AT THE grand ceremony on September 2 to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the 1945 August revolution and Vietnam’s National Day, To Lam, the general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) stated: “80 years ago, at the historic Ba Dinh Square, our beloved president Ho Chi Minh solemnly proclaimed the Declaration of Independence, giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam — now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam — the very first people’s democratic state in south-east Asia.

“That momentous event ushered in a new era of independence and freedom for our nation. From that historic milestone, the Vietnamese people embarked on a great journey: building a people’s government, defending the fatherland and steadfastly advancing along the path of socialism, towards the goal of ‘a strong nation with prosperous people and a democratic, just, and advanced society’.”

A delegation of the Communist Party of Britain (CPB) had been invited to attend the official programme to mark the auspicious anniversary. On the eve of the National Day, general secretary Rob Griffiths, chair Ruth Styles and international secretary Kevan Nelson joined hundreds of representatives from friendly nations and fraternal political organisations from all continents of the world at Hanoi’s impressive convention centre for a state banquet.

Guests included Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, Communist Party of China political bureau member Zhao Leji, and delegations from Belarus, Cambodia, Laos, Palestine and Russia.

In his address, the State President of Vietnam, Luong Cuong, expressed deep gratitude to international friends, progressive forces and peace-loving peoples worldwide who supported Vietnam in its struggle for liberation and in its ongoing development today.

He quoted president Ho Chi Minh’s statement that the “strength, greatness and endurance of the Vietnamese people lies in solidarity at home and the support of the peoples of the world. International solidarity is of great significance to us.”

Following the banquet, international guests travelled to the My Dinh National Stadium for an epic evening concert. The 50,000-strong crowd was treated to an artistic programme of agitprop, Vietnamese traditional music blended with Western orchestration, choreographed drama, documentaries and revolutionary music; 3,000 artists took part in 22 acts, including a rendition of the Internationale, which traced the path to independence and reunification.

A re-enactment of the August revolution was accompanied by excerpts from the declaration of independence. A rousing finale included the national anthem and a song, Cherishing Vietnam’s Smile, which celebrates a nation that has overcome war and hardship to embrace freedom, independence and happiness.

At 6.30am on September 2, a commemorative ceremony and national parade commenced in Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi. A procession followed through the streets of the capital, where tens of thousands of citizens had camped out for up to three nights in anticipation of the parade.

Hanoi was a sea of Communist Party and national flags demonstrating immense patriotism and pride in the achievements of socialist Vietnam. The city of Hanoi facilitated the event by deploying 270 LED display screens and 400 sound systems along streets, city entrances, and public spaces.

The CPB delegation was received at the Vietnam Fatherland Front headquarters by comrade Ha Thi Nga, a member of the CPV central committee and vice-chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front central committee, along with senior representatives of the mass organisations — including comrade Huynh Thanh Xuan of the General Confederation of Labour, comrade Tran Lan Phuong of the Vietnam Women’s Union and comrade Nguyen Tuong Lam of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union.

Comrade Ha Thi Nga stated that throughout the past 80 years, “Vietnam has undergone extraordinary changes. These achievements have been gained not only thanks to the efforts and determination of the people, the wise and talented leadership of the CPV, but also through the wholehearted support and assistance of international friends, peace-loving people, and progressive citizens around the world.

“In this regard, we deeply value and express gratitude for the assistance of the CPB and progressive people in Britain on Vietnam’s nation-building journey, particularly during the two great wars of national resistance.”

She also stated her wish that Vietnam would “continue to receive the support and assistance of communist parties across the globe, including the CPB, in sharing experiences to promote friendly co-operative relations between the two nations and the two communist parties.”

Griffiths, in congratulating the CPV, Fatherland Front, and people of Vietnam on the 80th anniversary of the victory of the August revolution and National Day, stated that “not only communists in Britain, but indeed communists across the world have learned greatly from the solidarity of the Vietnamese people, both in the past and at present. This is an inspiration for comrades around the globe.”

Vietnam is an era of rapid economic growth (7 per cent in 2024) and strong socialist advance. In June 2025, Vietnam joined Brics as its tenth partner country with a mission of enhancing the voice and role of developing nations, while promoting international solidarity and inclusive, comprehensive multilateralism.

In a speech on the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the south (April 30 2025), CPV general secretary Lam focused on the concept of “the era of the nation’s rise” which consists of multiple large-scale economic projects to both boost the economy and improve people’s lives — Vietnam’s first nuclear power plants, solving the housing question, high speed rail north to south, restoring free, universal education and healthcare and the greening of public transport.

He concluded that “there is, then, no reason why we cannot reap greater triumphs and forge new miracles in the new era of prosperity, civilisation and abundance, the era of national advancement, and transform Vietnam into a ‘better and more magnificent country,’ to stand side-by-side with the powers of the five continents, as per president Ho Chi Minh’s wish and the aspiration of our entire nation.”