The revolutionary struggles and historical victories of the Communist Party of Vietnam (1930-2010)

On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam (February 3, 1930 - February 3, 2010), Associate Professor Dr. Ngo Dang Tri reviews the historical journey of the Party as well as the historical significance of each period.

The 80-year history of the Party is the history of leading the Vietnamese people in the struggle for national independence and socialism. The history of the Party is closely linked to the history of the Vietnamese revolution, having gone through many arduous, heroic, and extremely glorious stages of struggle.

1. The first phase and victory of the August Revolution (1930-1945)

On February 3, 1930, the Communist Party of Vietnam was founded.Imbued with Marxism-Leninism, the Party formulated a correct revolutionary line. In its 1930 program of the bourgeois democratic revolution, the Party clearly stated its tasks of fighting imperialism and feudalism, achieving national independence, and giving land to the tillers. This program was very much in line with the fervent aspirations of the vast majority of our people, who were peasants. Therefore, the Party was able to unite enormous revolutionary forces around its class.”⁽¹⁾.

According to that Manifesto, the Party launched the revolutionary movement of 1930-1931, culminating in the Nghe Tinh Soviet, thereby affirming in practice the Party's revolutionary leadership role and the strength of the worker-peasant alliance. After the arduous struggle to protect the Party, maintain mass organizations, and restore the revolutionary movement in 1932-1933, the Party knew...They immediately shifted to the struggle for people's livelihoods and democracy during the period 1936-1939, when the domestic and international situations underwent new changes.The struggle movement of 1936-1939 deepened and spread the Party's influence among the broad masses, and raised the political awareness of the people.

When World War II broke out, our PartyThe revolutionary strategy shifted, emphasizing the task of national liberation, focusing on the goal of achieving independence and seizing power for the people, and actively preparing for armed uprising to drive out all foreign invaders, regardless of whether they were white or yellow.It was precisely because of the meticulous and thorough preparation in the national liberation struggle of 1939-1945 and the accurate and timely seizing of the historical opportunity when Japan surrendered to the Allied forces that the Party launched the August 1945 general uprising.

Through the August Revolution of 1945, the Vietnamese people shattered the shackles of nearly 90 years of colonial slavery and the autocratic monarchy to establish the Democratic Republic of Vietnam – the first people's democratic state in Southeast Asia. The victory of the August Revolution ushered in a new era for the Vietnamese nation – an era of independence, freedom, people's democracy, and progress towards socialism.

2. The second phase and victory of the Dien Bien Phu campaign (1945-1954)

Following the August Revolution, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam faced immense difficulties. Three enemies—hunger, illiteracy, and foreign invasion—all posed a threat that hung the nation's fate by a thread. In this situation, on November 25, 1945, the Central Executive Committee issued a directive.Resistance and nation-building,It paved the way for the Vietnamese revolution. With extraordinary efforts, by the end of 1946, our people had thwarted the aggressive schemes and tactics of imperialist forces, protected the country's independence, and maintained the revolutionary government—the greatest achievement of the August Revolution.

From December 19, 1946, when the French colonialists broke their promise and launched a war of aggression throughout the country, with the will ofWe would rather sacrifice everything than lose our country, than be enslaved."The Party launched a nationwide resistance war against French colonialism, mobilizing the entire population to wage a full-scale resistance against French colonialism."The strategy of people's war, total and comprehensive resistance, protracted struggle, and relying primarily on self-reliance.After overcoming initial difficulties, by the end of 1950, following the victorious Border Campaign, our nation's resistance war had achieved significant victories. From 1951, following the guidelines of the Second Party Congress, the resistance war of the Vietnamese people and army entered a new phase. In particular, with the strategic offensive of the 1953-1954 Winter-Spring campaign, the pinnacle of which was...Dien Bien Phu CampaignOur army and people forced the French colonialists to negotiate and sign the Geneva Accords, ending the war of aggression against Vietnam.

The victory of the resistance war against French colonial aggression and American intervention had immense historical significance. It defeated the war of aggression waged by the French imperialists, which was heavily supported by the American imperialists, protected the revolutionary government, and forced the French colonialists to recognize the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the Indochinese countries. It completely liberated the North and strengthened the material and spiritual power of the Vietnamese revolution. This victory also strongly encouraged the national liberation movements worldwide, ushering in the collapse of old colonialism, primarily the colonial system of the French..

3. The third phase and victory of the Ho Chi Minh Campaign (1954-1975)

With the ambition of world domination, from July 1954, the US imperialists shifted from intervention to direct invasion, replacing France in the invasion of Vietnam. The struggle of our people for independence and reunification became extremely difficult and complex. Through numerous meetings of the Central Committee and the Politburo, the Party's strategic direction for the Vietnamese revolution in this new phase gradually took shape.This was the approach of simultaneously and closely combining two different revolutionary strategies in the two regions: the socialist revolution in the North and the national democratic revolution in the South, aiming to achieve the immediate common goal of the entire country: liberating the South and peacefully reunifying the Fatherland.

Following the Party's wise guidelines, the people of North Vietnam enthusiastically strived to build a socialist rear area and achieved extremely important successes. By 1965, North Vietnam had become a solid base for the revolution nationwide, a rear area with enormous economic and defense potential for the South. With the support of the North, and with the tradition...the "Iron Fortress of the Fatherland",Our people and soldiers in the South bravely fought and overcame the difficult years of the period when political struggle was the main focus, leading to the uprising and...Dong Khoi"(1959-1960) according to Resolution No. 15 of the Central Committee of the Party, we seized control of rural and mountainous areas, shifting the revolution from a defensive to an offensive stance. Following this, we defeated the "special war" strategy of the US imperialists (1961-1965), advancing the struggle vigorously and shaking the very roots of the puppet regime and its army."

From 1965, due to the US imperialists waging a localized war in the South and launching attacks on the North, the Party and Ho Chi Minh hadLaunching the nationwide resistance war against the US to save the country and outlining the strategy for the resistance war in the new phase, the phase of war throughout the nation.With the spirit of "Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom."The people and army of North Vietnam waged a people's war against the destructive air and naval attacks of the US, firmly defending the rear, while simultaneously striving to produce and work to create enormous potential to support South Vietnam with all their capabilities. The people and army of South Vietnam demonstrated unwavering determination, achieving victories in the dry seasons of 1965-1966, 1966-1967, and especially in the Tet Offensive (1968), which defeated the US's localized war and forced them to sit at the negotiating table with us at the Paris Conference. In the years 1969-1975, the people and army of South Vietnam continuously defeated the tactics of the US imperialist 'Vietnamization' war, 'driving the Americans out' and progressing towards 'overthrowing the puppet regime,' culminating in..."Ho Chi Minh CampaignSpring 1975.

The victory of our nation in the resistance war against the US, culminating in the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign, has immense significance for our country and for the world. Evaluating the historic victory of the cause of resistance against the US,Political reportAt the Fourth National Congress of the Party, it was clearly stated:Years will pass, but the victory of our people in the struggle against America and for national salvation will forever be recorded in the history of the nation as one of its most glorious chapters, a shining symbol of the complete triumph of revolutionary heroism and human intellect, and will go down in world history as a great achievement of the 20th century, an event of immense international importance and profound historical significance."⁽²⁾.

4. The fourth stage and victories of the Renovation process (1975-2010)

The victory of our people after more than 30 years has ushered the country into a new era, the era of nationwide transition to socialism. In the context of overcoming numerous difficulties due to the multifaceted consequences of war, and facing wars on both the southern and northern borders during the years 1975-1986, the Party led the entire nation forward along the socialist path, achieving great successes in national defense and significant economic achievements. Simultaneously, during that period, with unwavering political resolve, the Party persistently sought and formulated new policies.reformist policiesEmbracing and implementing the reforms, the Doi Moi (Renovation) process achieved many great successes during the years 1986-1996, lifting the country out of socio-economic crisis.

According toProgram for building the country during the transitional period to socialism.Following the guidelines of the 8th (1996), 9th (2001), and 10th (2006) Party Congresses, the process of renovation, industrialization, and modernization of the country has been comprehensively and profoundly promoted.Overall, by the end of 2009 and the beginning of 2010, the country's economic potential had increased, and Vietnam had emerged from its underdeveloped state; the socialist-oriented market economy was gradually taking shape; culture and society achieved certain results, the material and spiritual lives of the people were improved, and in some aspects reached the level of middle-developed countries; public health care was emphasized and achieved many results; education and training, science and technology saw some positive changes; the living environment was given attention and improved in some aspects; the effectiveness and efficiency of state management were enhanced; the fight against corruption and waste yielded initial results; national defense and security were strengthened; foreign relations were expanded, and Vietnam's position in the international arena was enhanced, creating a favorable environment for national development...

Looking back at the Party's leadership and revolutionary struggles on the occasion of its 80th anniversary and as the whole country looks forward to the 11th National Congress of the Party is of multifaceted significance. It not only helps us to fully and deeply understand the Party's long history of revolutionary struggle with its many great and glorious victories, but also contributes to strengthening our faith in the Party's leadership and striving to successfully implement the Party's guidelines and policies in the current period of national construction and defense.

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⁽¹⁾Ho Chi Minh Complete Works, Volume 10, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2000, page 9.

⁽²⁾Communist Party of Vietnam: Political Report of the Central Committee at the Fourth National Congress, Truth Publishing House, Hanoi, 1977, pp. 5-6.

•Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ngo Dang Tri
(Department of History - University of Social Sciences and Humanities)