On April 21st in Ho Chi Minh City, General Secretary Tô Lâm chaired a meeting and honored the commanders, national heroes of the People’s Armed Forces, youth volunteers, and frontline civilian workers who participated in the Ho Chi Minh Campaign to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the country’s reunification (April 30, 1975 – April 30, 2025).
The event also included the participation of Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Secretary Nguyễn Văn Nên, Director of the Internal Affairs Department Phan Đình Trạc, Director of the Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department Nguyễn Trọng Nghĩa, Chairman of the Central Inspection Committee Nguyễn Duy Ngọc, Minister of National Defence Phan Văn Giang, Minister of Public Security Lương Tam Quang, Head of the Central Economic Committee Trần Lưu Quang, and Chief of Staff of the Central Party Committee Lê Hoài Trung.
One of the oldest attendees was Colonel Trần Văn Triệu, aged 93, a former intelligence officer and former Director of Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu Province Public Security Department. Recalling his comrades, he shared that many were imprisoned and subjected to brutal torture by the enemy, yet they maintained their integrity and refused to surrender.
Reflecting on the country’s future, the veteran expressed confidence that under the leadership of General Secretary Tô Lâm, the nation will confidently enter a new, bright era.
General Secretary Tô Lâm listened attentively and appreciated the shared experiences and suggestions of the veterans.
For example, Lieutenant General Triệu Xuân Hòa, former Commander of Military Region 7, expressed concern over the hundreds of thousands of unidentified martyrs and families lacking information about their loved ones’ remains. He requested that the government expedite ADN testing to properly identify the martyrs.
In his remarks, General Secretary Tô Lâm affirmed that current and future generations will forever honor and remember the contributions of the Party, President Hồ Chí Minh, countless soldiers, and heroes, as well as all citizens who dedicated their lives to achieving a peaceful, independent, and unified Vietnam that continues to thrive.
Acknowledging Lieutenant General Triệu Xuân Hòa’s concerns, the General Secretary noted that the government had issued new decrees with a strong commitment to identifying martyrs’ identities. The Ministry of Public Security, with its Project 06, has actively collected genetic samples to identify martyrs’ relatives.
“This cannot be delayed any longer, 50 years have passed… the longer we delay, the greater the injustice to the people and to the martyrs,” General Secretary Tô Lâm emphasized.
In sharing with the veteran revolutionaries, General Secretary Tô Lâm stated that the Party and Government are currently focused on three critical tasks.
The first is to maintain peace, stability, and territorial integrity. Second, prioritize rapid and sustainable economic development with the goal of Vietnam becoming a high-income, upper-middle-income country by 2030 and a developed, high-income country by 2045, the 100th anniversary of the country’s establishment.
“The third task is to improve people’s lives and meet their growing needs. A peaceful and free country must ensure its people enjoy prosperity and happiness. Peace is also essential to achieve this goal,” the General Secretary affirmed.
Emphasizing that the soldiers who participated in the Ho Chi Minh Campaign, along with the people, brought the nation’s triumph, General Secretary Tô Lâm hoped that the veterans, with their passion and responsibility, would continue to contribute to the country’s development.
