throughout the country.<\/p>\n

Following the great Spring 1975 victory, the Vietnamese Army once again had to wage a just war to defend the country\u2019s southwestern border and join Cambodia\u2019s armed forces and people in overthrowing the genocidal Pol Pot regime. In response to aggression by Pol Pot\u2019s forces and the urgent appeal of the Kampuchean United Front for National Salvation, Vietnamese volunteer troops, together with Cambodia\u2019s revolutionary armed forces, launched powerful counteroffensives and offensives, overthrowing the genocidal Pol Pot regime and liberating the capital, Phnom Penh, on January 7, 1979, before proceeding to liberate all of Cambodia. For 10 years (1979\u20131989), Vietnamese volunteer troops and experts upheld the spirit of selfless internationalism, joining Cambodia\u2019s armed forces and people in rooting out remnants of Pol Pot\u2019s forces, consolidating revolutionary administrations, building the armed forces, and reviving the country.<\/p>\n

Also in early 1979, Vietnam\u2019s armed forces and people had to fight to defend the country\u2019s northern border. The fighting lasted a short time (February 17\u2013March 6, 1979), but tensions along the northern border actually persisted until the late 1980s. In this conflict, Vietnam\u2019s armed forces and people fought heroically, firmly safeguarding the country\u2019s border and territorial sovereignty.<\/p>\n

The victories of Vietnam\u2019s armed forces and people in the war to defend the southwestern border and the fighting to defend the country\u2019s northern border were of immense historical significance. They firmly safeguarded the country\u2019s independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, creating a peaceful environment for national development.<\/p>\n

During 1980\u20131986, the Vietnamese Army intensified training, combat readiness, education and professional training, and the establishment of regular military discipline and routines, while actively participating in economic and social development. Across the Army, hundreds of large-scale joint-service, combined-arms exercises involving a wide range of modern weaponry and technical equipment were conducted in strategic areas, helping develop and improve officers\u2019 organizational and command capabilities and troops\u2019 combat readiness.<\/p>\n

Since the sixth National Party Congress (December 1986), the Army has joined the entire population in pursuing national renewal and building and defending the socialist Vietnamese Fatherland. Over nearly 40 years of renewal, the Army has consistently fulfilled its functions as a fighting force, a working force, and a productive labor force, making a worthy contribution to the country\u2019s overall achievements. Highlights include:<\/p>\n

– The Army has consistently maintained a firm grasp of developments and accurately forecast the situation, proactively advising the Party and State on appropriate responses, handling situations flexibly and effectively, avoiding strategic surprises and loss of initiative, preventing the risk of war, safeguarding independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, ensuring political stability, and creating a favorable environment for socioeconomic development. It has provided advice on issuing the Party Central Committee\u2019s Resolution on the \u201cStrategy for Defending the Fatherland in the New Situation,\u201d as well as military and national defense strategies, draft laws, and proposals. It has effectively fulfilled its core role, proactively coordinating with Party commissions, ministries, sectors, and localities to build a strong all-people national defense, an all-people national defense posture, a \u201cpeople\u2019s hearts and minds posture,\u201d and robust defensive zones.<\/p>\n

– The Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense have issued numerous resolutions and directives to lead and guide improvements in combat training quality, with the consistent guiding principle: \u201cTraining is the central, ongoing political task in peacetime.\u201d<\/em> On this basis, the entire Army has continually renewed and improved training and exercises, adhering closely to the motto \u201cFundamental \u2013 Practical \u2013 Solid,\u201d emphasizing comprehensive and specialized training oriented toward modernization, and enhancing troops\u2019 combat mobility to meet the demands of new forms of warfare. The Ministry of National Defense has successfully directed and organized numerous large-scale joint-service, combined-arms combat exercises, demonstrating the Army\u2019s strength, combat readiness, and combat capabilities, which have been recognized and highly valued by the Party and State.<\/p>\n

– The entire Army has consistently and strictly maintained combat readiness routines and procedures, closely monitored, assessed, and accurately forecast developments, particularly in the air, at sea, along borders, within the country, beyond its borders, and in cyberspace, responding promptly to situations to avoid surprises and loss of initiative. It has proactively and resolutely countered \u201cpeaceful evolution,\u201d riots, and attempts to overthrow the government, promptly detecting, preventing, and defeating all plots and acts of sabotage by hostile forces. It has coordinated with other forces to ensure absolute security for the country\u2019s important political events.<\/p>\n

– The Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense have led and directed the entire Army in implementing numerous practical measures to build a politically strong Army as the foundation for improving its overall quality and combat strength; building an exemplary, clean, and strong Army Party Organization, along with Party committees and organizations throughout the Army, in conjunction with building comprehensively strong, \u201cexemplary and outstanding\u201d agencies and units. They have effectively implemented the policy of building a streamlined, compact, and strong Army and carried out logistics, technical support, and other work effectively. In particular, the defense industry has developed toward modernization and dual-use capabilities; research has enabled mastery of manufacturing technologies and the production of a number of new, modern weapons and technical equipment bearing Vietnamese brands. International integration and defense diplomacy have achieved many notable results at both bilateral and multilateral levels, with active participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations, humanitarian assistance, search and rescue, disaster relief, and efforts to address the consequences of war, earning high regard from international friends.<\/p>\n

– In fulfilling its function as a force for mass mobilization, the Army has made important contributions to mass mobilization work; actively informed and encouraged the people to effectively implement the Party\u2019s guidelines and policies, the State\u2019s policies and laws, patriotic emulation movements, revolutionary campaigns, and local political tasks; helped build strong grassroots political systems, strengthen national defense and security, and promote economic, cultural, and social development; and actively helped people eliminate hunger, reduce poverty, and build new-style rural areas. In particular, Army officers and soldiers have braved hardship and sacrifice, taking the lead in disaster and epidemic prevention and response and rescue operations to protect people\u2019s lives and property; many officers and soldiers have fallen while performing this noble duty. The image of Army officers and soldiers always present in critical and dangerous locations to help people respond to disasters and epidemics has further illuminated the fine qualities of \u201cUncle Ho\u2019s Soldiers,\u201d earning the trust and high regard of the Party, State, and people.<\/p>\n

– In fulfilling its function as a productive labor force, the Army has advised and proposed that the Party and State issue mechanisms and policies consistent with the policy of linking socioeconomic development with the strengthening of national defense and security in the new period. It has developed and effectively utilized economic-defense zones to contribute to socioeconomic development while ensuring national defense and security in strategic areas, particularly disadvantaged areas, remote and isolated areas, border areas, and sea and island areas. Military enterprises have been organized and restructured to meet the requirements of renewal in each period, both effectively serving military and national defense tasks and contributing to socioeconomic development. Units have participated in constructing numerous key national projects and infrastructure projects serving people\u2019s needs, making significant contributions to national income and ensuring social welfare; they have also effectively participated in National Target Programs in conjunction with military and national defense tasks. The entire Army has focused on expanding production to help improve troops\u2019 living standards.<\/p>\n

5. The Glorious Traditions of the Vietnam People\u2019s Army<\/strong><\/p>\n

Over 80 years of development, combat, victory, and maturation, the Army has built glorious traditions, succinctly captured in President Ho Chi Minh\u2019s words of praise: \u201cOur Army is loyal to the Party, devoted to the people, and ready to fight and sacrifice for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland and for socialism. It fulfills every task, overcomes every difficulty, and defeats every enemy\u201d<\/em>[7]<\/a>. These traditions are reflected in:<\/p>\n

– Boundless loyalty to the socialist Vietnamese Fatherland, the Party, the State, and the people.<\/p>\n

– Determination to fight and win, knowing how to fight and how to win.<\/p>\n

– An inseparable bond with the people, with the Army and the people united in will.<\/p>\n

– Internal solidarity; equality of rights and obligations among officers and soldiers, mutual affection and assistance, unity between superiors and subordinates, and unity of will and action.<\/p>\n

– Self-imposed, strict, and impartial discipline.<\/p>\n

– Independence, autonomy, self-reliance, self-strengthening, diligence, and thrift in building the Army and the country, and respect for and protection of public property.<\/p>\n

– An upright, healthy, cultured, honest, modest, simple, and optimistic way of life.<\/p>\n

– Consistently demonstrating an eagerness to learn, a desire to improve, and proper, tactful conduct.<\/p>\n

– International solidarity that is sincere, steadfast, deeply principled, and heartfelt.<\/p>\n

II. The History and Significance of All-People National Defense Day<\/strong><\/p>\n

1. The History of All-People National Defense Day<\/strong><\/p>\n

All-people national defense is a form of national defense \u201cfor the people, by the people, and of the people,\u201d developed along the following lines: involving the entire population, comprehensive, independent, autonomous, self-reliant, self-strengthening, and increasingly modern, closely integrating the economy with national defense and security, under the Party\u2019s leadership and the State\u2019s management and administration, with the people exercising ownership, to maintain the country\u2019s peace and stability, remain ready to defeat all acts of aggression and riots aimed at overthrowing the government by imperialist and reactionary forces, and firmly defend the socialist Vietnamese Fatherland[8]<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Party and State have consistently affirmed that building a strong all-people national defense is a revolutionary undertaking of the entire Party, people, Army, and political system, with the people\u2019s armed forces playing the core role. Vietnam\u2019s national defense is peaceful and defensive in nature and embodies the essence of the socialist system. Vietnam builds its military and national defense strength on the combined strength of the entire country, the great national unity bloc, and the entire political system led by the Communist Party of Vietnam, combining national strength with the strength of the times and the strength of all-people national defense forces and posture with that of people\u2019s security forces and posture. The Party and State advocate linking socioeconomic development with enhanced national defense and security capabilities, closely coordinating national defense and security activities with foreign affairs as a unified whole to serve the cause of building and defending the Fatherland.<\/p>\n

The historical experience of building and defending the nation, especially the uprisings, wars of liberation, and wars to defend the Fatherland waged by the people under the Party\u2019s leadership, has demonstrated the invincible strength of the great national unity bloc. In every period, no matter how brutal the enemy, whenever the strength of the entire population has been inspired, mobilized, and brought together, the nation has achieved great victories, ensuring lasting independence, freedom, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.<\/p>\n

Recognizing the role of communication, encouragement, and mobilization in engaging the entire population in building a strong all-people national defense, and responding to the wishes of military personnel and civilians nationwide, on October 17, 1989, the Secretariat of the sixth Party Central Committee issued Directive No. 381-CT\/TW, designating December 22\u2014the anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People\u2019s Army\u2014as All-People National Defense Day. On December 22, 1989, All-People National Defense Day was held for the first time in every locality across the country. Since then, December 22 has become a major celebration for the entire nation, with activities focusing on national defense and the Army.<\/p>\n

2. The Significance of All-People National Defense Day<\/strong><\/p>\n

The designation of December 22 as All-People National Defense Day carries forward the nation\u2019s tradition of the entire population fighting invaders and defending the country throughout history. It is a major and important policy of the Party and State, reaffirming the principle that the entire population participates in building and strengthening national defense and defending the Fatherland, with the people\u2019s armed forces playing the core role. This is truly a celebration of the traditions of building and defending the nation, honoring and promoting the noble image of \u201cUncle Ho\u2019s soldiers,\u201d a distinctive feature of Vietnamese national culture in the new era.<\/p>\n

All-People National Defense Day provides an opportunity to widely promote the nation\u2019s tradition of fighting invaders and defending the country and the noble qualities of \u201cUncle Ho\u2019s soldiers,\u201d and to foster patriotism and love for socialism. It thereby raises public awareness and responsibility for participating in building a strong all-people national defense linked to a solid people\u2019s war posture, strengthening the capacity to defend the Fatherland. It also encourages and mobilizes the entire population to help build strong people\u2019s armed forces in every locality and a powerful Vietnam People\u2019s Army in the new situation.<\/p>\n

Each year, the entire Party, people, and Army organize a wide range of creative activities to commemorate the founding of the Vietnam People\u2019s Army and All-People National Defense Day. These include rallies, seminars, military-civilian solidarity conferences, military-civilian cultural festivals, and communication and educational activities with diverse content and formats; gatherings, exchanges, talks on historical traditions, and visits to offer encouragement to veterans, former youth volunteers, families of fallen soldiers, wounded veterans, and sick veterans; cultural and artistic exchanges, sports competitions, and military sports meets within the people\u2019s armed forces; construction of gratitude houses and great unity houses for policy beneficiaries; participation in building, repairing, restoring, and upgrading cemeteries, memorials, and shrines dedicated to fallen soldiers; and incense-offering ceremonies and tributes to heroes and fallen soldiers…<\/p>\n

Authorities and sectors at all levels, local Party committees, and local governments have focused on promoting emulation movements in labor and production, economic, cultural, and social development, hunger eradication, and poverty reduction, linked to building and developing national defense and security potential through local socioeconomic development programs and projects. They have also conducted outreach and mobilized the public to actively participate in building and strengthening national defense, establishing all-people national defense and people\u2019s security postures, and building strong local political foundations. Through these efforts, the \u201cpeople\u2019s hearts and minds posture\u201d has become increasingly solid, helping thwart the plots and sabotage tactics of hostile forces and maintain political stability and social order and safety for the country\u2019s rapid and sustainable development. The 13th National Party Congress assessed: \u201cNational defense and security potential has been enhanced; attention has been paid to the people\u2019s hearts and minds posture; and the all-people national defense and people\u2019s security postures, especially in strategic and key areas, have been firmly consolidated\u201d[9]<\/a>.<\/p>\n

III. Building the Army and Strengthening National Defense to Meet the Requirements of Building and Defending the Fatherland in the New Situation<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the coming years, global and regional developments will remain complex and difficult to predict. Peace, cooperation, and development will remain major trends but will face numerous obstacles, difficulties, and challenges. Major powers cooperate and compromise while also competing fiercely, stepping up strategic adjustments and efforts to attract and rally forces. Many flashpoints and conflicts persist and risk spreading. The Fourth Industrial Revolution is advancing rapidly, creating both opportunities and challenges for every country and nation. The emergence of modern weapons, military technical equipment, and new forms of warfare is changing the strategic environment. Nontraditional security challenges are becoming increasingly acute, negatively affecting the survival and sustainable development of countries, including Vietnam.<\/p>\n

Domestically, despite numerous socioeconomic achievements, macroeconomic stability is not yet truly secure. The country\u2019s potential continues to grow, and its international standing and prestige have risen, but many difficulties and challenges remain. The four risks identified by the Party persist; manifestations of deterioration in political ideology, ethics, and lifestyles, internal \u201cself-evolution\u201d and \u201cself-transformation,\u201d and corruption have not been reversed. The decline of certain cultural and moral values, along with social tensions and grievances, continues to develop in complex ways. Sovereignty disputes in the East Sea continue to pose risks of instability. Hostile and reactionary forces are intensifying their efforts to undermine the Party, State, and Army through increasingly open, direct, and sophisticated plots and tactics.<\/p>\n

This situation presents new difficulties and challenges for building the Army, strengthening national defense, and defending the Fatherland in the coming years. It requires the entire Party, people, and Army to maximize the combined strength of the entire nation and political system, together with the strength of the times, and secure the greatest possible sympathy and support from the international community. These efforts must firmly safeguard the Fatherland\u2019s independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity; protect the Party, State, people, socialist system, culture, and national interests; maintain a peaceful environment, political stability, national security, and human security; and build an orderly, disciplined, safe, and healthy society to develop the country along a socialist orientation.<\/p>\n

Drawing on the valuable lessons from the nation\u2019s history of struggle to defend the country and the Vietnam People\u2019s Army\u2019s history of development, combat, and victory, we will continue to uphold and strengthen the Party\u2019s absolute, direct leadership in all aspects and the State\u2019s centralized, unified management of the People\u2019s Army and the undertaking of strengthening national defense and defending the Fatherland. We must thoroughly understand and effectively implement the policies of all-people national defense and people\u2019s war; foster and give full scope to the people\u2019s role as masters, the will for self-reliance and self-strengthening, fine cultural traditions, and the strength of the great national unity bloc to achieve success in building and defending the Fatherland.<\/p>\n

Strengthen all-people national defense in conjunction with people\u2019s security, and the all-people national defense posture in conjunction with the people\u2019s security posture and a solid \u201cpeople\u2019s hearts and minds posture.\u201d Intensify communication and education to raise society-wide awareness and responsibility for strengthening national defense and security and defending the Fatherland. Innovate and improve the quality and effectiveness of national defense and security education and training for target groups. Focus on communication and education to improve understanding of the partners and adversaries of the Vietnamese revolution, the Party\u2019s policies and viewpoints, and the requirements of defending the Fatherland in the new situation, while fostering a sense of responsibility and revolutionary vigilance in carrying out national defense and security tasks.<\/p>\n

Focus on building national defense potential, forces, and posture, enhancing sustainability and mobilization capacity to meet national defense requirements in all situations. Build solid defensive zones at all levels, creating an interconnected defensive arrangement in each locality and nationwide. Closely and effectively integrate economic, cultural, social, and foreign affairs activities with national defense and security, and national defense and security with economic, cultural, social, and foreign affairs activities, in accordance with the guiding principle: \u201cSocioeconomic development is central; Party building is key; cultural development is the spiritual foundation; and ensuring national defense and security is vital and ongoing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Build a revolutionary, regular, elite, and progressively modern People\u2019s Army, with certain services, branches, and forces advancing directly to modernization. By 2025, largely establish a streamlined, compact, and strong Army, laying a firm foundation for striving to build, by 2030, a revolutionary, regular, elite, and modern People\u2019s Army that is strong in politics, ideology, ethics, organization, and personnel. Restructure the Army toward a streamlined, compact, and strong organization, coupled with the redeployment of forces and improvements in attracting and training talent and high-quality human resources within the Army. Uphold and promote the Army\u2019s glorious traditions, the noble qualities of \u201cUncle Ho\u2019s Soldiers,\u201d and Vietnamese military art; effectively fulfill its functions as \u201ca fighting force, a force serving the people, and a productive labor force\u201d; maintain readiness with plans to firmly safeguard independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity and respond to nontraditional security threats; and enhance capabilities to prevent and counter cyberwarfare and information warfare. At the same time, give due attention to effectively implementing policies for the Army and policies supporting its home front.<\/p>\n

Continue to enhance the effectiveness of international integration and defense diplomacy in the spirit of the Politburo\u2019s Conclusion No. 53 dated April 28, 2023, and the Central Military Commission\u2019s Resolution No. 2662-NQ\/QUTW dated February 26, 2024, on international integration and defense diplomacy through 2030 and beyond. Thoroughly understand and effectively implement the guiding principles of being \u201cactive, proactive, prudent, flexible, and effective\u201d in international integration and defense diplomacy, and steadfastly uphold Vietnam\u2019s \u201cFour No\u2019s\u201d defense policy in international relations (no<\/em> participation in military alliances, no<\/em> alignment with one country against another, no<\/em> foreign military bases or use of Vietnamese territory to oppose other countries, and no<\/em> use or threat of force in international relations). Thereby, secure the broadest possible agreement and support from the international community, strengthen strategic trust, and maintain an environment of peace, cooperation, and shared development, contributing to defending the Fatherland \u201cearly and from afar.\u201d<\/p>\n

The commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People\u2019s Army and the 35th anniversary of All-People National Defense Day is an opportunity for us to revisit the nation\u2019s heroic history and the noble character, fine traditions, and glorious military achievements of our Army and people. In doing so, we can awaken national pride and self-respect, promote revolutionary heroism, strengthen patriotism, love for socialism, and the will for self-reliance and self-strengthening, and overcome all difficulties and challenges. We must strive to build strong all-people national defense, establish a solid all-people national defense posture linked with the people\u2019s security posture, and build a revolutionary, regular, elite, and modern People\u2019s Army in the coming years in the spirit of the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress, meeting the requirements of defending the socialist Vietnamese Fatherland in the new era.<\/p>\n

CENTRAL COMMISSION FOR PROPAGANDA AND EDUCATION – GENERAL DEPARTMENT OF POLITICS OF THE VIETNAM PEOPLE\u2019S ARMY<\/strong><\/p>\n

[1]<\/a> Communist Party of Vietnam, Complete Collection of Party Documents, <\/em>vol. 2, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2002, p. 4.<\/p>\n

[2]<\/a> Communist Party of Vietnam, Complete Collection of Party Documents, <\/em>vol. 2, previously cited work, p. 95.<\/p>\n

[3]<\/a> Communist Party of Vietnam, Complete Collection of Party Documents, <\/em>vol. 7, previously cited work, p. 356.<\/p>\n

[4]<\/a> Communist Party of Vietnam, Complete Collection of Party Documents, <\/em>vol. 7, previously cited work, p. 357.<\/p>\n

[5]<\/a> Communist Party of Vietnam, Complete Collection of Party Documents<\/em>, vol. 18, previously cited work, p. 287.<\/p>\n

[6]<\/a> Numbers of U.S. troops deployed to South Vietnam: April 1965: 18,000 troops; July 1965: 81,000 troops; December 1965: 181,000 troops; December 1966: 376,000 troops; December 1967: 480,000 troops; April 1968: 543,000 troops (Steering Committee for the Review of the War under the Politburo: Review of the Resistance War Against the United States for National Salvation – Victory and Lessons<\/em>, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 1995, p. 312).<\/p>\n

[7]<\/a> Ho Chi Minh, Complete Works<\/em>, vol. 14, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2011, p. 435.<\/p>\n

[8]<\/a> Ministry of National Defense – Center for Military Encyclopedias, Vietnam Military Encyclopedia,<\/em> People\u2019s Army Publishing House, Hanoi, 2004, p. 848.<\/p>\n

[9]<\/a> Communist Party of Vietnam, Documents of the 13th National Party Congress<\/em>, vol. I, National Political Publishing House – Truth, Hanoi, 2011, p. 68.<\/p>\n

This is an automated translation. If you notice any errors, please contact the Department of Communications, National Economics University at phongtruyenthong@neu.edu.vn<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Central Commission for Information and Education issued an outline for public communications on the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People\u2019s Army (December 22, 1944\u2013December 22, 2024) and the 35th anniversary of All-People\u2019s National Defense Day (December 22, 1989\u2013December 22, 2024). National Economics University (NEU) presents the full text of the outline. I. Vietnam People\u2019s Army\u201480 Years of Building, Fighting, Victory, and Growth 1. The Founding of the Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Army Team, the Predecessor of the Vietnam People\u2019s Army, Its Victories in Its First Two Battles, and Its Participation Alongside the People in the General Uprising to Seize Power (1944\u20131945) From its founding on February 3, 1930, the Party affirmed in its first Political Platform that the path to class and national liberation was to use revolutionary violence to seize power, and called for \u201corganizing a workers\u2019 and peasants\u2019 army\u201d [1] to serve as the core force for the entire people\u2019s revolutionary struggle. The Party\u2019s Political Theses (October 1930) defined the essential tasks of the bourgeois-democratic revolution, explicitly calling for \u201cestablishing a workers\u2019 and peasants\u2019 army\u201d [2]. During the revolutionary movement of 1930\u20131931, which culminated in the Nghe-Tinh Soviets, the Workers\u2019 and Peasants\u2019 Self-Defense Team (Red Self-Defense) emerged from the insurgent forces of workers and peasants. This was the first precursor to Vietnam\u2019s revolutionary armed forces. A succession of armed organizations was subsequently established, including the Bac Son Guerrilla Team (1940), guerrilla teams in Cochinchina (1940), and the National Salvation Army (1941)\u2026 On December 22, 1944, in a forest between Hoang Hoa Tham and Tran Hung Dao cantons in Nguyen Binh District, Cao Bang Province (now Na Sang Hamlet, Tam Kim Commune, Nguyen Binh District, Cao Bang Province), the Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Army Team\u2014the predecessor of the Vietnam People\u2019s Army\u2014was established under a Directive from leader Ho Chi Minh. In the Directive, he stated clearly: \u201cThe name VIETNAM PROPAGANDA LIBERATION ARMY TEAM means that politics takes precedence over military affairs. It is a propaganda team\u201d [3]; \u201cThe Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Army Team is the elder army, and we hope that other younger teams will soon emerge. Although its scale is small at first, its future is very glorious. It is the starting point of the liberation army, and it can travel from south to north, throughout Vietnam\u201d [4]. Comrade Vo Nguyen Giap was entrusted by the Party Central Committee and leader Ho Chi Minh with organizing, leading, commanding, and announcing the establishment of the Team. It comprised 34 members organized into three squads, with Comrade Hoang Sam as Commander and Comrade Xich Thang as Political Commissar, under the leadership of a Party cell. December 22, 1944, was designated as the founding date of the Vietnam People\u2019s Army. Shortly after its establishment, at 5:00 p.m. on December 25, 1944, the Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Army Team skillfully and boldly launched a surprise incursion into Phai Khat Post. At 7:00 a.m. the following morning (December 26), it entered Na Ngan Post in another surprise incursion. Both posts were located in Nguyen Binh District, Cao Bang Province. The Team killed the two post commanders, captured all enemy soldiers, and seized weapons, uniforms, and military supplies. The victories at Phai Khat and Na Ngan marked the beginning of the Vietnam People\u2019s Army\u2019s tradition of determination to fight and win. In April 1945, the Party\u2019s Tonkin Revolutionary Military Conference decided to merge revolutionary armed organizations nationwide into the Vietnam Liberation Army. During the August Revolution of 1945, the Vietnam Liberation Army joined local armed forces and the people in the General Uprising to seize power nationwide. Following the victory of the August Revolution of 1945, the Vietnam Liberation Army was renamed the National Defense Corps, then the Vietnam National Army (1946). Since 1950, it has been known as the Vietnam People\u2019s Army. 2. The Vietnam People\u2019s Army in the Resistance War Against French Colonial Invasion (1945\u20131954) When the French colonialists invaded Vietnam for the second time, the armed forces grew rapidly under the Party\u2019s leadership and rose up together with the people, determined to fight the invaders. In late 1946, by decision of President Ho Chi Minh, the country was divided into 12 military zones. At that time, National Defense Corps detachments remained the organizational structure in southern Vietnam, while northern and central Vietnam had 30 regiments and several battalions under the military zones. A system of Party organizations in the Army was established, extending from the Central Military Party Committee down to Party cells. On the night of December 19, 1946, nationwide resistance broke out. In the early days of the nationwide resistance, Vietnam\u2019s armed forces and people fought hundreds of battles, put thousands of enemy troops out of action, and destroyed large quantities of enemy military equipment. In the spring of 1947, President Ho Chi Minh, the Party Central Committee, and the Government moved to Viet Bac, which became the center directing the nationwide resistance. In the fall and winter of 1947, the French colonialists mobilized more than 10,000 elite troops, supported by aircraft and warships, to launch a surprise attack on Viet Bac aimed at destroying the resistance leadership and Vietnam\u2019s main-force troops. After more than two months of a counteroffensive campaign (October 7\u2013December 20, 1947), Vietnamese forces put more than 7,000 enemy troops out of action. This was the first large-scale counteroffensive campaign in which Vietnam\u2019s armed forces and people achieved a victory of strategic significance. It defeated the large-scale offensive and thwarted the French colonialists\u2019 strategy of \u201crapid attack, rapid victory,\u201d preserved and strengthened the main-force troops, and protected the leadership and the resistance base of the entire country. Following the Viet Bac Campaign of 1947, the Vietnamese Army had matured but was not yet capable of launching major campaigns. To defeat the enemy\u2019s pacification plans, Vietnamese forces adopted a policy of launching widespread guerrilla warfare and implementing the approach of \u201cindependent companies, concentrated battalions,\u201d both intensifying guerrilla warfare and learning concentrated mobile warfare. The concentrated battalions were consolidated and strengthened, gradually advancing to larger ambushes […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":22810,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[169,168],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-76098","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest-news","category-neu-newsletter"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/neu.edu.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76098","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/neu.edu.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/neu.edu.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neu.edu.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neu.edu.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=76098"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/neu.edu.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76098\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neu.edu.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22810"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/neu.edu.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=76098"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neu.edu.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=76098"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neu.edu.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=76098"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}