Full Address by General Secretary To Lam at 80th National Day anniversary

Distinguished Leaders and Former Leaders of the Party, the State, and the Viet Nam Fatherland Front;

Revolutionary veterans; Heroic Vietnamese Mothers; Heroes of the People's Armed Forces; Labor Heroes; Generals, officers, and soldiers of the People's Armed Forces,

Compatriots and comrades; overseas Vietnamese; friends and progressive people around the world,

Distinguished delegates,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today, in the sacred and heroic atmosphere of the August Revolution, we solemnly commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam (September 2, 1945 – September 2, 2025).

Eighty years ago, at the historic Ba Dinh Square, our beloved President Ho Chi Minh solemnly proclaimed the Declaration of Independence, giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam — now the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam — the very first people's democratic state in Southeast Asia.

That momentous event ushered in a new era of independence and freedom for our nation. From that historic milestone, the Vietnamese people embarked on a great journey: building a people's government, defending the Fatherland, and steadfastly advancing along the path of socialism, towards the goal of "a strong nation with prosperous people and a democratic, just, and advanced society."

In this sacred moment, we pay our deepest respect to our ancestors and express boundless gratitude to our great President Ho Chi Minh, to the revolutionary forefathers, and to the millions of compatriots and soldiers who sacrificed and devoted their lives for the independence, freedom, and reunification of the Fatherland, and for the happiness of the People.

We shall forever honour the devotion of the Heroic Vietnamese Mothers, veterans, wounded and sick soldiers, families of martyrs, and all those who rendered service to the revolution. We deeply treasure the contributions of workers, farmers, entrepreneurs, intellectuals, artists, elders, youth, women, and children; of religious communities, ethnic minorities, and overseas Vietnamese; as well as the friends and progressive peoples around the world who have stood shoulder to shoulder with us, supporting and assisting the just revolutionary cause of the Vietnamese people over the past eighty years.

The Vietnamese Fatherland is the culmination of millennia of national construction and defence, of resilience, wisdom, compassion, and an aspiration for greater heights. That spirit has forged the great strength of the August Revolution; of the two protracted resistance wars against colonialists and imperialists; of the cause of building and defending the Fatherland in times of peace; and of the cause of Doi Moi, international integration, and national development. It is a strength born of the People, belonging to the People, and serving the People — the strength of great national unity under the glorious flag of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, founded, led, and forged by President Ho Chi Minh.

We proudly affirm that every victory of the Vietnamese revolution is inseparable from the sound and wise leadership of the Party, and from the thought, morality, and style of Ho Chi Minh. Our Party, the vanguard of the working class, and the vanguard of the working people and of the Vietnamese nation, has always remained steadfast in the goal of national independence in close association with socialism; creatively applied and developed Marxism–Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought in line with the realities of each stage of the country's development; and consistently placed the interests of the Fatherland and the People above all.

Thanks to this, our nation has overcome countless hardships and trials; our country has transformed from a colony into an independent and unified nation, now advancing firmly toward modernization and deeper international integration, with its standing and prestige ever more strongly affirmed in the international arena.

Compatriots and comrades,

Today, the mission of protecting the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the Fatherland; of maintaining security, order, and social safety to ensure rapid and sustainable development; and of constantly improving the lives and happiness of our people is now our imperative call to action. To successfully realize these three goals is to fulfil the last wish of President Ho Chi Minh before his passing: 'My ultimate aspiration is that our entire Party and people, united in endeavour, will build a Viet Nam that is peaceful, unified, independent, democratic, and prosperous, and that makes a worthy contribution to the revolutionary cause of the world.' Over the past 80 arduous yet glorious years, we have affirmed a profound truth: under the glorious banner of the Party, illuminated by Ho Chi Minh's thought, and drawing strength from the people and the great national unity bloc, there is no hardship our people cannot overcome, no noble goal our nation cannot achieve. Nothing can halt our march toward peace, prosperity, and the lasting vitality and progress of our nation.

Looking ahead, our Party has set the goal that by 2045, on the centenary of the nation's founding, Viet Nam will stand as a strong, prosperous, and happy country. This is the shared aspiration of our entire people, and our solemn pledge before History and before the People.

I call upon our entire Party, our people, and our armed forces, together with our compatriots at home and abroad, to unite in solidarity and joint effort, through practical and meaningful deeds, to turn aspiration into reality; to strive harder, act with greater determination; to bring forth the wisdom, creativity, and resilience of Viet Nam; and to successfully fulfil the missions and goals set forth by the Party and the State, and entrusted by the People.

We remain resolute and steadfast in defending the independence, freedom, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the Fatherland, every sacred inch of our land, drawing on the united strength of the entire nation: the strength of politics, economy, culture, science and technology, defense, diplomacy, and above all, the indomitable will of the people. We aspire to be a friend and a reliable partner to all nations. We uphold international law and the Charter of the United Nations, and we are committed to resolving differences and disputes by peaceful means. But we will never yield to any scheme or act that violates our independence, sovereignty, unity, or territorial integrity. We shall stand firm in safeguarding the interests of our nation and our people.

Compatriots and comrades,

In this sacred hour, it is as if we can still hear the echo of President Ho Chi Minh's 1945 Declaration of Independence, and feel millions of Vietnamese hearts beating as one in pride, united in the solemn oath: 'We are determined to sacrifice our lives so that the Fatherland may endure'. We cherish ever more deeply the values of Independence, Freedom, and Happiness; we treasure peace with greater resolve to nurture and protect it; and we feel, more profoundly than ever, the sacred meaning of the words 'My People' and 'My Fatherland.'

Once again, we bow with deepest reverence before the spirit of our great President Ho Chi Minh and the heroic martyrs, who gave their lives and became one with the land and the immortal soul of the nation.

On this solemn occasion, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all compatriots, comrades, and soldiers across the country, to overseas Vietnamese, and to our international friends, as we together celebrate the 80th Anniversary of the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam.

Long live the everlasting Viet Nam!

Long live a peaceful, prosperous, and thriving Vietnamese nation!

Everlasting glory to the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam!

Eternal glory to the Communist Party of Viet Nam!

May our great President Ho Chi Minh live forever in our cause!

Everlasting glory to the People!

Thank you very much.