The following is the translation of his article.
FOREVER WORTHY OF THE TITLE “UNCLE HO’S SOLDIERS”
Under the sound leadership of the Party and the education and training of President Ho Chi Minh, the Vietnam People’s Army has made tremendous progress, remained absolutely loyal to the Party and devoted to the people, and become a force of the people, by the people, and for the people. Over 80 years of construction, fighting, and growth, the military has always fulfilled its missions excellently, serving as the frontline force in the fight against foreign invaders, taking the lead in mass mobilization and political grassroots building, and excelling in labor and production. In every era, the image of “Uncle Ho’s Soldiers” has always shone brightly, living up to President Ho Chi Minh’s praise: “Our military is loyal to the Party, filial to the people, ready to fight and sacrifice for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland, for socialism. Any mission can be accomplished, any difficulty can be overcome, any enemy can be defeated.”
    |
 |
|
Party General Secretary and State President To Lam meets with veterans of Division 308 in August 2024. |
The 11th Congress of the Military Party Organization for the 2020-2025 term has been a period full of challenges but also rich in historical hallmarks for the country in general and the military in particular. In a context of rapid and complex global and regional developments, and the nation suffering heavy impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters, and climate change, and taking bold efforts to continue the revolution of streamlining and restructuring the apparatus, and implement the two-tier local government model, restructure socio-economic development space; and amidst growing demands in building and safeguarding the Fatherland, the Military Party Organization and the entire military have remained steadfast in the principle of the Party’s absolute, direct leadership in all aspects over the military, upholding heroic traditions while clearly demonstrating the mettle, intellect, and noble qualities of “Uncle Ho’s Soldiers” in the new era.
By closely adhering to and seriously and effectively implementing the Party’s military and defense guidelines, the military has made strong adjustments in force organization. The Military Party Organization and the entire military have resolutely streamlined the apparatus in the compact, strong, mobile, and flexible manner, tightly combining the building of regular forces with the development of a strong, widespread militia and self-defense force, as well as a robust reserve force. Many agencies and units have been consolidated, with improved quality, effectiveness, and efficiency; the regular staffing has been adjusted in line with defense and military strategies and modern combat art. These timely, decisive, and systematic adjustments have laid a solid foundation for building a revolutionary, regular, elite, and modernized military, which is fully capable of successfully fulfilling every mission.
The military continues to affirm its role as a loyal and reliable fighting force of the Party, the State, and the People. Under the leadership of the Military Party Organization, the entire military has strictly maintained combat readiness, while improving training quality under the motto “Fundamental, Practical, Firm.” Large-scale exercises, including live-fire drills, civil defense rehearsals, and defensive zones, have been carried out in a synchronized manner, creating clear advancements in organizational, command, and operational coordination capabilities. The ability to grasp situations, make strategic forecasts, and advise the Party and State on handling defense and security issues has become increasingly proactive and flexible, contributing to firmly safeguarding independence and sovereignty, and preventing passivity or surprise in any circumstance.
Not only fulfilling its role as a combat force, the military has also strongly upheld its role as a working force. During the harsh years of the pandemic and natural disasters, the image of soldiers on the front lines of pandemic fight, standing firm in flood-hit areas, rescuing people from floodwaters, extinguishing fires, combating forest blazes, or helping people overcome landslide aftermath, has left a profound impression in the hearts of the people. Soldiers have truly become a steadfast support and a source of trust for compatriots in their most difficult times. The spirit of “selflessness for the people, sacrifice for the people” has not only spread throughout the military but also deeply permeated social life.
Alongside that, the military has also effectively fulfilled its function as a labor and production force. Units have actively participated in economic development and infrastructure building in remote, border, and island areas; effectively utilized defense-economic projects; contributed to poverty reduction and improved people’s livelihoods; and consolidated the “people’s defense posture.” Many production models linked with defense have generated dual benefits: strengthening both economic potential and the all-people national defense. At the same time, the defense industry has undergone a strong transformation, gradually mastering technology and successfully producing various types of new, modern weapons and technical equipment to meet the military’s training and combat-readiness requirements in the new situation. Beyond manufacturing specialized military products, many dual-use items serving both defense and civilian needs have been researched and produced, delivering dual values in socio-economic development and defense-security.
Defense diplomacy activities have been expanded, with the military proactively expanding bilateral and multilateral cooperation and actively participating in regional and international forums and cooperation mechanisms. Vietnam’s United Nations peacekeeping units have excellently fulfilled their missions, leaving a positive image of the country, its people, and the Vietnam People’s Army in the eyes of international friends.
Particularly, political and ideological work has been carried out in a comprehensive, extensive and intensive manner. The study and following of President Ho Chi Minh’s thought, morality, and style; the “Determined to Win” emulation movement; and the “Promoting Tradition, Devoting Talent, Deserving to be Uncle Ho’s Soldiers in the New Era” campaign have fostered a sense of responsibility and determination, and strengthened the absolute loyalty and faith of officers and soldiers. As a result, the qualities of Uncle Ho’s Soldiers have not only been preserved but also further nurtured and shone ever more brightly.
During the 2020–2025 tenure, the Military Party Organization and the entire military have recorded outstanding, comprehensive achievements, successfully fulfilling all three core functions and living up to the trust of the Party, State, and people. Each achievement and feat of arms is strong testimony to the Party’s absolute and direct leadership over all aspects of the military, affirming the military’s reputation, position, and pivotal role in the cause of building and firmly safeguarding the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
In the coming years, the international and regional situation is forecast to evolve rapidly, with greater complexity and unpredictability. Strategic competition among major powers is intensifying, profoundly shaping global political, security, and economic landscapes. The trend towards multipolarity and multi-centered development offers both opportunities for cooperation and risks of deepening conflicts of national and ethnic interests. The threat of local wars and instability remains, while traditional and non-traditional security challenges are increasingly intertwined, affecting all aspects of international life. Particularly, the Asia–Pacific region, including the East Sea, continues to harbor numerous complicated and unpredictable factors.
|
|
 |
|
Party General Secretary To Lam, Secretary of the Central Military Commission, delivers a speech marking the 80th anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army and the 35th All-People’s National Defense Festival. |
Inheriting the thousand-year cultural tradition of the nation, nearly 100 years under the Party’s leadership, 80 years of the people’s state, and nearly 40 years of renewal, Vietnam has achieved historic and significant accomplishments. The ongoing reform of organizational structures and the building of the two-tier local government have brought important initial results. However, the country continues to face a host of difficulties and challenges, with increasingly high requirements for military and defense tasks. Against this backdrop, the mission entrusted to the military in the 2025–2030 term is both extremely heavy and immensely honorable.
To excel in fulfilling its duties under the new circumstances, the Military Party Organization and the entire force must constantly improve leadership capacity and combat strength, while steadfastly adhering to the principle of the Party’s absolute, direct leadership over all aspects of the military. It is necessary to proactively grasp and accurately forecast situations, provide precise and timely strategic advice to the Party and State, and maintain strategic initiative in all circumstances. At the same time, the military must accelerate the building and consolidation of military and defense institutions, mobilize and use resources effectively to build a revolutionary, regular, elite, and modernized military with firm political mettle, high scientific and technological capacity, and readiness to accomplish all assigned missions.
The Military Party Organization must continue directing the military to strengthen discipline, promote military cultural identity and the qualities of “Uncle Ho’s Soldiers” in the new era, while effectively performing its three functions: a fighting force, a working force, and a production force. The military should also play the core role in building all-people national defense closely linked with the people’s security posture, consolidating defense zones, and integrating defense with socio-economic, cultural, and diplomatic development to create comprehensive strength, turning the “people’s heart and mind posture” into a solid foundation for safeguarding the Fatherland.
In the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the military must take the lead in research, application, and mastery of military science and technology, comprehensive digital transformation, and the development of modern combat capabilities, particularly in cyberspace, electronic warfare, and outer space. The defense industry requires deeper investment, with modern research institutes and factories capable of producing advanced weapons and equipment, developing dual-use products, and closely integrating defense with economic development to ensure independence and self-reliance while contributing to national growth.
Alongside these tasks, it is essential to continue building a pure, strong, exemplary, and comprehensive Party Organization; improve the capacity to concretize and implement the Party’s resolutions and guidelines; innovate ideology, inspection, and supervision work; and build a contingent of cadres and Party members with strong qualities, competence, prestige, and responsibility. It is a must to uphold unity, discipline, and order across the military, while focusing on attracting, identifying, training, and employing talent and high-quality human resources. Long-term strategies are needed to recruit and nurture young officers and soldiers with qualities, capabilities, and dedication to shoulder the responsibility of building a revolutionary, regular, elite, and modernized military.
Building on the heroic tradition of the military of a heroic nation, in the next tenure, the Party Organization and the entire military need to continue to affirm their crucial role in the revolutionary cause of the Party and the nation, remaining a loyal, reliable political and fighting force of the Party, State, and people. They should work harder to fulfil the goal of building a revolutionary, regular, elite, and modernized military, ready to carry out and accomplish all tasks entrusted by the Party and the people, thereby contributing to firmly safeguarding the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in the new era of development.
TO LAM
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee,
Secretary of the Central Military Commission