Contribute to clarifying the national issue in Ho Chi Minh's thought

1. Abolishing the yoke of colonialism and gaining national independence - the essence of the colonial national problem

Since his youth, before leaving to find a way to save the country, Nguyen Tat Thanh had seen the antagonism between the Vietnamese people and the invading French colonialists through the patriotic movements of his ancestors and soon formed the will to save the country. In the 1920s, Nguyen Ai Quoc realized that the more severe the oppression and exploitation of imperialism against the colonial peoples, the more fierce the reaction of the oppressed peoples. Not only the working masses (workers and peasants), but also the upper classes and strata in society (petty bourgeoisie, bourgeoisie and landlords) had to suffer the humiliation of people losing their country, of a nation losing its independence and freedom. Even the Vietnamese bourgeoisie was different from the Western bourgeoisie, although it was still an exploiting class, it was not a ruling class. They were not the objects of revolution, but on the contrary, could become the force of the national liberation revolution.[1].

When entering the imperialist stage, Western capitalist powers tried to conduct colonial wars of aggression, establishing colonial rule with brutal policies.

Before Western capitalism brought cannons to knock on the doors of Eastern countries, these countries were still heavily immersed in the darkness of feudalism in its decline, with a social structure consisting of two classes: feudal landlords and peasants. Under the impact of colonial exploitation programs, these classes in Vietnam more or less changed, new classes were born one after another: workers, bourgeoisie, petty bourgeoisie. All of these classes were under the domination of colonial capitalism.

Was the colonial revolution a national struggle or a class struggle? What was the “core” of the colonial revolution? In the international communist and workers’ movement, there was a thesis that: “the essence of the colonial national problem is the peasant problem”, and peasants are closely linked to land, so it is necessary to emphasize the land revolution and the class struggle in the colonies. With Ho Chi Minh, it was not like that. He realized that the most urgent and first requirement of colonial society was to carry out the struggle for national independence, not class struggle as in Western capitalist societies. The object of the colonial revolution was colonialism, not capitalism or imperialism in general. Although he was active in the French Communist Party and the Communist International, Nguyen Ai Quoc’s views had many points that did not coincide with the views of the Central Committee of the French Communist Party and the Communist International, including the national problem in the colonies.

In July 1923, Nguyen Ai Quoc wrote a letter to the Central Committee of the French Communist Party, criticizing Communist Parties in capitalist countries for not paying attention to the colonial revolutionary movement and criticizing newspapers.L'Humanitéremoved itemForum of the colonies, and the party press reported very slowly on the colonial countries. On April 11, 1924, in a letter to the Executive Committee of the Communist International, he commented: “The French colonies in general and Indochina in particular are little known in the proletarian and communist circles. The Communist International and the French Communist Party have very little information about what is happening in those colonies.” Therefore, “if we want to work usefully on the colonial issue, it is absolutely necessary toestablish contact with those colonies".

On June 23, 1924, speaking at the 8th session of the 5th Congress of the Communist International, Nguyen Ai Quoc said: “I come here to constantly draw the attention of the Communist International to the fact that colonies still exist, and to point out to the Communist International that: revolution, in addition to the future of the colonies, also involves the dangers of the colonies. However, I see that it seems that you comrades have not yet fully absorbed the idea that the fate of the world proletariat and especially the fate of the proletariat in the countries that invade the colonies is closely linked to the fate of the oppressed class in the colonies. Therefore, I will take advantage of every opportunity to raise issues and, if necessary, I will awaken you comrades to the colonial issue.” “The venom and vitality of the capitalist snake are concentrated in the colonies.” “Discussing the possibility and measures to carry out the revolution, and planning the upcoming struggle, the British and French comrades as well as comrades in other parties completely ignored this extremely important and strategic point. Therefore, I strongly urge you, comrades: pay attention!” On July 1, 1924, at the 22nd session of the 5th Congress of the Communist International, he criticized the Communist Parties in France, England, the Netherlands, Belgium and the Communist Parties in countries with colonies for not implementing a truly active policy on the colonial issue, while the bourgeoisie of those countries did everything to keep the enslaved peoples in a circle of oppression. See:[2].

According to Ho Chi Minh, the essence of the national problem in colonies is the struggle against colonialism and for national independence.

In many works such asColonial Mind, Equality, Colonial Abyss, Murderous Civilization..., Ho Chi Minh focused on denouncing colonialism, exposing their so-called "civilization". He wrote: "To cover up the evil of the regime of exploitative murder, colonial capitalism always decorates its rotten medal with ideal mottos: Fraternity, Equality, etc." "If the lynching of black people by the despicable Americans in the style of Linché is an inhumane act, then I no longer know what to call the mass killing of Africans by Europeans in the name of civilization."^[3]. In the articles titledIndochinaand many other articles, he strongly condemned the harsh ruling regime, the brutal exploitation of French colonialism in Indochina in the fields of politics, economics, culture, and education. He pointed out that the antagonism between oppressed peoples and colonial imperialism is the main contradiction in the colonies, which is an irreconcilable contradiction. The more severe the oppression and domination of a nation, the more fierce the national reaction will be in nature, diverse in content and rich in form. Studying the situation in Indochina, Ho Chi Minh realized: "Behind the negative obedience, the Indochinese people hide something that is seething, screaming and will explode terribly when the opportunity comes"^[4]In the workThe verdict of the French colonial regimeNguyen Ai Quoc strongly condemned the crimes of colonialism that deprived all human rights and national rights in the colonies.

WorkThe verdict of the French colonial regime

If C. Marx discussed a lot about the struggle against capitalism, VI. Lenin discussed a lot about the struggle against imperialism, then Ho Chi Minh focused on the struggle against colonialism. C. Marx and VI. Lenin discussed a lot about the class struggle in capitalist countries, Ho Chi Minh discussed a lot about the struggle for national liberation in colonies. In many works, especially the workThe Revolutionary RoadHe distinguished three types of revolution: proletarian revolution, bourgeois revolution and national liberation revolution, and determined the nature and task of colonial revolution as national liberation.

To liberate the nation, it is necessary to determine a path of national development, because the direction of national development determines the immediate requirements and contents of the struggle for independence. From the practice of the national salvation movement of our ancestors and the history of mankind, Ho Chi Minh affirmed that the direction of development of the Vietnamese nation in the context of the new era is socialism. Planning the path of development from the national liberation revolution to the socialist revolution is a very new issue. From a colonial country to socialism, it is necessary to go through many different strategic stages. InThe first political platformof the Communist Party of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh wrote: "carry out bourgeois democratic revolution and land revolution to move towards communist society". "Moving towards communist society" is the long-term development direction. "Bourgeois democratic revolution" is the strategic stage of national liberation, completing the task of fighting imperialism, gaining national independence (not yet thoroughly carrying out the land revolution). "Land revolution" is not part of the bourgeois democratic revolution, but is a strategic stage with the main task of land revolution. "Moving towards communist society" is the next stage of development to gradually achieve the final goal.[5].

Each strategic phase has a central strategic task and each phase can either complete part of the tasks of the next phase, or complete the tasks left over from the previous phase.

Ho Chi Minh's planning of the path of national development was dialectical and objective, not combining the two tasks of anti-imperialism and anti-feudalism into a bourgeois democratic revolution. It was suitable to the specific historical circumstances in the colonies. That was also a unique feature, different from the path of development to capitalism in Western countries.

The core content of the colonial national issue is independence and freedom. Independence and freedom are the greatest aspirations of colonial peoples. Ho Chi Minh said: "Freedom for my compatriots, independence for my Fatherland, that is all I want; that is all I understand."^[6].

In early 1930, Nguyen Ai Quoc draftedThe first political platformThe Party's correct and creative platform for national liberation, whose core ideology is independence and freedom.

The first political platform

In May 1941, Ho Chi Minh chaired the 8th Conference of the Party Central Committee and wrote a letterDear fellow countrymen,, stating: "At this time, the interests of national liberation are above all else"^[7]. The founding directorVietnam Independence Alliance, publishIndependent Vietnam, drafted the Ten Policies of Viet Minh, in which the first goal was: "Hold the flag of independence, build the foundation of equality". In August 1945, Ho Chi Minh summarized the will to fight for independence and freedom of our people in the immortal saying: "No matter what sacrifices we have to make, even if we have to burn the entire Truong Son mountain range, we must resolutely gain independence!"

The August Revolution was successful, the representative of the provisional government readDeclaration of Independence, solemnly affirm before the whole world:

"Vietnam has the right to enjoy freedom and independence, and in fact has become a free and independent country. The entire Vietnamese people are determined to devote all their spirit and strength, their lives and property, to maintaining that freedom and independence."^[8].

In letters and telegrams sent to the United Nations and governments of various countries after the August Revolution, Ho Chi Minh solemnly declared: "Our people sincerely desire peace. But our people are also determined to fight to the end to protect the most sacred rights: territorial integrity for the Fatherland and independence for the country."^[9].

The nationwide resistance war against French colonialism broke out. Expressing his determination to protect national independence and sovereignty, Ho Chi Minh made a resounding appeal to the mountains and rivers: "No! We would rather sacrifice everything than lose our country, than become slaves."^[10].

When the US imperialists frantically expanded the war, massively poured expeditionary troops and modern war equipment into the South, while simultaneously conducting a destructive war in the North with increasingly fierce scale and intensity, Ho Chi Minh raised the greatest truth of the era: "Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom"^[11].

Ho Chi Minh clearly saw the strength of Vietnamese nationalism. It is the strength to fight and win against any foreign invaders: “Our people have a passionate patriotism. That is our precious tradition. From ancient times until now, every time the Fatherland is invaded, that spirit boils up, it forms an extremely strong and huge wave, it overcomes all dangers and difficulties, it drowns all traitors and invaders.”^[12].

According to Ho Chi Minh, “It is because of the spirit of patriotism that our army and people have endured many years of hardship, determined to defeat the colonial invaders and the Vietnamese traitors, determined to build an independent, unified, democratic, free, prosperous Vietnam, a new democratic Vietnam.” In Ho Chi Minh’s thought, true nationalism is a part of the international spirit, “completely different from the “patriotic” spirit of the reactionary imperialists.”^[13].

With faith in the Vietnamese people's tradition of patriotism, he affirmed: "The enemy occupies the sky, the enemy occupies the land, but they can never occupy the passionate patriotism of our people."

Independence and freedom are the fighting goals and the source of strength that led to the victory of the Vietnamese people in the 20th century, a great thought in the era of national liberation. “Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom” is the slogan of the Vietnamese people and also a source of encouragement for oppressed peoples around the world who are fighting against colonialism. Therefore, Ho Chi Minh is not onlyNational liberation heroof Vietnam but also "The initiator of the liberation struggle of colonial peoples in the 20th century".

2. The right to national self-determination – a creative feature in Ho Chi Minh's thought on national issues

At the end of the 20th century, when national states such as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic and the Yugoslav Socialist Republic disintegrated, we saw more clearly the scientific and practical value of the way to solve the national problem in Indochina according to Ho Chi Minh's viewpoint.

Ho Chi Minh highly respected human rights, but always promoted national rights. He studied and accepted the human rights factors stated inDeclaration of Independence1776 of America,Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen1791 of the French Revolution[14], such as the right to equality, the right to life, the right to freedom and the right to pursue happiness. He affirmed, "Those are undeniable truths." But it did not stop there. From human rights, Ho Chi Minh generalized and elevated them to national rights: "All peoples in the world are born equal, every people has the right to live, the right to happiness and the right to freedom."^[15].

In 1919, applying the principle of national self-determination that had been solemnly recognized by the victorious allies in World War I, on behalf of Vietnamese patriots, Nguyen Ai Quoc sent to the Versailles Conference an eight-point Petition, demanding freedom and democracy for the Vietnamese people. The Petition did not mention the issue of independence or autonomy, but focused on two basic contents:

One is, demanding equal rights in legal regime for the natives of Indochina as for the Europeans. Specifically, it is necessary to abolish the special courts used as tools of terror, to oppress the most honest part of the people (ie patriots); to abolish the regime of rule by decree (in a dictatorial manner) and replace it with a regime of making laws.

Two is, demanding minimum democratic freedoms for the people, which are freedom of speech, press, association, assembly, and residence...

That claim was not accepted by the imperialist countries. Nguyen Ai Quoc concluded: to liberate the nation, one cannot passively wait for outside help, but must first rely on the strength of one's own people.

As a true internationalist, Ho Chi Minh fought not only for the independence of the Vietnamese people, but also for the independence of all oppressed peoples.

In 1914, when World War I broke out, he donated all the money he had saved from his small salary to support the British resistance fund and told his friend: "We must fight for the freedom and independence of other nations as we fight for our own nation."^[16]. He saw one of the important meanings of the Russian October Revolution (1917) as setting a shining example of the liberation of oppressed peoples, "opening up before their eyes"anti-imperialist revolutionary era, era of national liberation"^[17]. In 1921, he participated in the foundingColonial Associationaimed at uniting the people of the colonies in a common front against imperialism and building a united and fighting relationship between the colonial peoples and the French people. The Association's manifesto, drafted by Nguyen Ai Quoc, clearly stated the purpose of gathering all colonial people residing in France to denounce to public opinion the crimes of colonialism and to propagate and enlighten the people of the colonies to rise up and liberate themselves.

Upholding the spirit of independence and autonomy, and implementing the principle of national self-determination, Ho Chi Minh did not forget his international obligations in supporting the struggles for national liberation in the world. He enthusiastically supported the Chinese people's resistance war against Japan, the Lao and Cambodian people's resistance wars against French colonialism and American imperialism, and advocated that the victory of each country's revolution must contribute to the common victory of the world revolution.

In particular, in Indochina, Ho Chi Minh perceived and resolved the national issue with a spirit of independence, self-reliance and creativity, creating a solid foundation to consolidate and strengthen the solidarity and fighting alliance among the three nations, a strategic factor ensuring the victory of each country's revolution.

According to Ho Chi Minh's point of view, Indochina was invaded and dominated by colonialism, the cause of liberation of each nation was closely related and inseparable, but he did not see Indochina as a federation, but clearly saw in Indochina three national states. He distinguished two types of problems: 1- Promoting the strength of each nation in the cause of fighting against colonialism, achieving solidarity of each nation; 2- On the basis of respecting the right to national self-determination, respecting the independence and freedom of each nation, achieving solidarity of the three nations, helping each other to fight the common enemy.

Nguyen Ai Quoc chaired the Eighth Conference of the Central Executive Committee of the Indochinese Communist Party (May 1941), advocating solving the national problem within the framework of each country in Indochina, with the aim of awakening the national spirit in each country. The conference emphasized that the peoples on the Indochina peninsula were all under the domination of the French-Japanese empire, so it was necessary to "concentrate the revolutionary forces of the whole of Indochina", making the three countries of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia united, relying on each other, and promoting each other to win. However, talking about the national problem at this time was talking about the freedom and independence of each nation. Therefore, the Party had to fully respect and properly implement the policy of "national self-determination" towards the peoples in Indochina. After expelling the French-Japanese, "the peoples in Indochina will, according to their wishes, organize into a federation of democratic republics or stand alone to form a nation as they wish". "The independence and freedom of nations will be recognized and respected"[18].

Resolution of the 8th Central Conference of the Indochinese Communist Party, May 1941

The conference decided to establish a separate front in each country: the Vietnam Independence Alliance, the Lao Independence Alliance, and the Cambodian Independence Alliance. Based on the establishment of a front in each country, a common front of the three countries would be established. The Party and the Viet Minh "must do their utmost to help the Cambodian and Lao peoples to organize the Cambodian Independence Alliance and the Lao Independence Alliance, and then establish the Indochina Independence Alliance."[19].

Solving the national problem within the scope of each country in Indochina is a correct and creative policy, aiming to realize the right of national self-determination, promote the strength of each nation in the struggle for self-liberation; smash the enemy's distorted arguments about the national problem, about the so-called "Indochinese Federation" and "Communist disaster"; at the same time create conditions to unite the three nations against the common enemy, lay the foundation for building a new policy, establishing a new relationship between Vietnam and two neighboring countries that share the same invading enemy.

After World War II, the French colonialists returned to invade. The people of the three Indochinese countries had to continue to rise up to fight. Helping the Lao revolution, as well as the Cambodian revolution, was Ho Chi Minh’s consistent policy, considering “helping friends is helping yourself”, respecting each other’s independence and sovereignty, helping friends is not doing it for you, but making friends stronger, so that friends can do it themselves.

In the Appeal to the United Nations (December 1946), Ho Chi Minh affirmed: "For Laos and Cambodia, Vietnam respects the independence of those two countries and wishes to cooperate on the basis of absolute equality between sovereign countries."[20].

In July 1947, when answering a foreign journalist, Ho Chi Minh stated: "Foreign policy is to be friendly with all neighbors... Cambodia, Laos, etc., without being hostile to any country."[21]The viewpoint of Ho Chi Minh and the Indochinese Communist Party is:

1 - Do not stand above the interests of Vietnam to do work for Laos and Cambodia.

2 - Firmly grasp the principle of national self-determination, which must be decided by Laos and Cambodia themselves.

3 - Do not apply Vietnam's policies and principles to Laos and Cambodia like installing machines.

4 - Need help from Laos and Cambodia so you can do it yourself[22].

For Ho Chi Minh, “helping friends is helping yourself”. Helping friends to become stronger, you do it yourself. In his mind, there was no question of establishing an Indochinese federation.

While the Indochinese Communist Party still had to operate secretly and did not have the conditions to establish a separate party in each country, the Indochinese Communist Party had the responsibility to lead and coordinate the resistance of the three nations. However, according to Ho Chi Minh, each communist party belonged to a nation and must first fulfill its historical mission to its own nation. In early 1930, Ho Chi Minh named the Party the Communist Party of Vietnam. After a period of having to change its name to the Indochinese Communist Party and lead the Indochinese revolution, in 1951, he and the Party Central Committee advocated separating the Lao and Cambodian party branches to establish a revolutionary party in each country, in order to set out a political line suitable to the country's circumstances; at the same time, it also determined the responsibility of the Vietnam Workers' Party and the Vietnamese people to help the struggle for national independence in Laos and Cambodia.

In September 1952, the Conference of the Indochinese Alliance met to discuss the implementation of the Front's specific action program. At the Conference, Ho Chi Minh said:The Vietnamese people wholeheartedly and sincerely help the Lao and Cambodian people unconditionally..

In early April 1953, the Party Central Committee, the Government and President Ho Chi Minh, together with the Laotian Resistance Government and the Itxala Front, decided to launch the Upper Laos campaign. President Ho Chi Minh instructed the Vietnamese troops: “Helping other people means helping yourself"[23], must uphold international spirit, respect sovereignty, customs and practices, and love the people of other countries.

In the first years after the 1954 Geneva Agreement on Indochina was signed, on the basis of correctly understanding the actual situation in Laos and Cambodia, clearly seeing the role of the two countries in protecting security in Indochina in particular and Southeast Asia in general, taking the interests of the three nations as the top priority, on January 1, 1955, President Ho Chi Minh declared: The Democratic Republic of Vietnam is ready to establish friendly relations with the Kingdom of Laos and the Kingdom of Cambodia. This is an important signal, laying the foundation for building solidarity and alliances suitable to new historical conditions.

March 1965, in Phnom Penh,Indochina People's ConferenceThe conference was convened at the initiative of Crown Prince Norodom Sihanouk, Head of State of the Kingdom of Cambodia. President Ho Chi Minh sent a congratulatory message to the conference, affirming that the struggle of the people of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, with close solidarity, would certainly achieve final victory.

3. National independence is closely linked to national unity - a unique feature in Ho Chi Minh's thought on national issues

National independence and national unity is a law of existence and development of the Vietnamese nation, and is the way of life of the Vietnamese people. That is a great viewpoint of Ho Chi Minh. He said: “Vietnam is one, the Vietnamese people are one. Rivers may dry up, mountains may wear away, but that truth will never change.”

In 1887, on the basis of annexation and imposition of national domination, implementing a policy of divide and rule, the French colonialists established the so-called "French Indochina Federation", consisting of 5 regions (North Vietnam, Central Vietnam, South Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia) headed by a French Governor-General.

Ho Chi Minh condemned the French colonialists for dividing Vietnam, "establishing three different regimes in the Central, South, and North to prevent the unification of our country, to prevent our people from uniting."[24]. The struggle against colonialism and for independence of the Vietnamese people is also a struggle for national unity and sovereignty. Ho Chi Minh clearly stated the purpose of the August Revolution was to "regainpeace, unity, independence and democracyfor our Fatherland, for our people". The purpose of the resistance war against French colonialism is to maintain and develop the victories of the August Revolution, that is,peace, unity, independence and democracy".

Independence and unification of the Fatherland is the aspiration and fighting will of Ho Chi Minh and the entire Vietnamese people. He agreed to sign the Preliminary Agreement on March 6, 1946, although he had not yet asked the French colonialists to recognize the independence, but they had to recognize "Vietnam is a country"a countryfreedom”, with its own government, parliament, army and finances. The implementation of national unification will be decided by referendum.

Before going to France, inLetter to the Southern compatriots(June 1946), Ho Chi Minh affirmed:

"Southern compatriots are Vietnamese people.

Rivers may dry up, mountains may erode away, but that truth will never change!”[25].

The purpose of his trip was to "resolve the issue of Vietnam's independence, and unify the North, Central and South." On June 25, 1946, while meeting with journalists, photographers and cinematographers in Paris, he stated clearly that "the Vietnamese people demand unification and independence."[26].

Letter of President Ho Chi Minh to the people of the South before going to France for negotiations, 1946

On July 12, 1946, at a press conference, when answering the question: "If Cochinchina refuses to be annexed into Vietnam, what will the President do?", he said: "Cochinchina shares the same ancestors as us, why doesn't Cochinchina want to be in Vietnam? The Basques and Bretons don't speak French but are still French. The Cochinchina people speak Vietnamese, why do they still think about hindering the unification of Vietnam?"[27]He declared to journalists: "The South is a part of Vietnam, no one has the right to divide it, no force can divide it"[28].

In his speech at the National Day celebration of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam organized by the Overseas Vietnamese Association and the France-Vietnam Friendship Association in Paris (September 2, 1946), Ho Chi Minh stated: “The most earnest wish of all the Vietnamese people is that our resurrected Fatherland will never be divided and nothing can divide it”, “... division and separation cannot bring prosperity. It is absurd to attempt to rely on a weakened, divided and fragmented Vietnam to achieve the power of the French Union”.[29].

On September 22, 1946, on the warship Dumont Duerville, in a letter replying to Madame Sossy of the French Women's Union, Ho Chi Minh wrote: "You love your country, you want your country to be independent and unified. If anyone tries to violate that independence and unity, I am sure that you will fight to the end to protect it. We do too. We love our Fatherland Vietnam, we also want our Fatherland to be independent and unified." He affirmed, "We are determined to use all our strength to gain our national independence and territorial integrity."[30].

After returning from France, he declared to the nation: due to the current situation in France, the two issues of independence and unification of Vietnam have not been resolved. “But sooner or later, I dare to decide that: Vietnam will definitely be independent, the North, Central, and South will definitely be unified.”[31]. “Central, Southern, and Northern Vietnam are all part of Vietnam. We all share the same ancestors and lineage, and are all brothers and sisters. The country has Central, Southern, and Northern Vietnam, just like a family has three brothers. Just like France has Normandy, Provence, and Bois.

No one can separate a family, no one can separate France, and no one can separate our Vietnam.[32].

He said: “A day when the Fatherland is not unified and the people still suffer is a day when I cannot eat well or sleep well. I respectfully promise my people that: With the determination of the people, with the determination of the entire people, the South will definitely return to the common love in the heart of the Fatherland.”[33].

At the meeting on October 31, 1946 of the 2nd Session of the 1st National Assembly, after being assigned by the National Assembly the responsibility of forming a new Government, Ho Chi Minh declared the purpose of the Government as "internally constructing, externally striving for independence and unification of the country".[34].

In the Appeal to the United Nations (December 1946), he pointed out the actions of France in "creating the Republic of Cochinchina with a puppet government" and affirmed that the Vietnamese people "resolutely fight to the end to protect the most sacred rights: territorial integrity for the Fatherland and independence for the country".[35].

Unable to use peace negotiations to resolve the Vietnam-France conflict, Ho Chi Minh said.Call for national resistanceto gain complete independence and unification.Letter to the Vietnamese people, the French people, and the people of the Allied countriesHe affirmed: “The resistance war is very long and painful. No matter how much sacrifice we have to make or how long the resistance war lasts, we will definitely fight to the end, until Vietnam is completely independent and unified.”[36].

Call for national resistance

With the signing and implementation of the 1954 Geneva Agreement on Indochina, Vietnam was temporarily divided into two regions. Ho Chi Minh determined that the purpose of the Vietnamese people after the 1954 Geneva Agreement on Indochina was also to fight to maintain peace.to achieve unification, complete independence and democracy throughout the country"[37].

On July 22, 1954, he analyzed: regional adjustment is a temporary matter, a transitional step to implement a ceasefire, restore peace and move towards national unification through general elections. Regional adjustment "absolutely does not divide our country, absolutely does not divide the country". He affirmed: "Central, South, North are all our borders, our country will definitely be unified, the people of the whole country will definitely be liberated". He pointed out: "Struggling to consolidate peace, achieve unification, complete independence and democracy is also a long and arduous struggle". "We must strive to fight to carry out free general elections nationwide tounifiedhome country"[38].

The Vietnamese people's striving goals were affirmed by Ho Chi Minh in many speeches, articles and interviews with domestic and foreign newspapers... On the occasion of the 9th National Day celebration (1954), he clearly stated: "Our common mission now is:Properly implement the armistice agreement, fight to preserve and consolidate peace, to achieve unification, complete independence and democracy throughout the country.”. He called: “All compatriots from the South to the North must fight to prepare for the revolution.free general elections, to performnational unity"[39].

Faced with the new plot of the US imperialists and their lackeys, Ho Chi Minh affirmed: "Vietnam will definitely be unified, because our country is one block, no one can divide it." He advocated consolidating the North to "practically help the people of the South fight for peace and unification"[40].

To gather all forces for the struggle to unify the country, Ho Chi Minh advocated expanding and consolidating the National United Front: "From the South to the North, whoever supports peace, unification, independence, and democracy, we are ready to unite with them, honestly cooperate with them, no matter which faction they have been on up to now."[41].

September 2, 1955, in an article for the newspaperFor lasting peace, for a people's democracy, Ho Chi Minh stated: "The Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam set for itself the first goal of thoroughly and fully implementing the Geneva Agreement, which means immediately convening a consultative conference between the North and the South, which is the first step towards preparing for a free general election to unify the country."[42].

According to Ho Chi Minh, “The most important task of our people, National Assembly and Government is to strive to build socialism in the North, fight for peaceful reunification of the country and contribute to protecting peace in Southeast Asia and the world.”[43]. Speaking at the opening of the eighth session of the first National Assembly, Ho Chi Minh affirmed: “The immediate task of all our people is to strive to build and consolidate the North, gradually moving the North towards socialism, while at the same time fighting to unify the country, aiming to build a peaceful, unified, independent, democratic and prosperous Vietnam”. “The struggle for national unification by peaceful means on the basis of independence and democracy is a long-term, difficult and complicated revolution”.[44].

At the Third Party Congress (September 1960), Ho Chi Minh affirmed: “Our nation is one, Vietnam is one. Our people will definitely overcome all difficulties and achieve national reunification, with the North and the South as one family.”[45].

On August 8, 1963, answering the question of journalist W. Bocset: "Chairman, please tell me whether it is true that the armed resistance in the South was supported by the North or not?", Ho Chi Minh said: "In all aspects of geography, history, culture and race, the Vietnamese people are one. We have united in fighting against French colonialism and Japanese aggression. That is something that the temporary boundary line drawn along the 17th parallel, to facilitate the signing of the 1954 armistice agreement, cannot change. The unity of Vietnam and the Vietnamese people has been recognized and recorded in the Geneva Agreement. That is why the struggle of our compatriots in the South has the sympathy and support of all the Vietnamese people, both North and South of the 17th parallel."

Since 1965, the US imperialists have increasingly intensified their war of aggression against Vietnam with the strategy of "local war" in the South and destructive war in the North. In many interviews with international journalists, such as French female reporter Daniel Huynöben (May 7, 1964), orWorkers' Daily(UK) (July 1, 1965), Ho Chi Minh always affirmed: "Vietnam is one. The Vietnamese people are one", the US imperialists are the ones who divided Vietnam, and the Vietnamese people will fight to the end for the independence and unification of the country.[46].

President Ho Chi Minh read the appeal to the people and soldiers of the whole country to be determined to defeat the American invaders.

Before leaving, he pointed out: “No matter how difficult or arduous, our people will be completely victorious. The American imperialists must leave our country. Our Fatherland will definitely be unified. Our compatriots in the North and South will definitely be reunited under one roof.”[47]In his Testament of May 1965, he wrote: “My last wish is: Our entire Party and people unite to strive to build a peaceful, unified, independent, democratic and prosperous Vietnam, and make a worthy contribution to the world revolutionary cause.” In the supplementary draft of May 1968, he advised to “prepare everything to unify the country”. The person used red ink to write the phrase “national reunification", emphasizing an extremely important task that must be done immediately after the victory of the resistance war against America.

Ho Chi Minh's thought on the national issue was formed and developed in association with the national liberation movement, including the Vietnamese people's struggle movement, aiming to abolish the yoke of colonialism, gain national independence and unify the country, form an independent national state and continue to develop according to the choice of each nation, reflecting the greatest truth of the era: "nothing is more precious than independence and freedom". As for the Vietnamese people, that development is in the direction of socialism, aiming to realize Ho Chi Minh's last wish: "to build a peaceful, unified, independent, democratic and prosperous Vietnam, and to make a worthy contribution to the world revolutionary cause".[48]That ideology is deeply scientific and revolutionary, not following a dogmatic model. That is also Ho Chi Minh's great contribution to the theoretical treasure of Marxism-Leninism on the national question.