Dong Thap Commemorates 81st Anniversary of the Founding of the Vietnam People’s Army

(DTO) On the morning of December 19, the Provincial Party Committee - Provincial Military Command held a gathering of retired and transferred senior military officers to commemorate the 81st anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People’s Army (December 22, 1944 - December 22, 2025) and the 36th All-People National Defense Day (December 22, 1989 - December 22, 2025).
Attending and delivering remarks was comrade Ngo Chi Cuong, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Dong Thap Province.

The gathering was joined by Vietnamese Heroic Mothers; Heroes of the People’s Armed Forces; former provincial leaders; former and current leaders of the High Command of Military Region 9; former and current leaders of the Provincial Military Command; leaders of provincial departments and agencies; and more than 200 retired senior officers living in the province.

In a solemn and meaningful atmosphere, delegates reviewed the glorious history of fighting, building, and development of the provincial armed forces and the people as a whole.

For 81 years, the Army has remained absolutely loyal to the Party. For 81 years, it has stood side by side with the People, overcoming every hardship, fulfilling every task, and defeating every enemy.

In the heroic Dong Thap-Tien Giang region, the armed forces left profound marks in revolutionary history.

From small guerrilla groups with rudimentary weapons, relying on the people, holding the ground, successfully fighting outnumbered forces, the provincial armed forces achieved resounding victories now forever etched in history: the ambushes at Co Co and Giong Dua, the battle against the D-27 vessel on the So Thuong River, the pinnacle victory of Giong Thi Dam - Go Quan Cung, and especially the heroic victory at Ap Bac, along with decisive battles on Rach Ruong and Ba Rai rivers, becoming symbols of resilience, proactiveness, and creativity in combat.

Tens of thousands of local officers and soldiers laid down their lives, joining people nationwide in the Great Spring Victory of 1975 to liberate the South and reunify the country.

During the war to safeguard the Southwestern border and fulfill international duties in Cambodia, province’s officers and soldiers continued to demonstrate bravery and noble international spirit, making important contributions to national defense and the revival of Cambodia.

In the era of renewal and international integration, the provincial armed forces have remained a steadfast political pillar for the Party Committee, authorities, and people; and have taken the lead in preventing natural disasters and epidemics.

In recent years, the Party Committee and Provincial Military Command of Dong Thap Province have advised the Provincial Party Committee and People’s Committee to effectively lead and direct military and national defense missions; maintain the core role in building an all-people national defense posture linked with the people’s security posture; enhance readiness, training, and force-building; and contribute to a stable environment for the province’s socio-economic development.

Speaking at the gathering, Comrade Ngo Chi Cuong expressed profound respect and gratitude to retired military officers; and acknowledged the strong coordination and support of all levels, sectors, and military region agencies in contributing to the province’s development.

Comrade Ngo Chi Cuong also emphasized that our nation is entering a new era of development, an era of national resurgence. Strategic competition among major powers, non-traditional security challenges, “peaceful evolution,” cybersecurity threats, and climate change are placing ever greater demands on the mission of safeguarding the country.

For Dong Thap Province, following the administrative merger, development space has expanded, its strategic position has grown more significant, and the requirement to firmly maintain national defense and security has become all the more urgent.

In this context, the province’s armed forces must stay one step ahead in mindset and take the initiative in action, resolutely avoiding passivity or surprise in any circumstance.

Comrade Ngo Chi Cuong requested that the Dong Thap provincial armed forces build a politically strong force, firm in resolve, steadfast, and absolutely loyal to the Party, the country, and the people.

He called for improving training quality, enhancing combat readiness, and mastering modern weapons and equipment in the spirit of “Good training - Strict discipline - High combat readiness.” Regular education and training must be provided to ensure officers and soldiers possess strong ethics and practical capabilities to meet new mission requirements.

He urged consolidation of an all-people national defense posture closely linked with the people’s security posture, reinforcing the “people’s trust” foundation where “The people are the root, the support, and the strength.”
Mass mobilization models, the Military-People Tet program, and dialogues with policy beneficiaries must be further implemented effectively to maintain the people’s absolute trust in the armed forces.

He also called for accelerating digital transformation in the military, building a standardized, elite, and modern force; comprehensively strengthening the provincial armed forces to be “exemplary and representative,” associated with studying and following Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, morality, and style, and with the emulation movement “Promoting tradition, dedicating talent, deserving to be Uncle Ho’s soldiers” in the new period.

He emphasized the need to build a clean and strong Party organization; with every officer and soldier acting as a role model of morality, discipline, and responsibility, and taking the lead in building new rural areas, civilized urban areas, and environmental protection.

The provincial armed forces should closely coordinate with other units to effectively prevent and combat crime and social evils; intensify patrols and control to safeguard border security and social order, ensuring peaceful lives for the people while closely linking national defense and security with socio-economic development.

 HA NAM
Translated by ANH DUC