This day in history: The day of complete liberation of the South and national reunification

Domestic events

On April 30, 1949, on the occasion of International Labor Day (May 1), President Ho Chi Minh sent a letter of congratulations to compatriots and soldiers. After analyzing the significance of May 1 in Vietnam, he outlined the main tasks of all classes of people (soldiers, farmers, workers, and merchants) in the new period: The period of strengthening resistance and actively preparing for a general counterattack.

On April 30, 1952, the Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam appointed Mr. Nguyen Luong Bang as the first Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Vietnam to the Soviet Union.

On April 30, 1969, the Standing Committee of the Third National Assembly issued a communiqué approving the Charter of Agricultural Cooperatives. The approval of this charter created conditions for consolidating and perfecting new production relations in rural areas, ensuring the comprehensive, strong and stable development of agricultural production.

From April 30, 1970 to June 30, 1970, the Southern Liberation Army, with the spirit of saving friends as saving themselves, fought bravely with the Cambodian army and people, crushing the invasion of Cambodia by 100,000 American and Saigon puppet troops.

Liberation Army tanks entering the Independence Palace. Photo: People's Army Cinema

At 5:30 a.m. on April 30, 1975, the Vietnam People's Army launched its final attack, advancing straight into the center of Saigon, capturing the Independence Palace, completely liberating the South, and unifying the country. This was the greatest and most complete victory, ending 30 years of the longest, most arduous, fiercest, but also most glorious war of the Vietnamese people.

On April 30, 1992, the Electronic Warfare Department was established. The Electronic Warfare Department is an advisory body to the Ministry of National Defense and the General Staff, directing the activities of the entire army's electronic warfare force and directly commanding the ministry's strategic mobile electronic warfare units.

April 30, 1993, launched the Young Talent Support Fund.

On April 30, 2011, at Hon Dau International Tourist Area in Zone 3, Do Son, Hai Phong City, the largest artificial seawater filtration swimming pool in Asia was officially inaugurated and put into use.

Hien Luong - Ben Hai special national historical relic complex (viewed from the South-North direction). Photo: VNA

On April 30, 2014, at the Hien Luong-Ben Hai historical site, Quang Tri province solemnly held a ceremony to raise the Unification Flag and receive the Prime Minister's certificate of ranking as a special national monument for the Hien Luong-Ben Hai historical site and the Quang Tri Ancient Citadel historical site and the memorial sites for the 81-day and night event in 1972.

On April 30, 2015, Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City inaugurated the Cho Ray Oncology Center.

International events

On April 30, 1945, after winning many major battles on the European battlefields, the Soviet Army raised the victory flag on the roof of the German Parliament in Berlin. Hitler, the Nazi leader, committed suicide, and the Nazi regime came to an end.

On April 30, 1948, in Bogota (capital of Colombia), 21 republics in the Americas signed the declaration establishing the Organization of American States (abbreviated as OEA).

ASEAN currently has 10 member countries. Photo: Dangcongsan.vn

In His Footsteps 

On April 30, 1947, in the Viet Bac War Zone, Uncle Ho attended a special meeting of the Government Council. Minister Le Van Hien's diary recounts: “Near evening, while we were having dinner, President Ho arrived in his secret outfit. This time, he was carrying a backpack on his back, a gun on his shoulder, wearing brown clothes, a soldier's hat, his face half covered, looking like a hunter in the deep forest, no one could recognize him. He shook hands happily with everyone, then more simply than anyone else, he asked for an extra bowl and chopsticks so that he could sit and eat while the dinner was almost finished... At 7 pm, the Council began. Everyone sat around a few mats spread out... Today's Council had two sad news, the deaths of Mr. Huynh (Huynh Thuc Khang) and Nam (Hoang Huu Nam). He briefly talked about the fighting history of the two soldiers in the Government after everyone had a minute of silence... The President spoke in a painful voice as if he had lost a brother and a son... After that, he reported on the general political situation outside the country and at home..." The meeting did not end until 3 o'clock in the morning.

Illustration photo: Tintucvietnam.vn

On April 30, 1949, one day before International Labor Day, Uncle Ho wrote a letter of greeting with the title “Main tasks in the new period” in which he stated: “In other countries, this day is a day for workers to review their forces and fight for the interests of the class. In our country, regardless of age, gender, intellectuals, farmers, workers, merchants, soldiers, all people unite into one block, all people work hard, with one goal: to kill the enemy and save the country. May 1 is a holiday for all our compatriots.”

On April 30, 1964, speaking at the “5 Good” Women’s Congress, Uncle Ho affirmed: “From the very beginning, our Party and State have implemented a policy that women are equal to men.” Analyzing the contents of “5 Goods,” Uncle Ho emphasized: “Increasing production and practicing thrift are the paths to successfully building socialism and building happiness for the people. Increasing production is the right hand of happiness, and thrift is the left hand of happiness.”

Regarding the content of “family”, Uncle Ho gave the concept: “Gia” is home, “dinh” is yard. In the old sense, family is limited to a house, a yard. That means only caring for parents, wife and children in the house to be warm, comfortable and peaceful, and not letting anyone else be poor. That is selfish and not good. In the new sense, family is more spacious and better. For example, people working together in a factory, in an agency, in a cooperative... must unite and love each other like brothers in a family... We have a song:

“Many red silks cover the mirror,

People in the same country must love each other.

(Book President Ho Chi Minh on this day in history, National Political Publishing House - Truth, 2010).

Uncle Ho's teachings on this day years ago

On April 30, 1964, at the “5 Good” Women’s Congress, Uncle Ho emphasized: “Increasing production and practicing thrift are the paths to successfully building socialism and building happiness for the people. Increasing production is the right hand of happiness, thrift is the left hand of happiness.”

President Ho Chi Minh visited Garment Factory 10. He gave his opinion on how to cut and sew quickly, economically, and ensure quality (January 8, 1959).

According to President Ho Chi Minh's viewpoint, production and savings are linked together as a motto. While advising everyone, every industry, every level to regularly practice savings, at the same time, Uncle Ho also cared about making everyone understand that savings are not austerity, but savings to create an increasingly improved and elevated standard of living. President Ho Chi Minh always reminded our cadres, party members and people to do a good job of increasing production and practicing savings, because this is a measure to increase accumulated capital for each individual, each family as well as the whole society.