1. The formation, building, fighting and growing of Vietnam People's Army

Eighty years ago, on December 22nd of 1944, the Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Army, forerunner of Vietnam People'​s Army (VPA), was founded under the directive of Leader Ho Chi Minh. Inheriting and promoting patriotism, unique national military arts of the heroic people, and international friends' support, over 80 years of building, fighting and growing, VPA has continuously thriven and obviously demonstrated the bravery and spirit of the revolutionary armed force taking root in the people, fighting for the people, and deserved to be the special political force and absolutely loyal and trusted combat force of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), State of Vietnam and Vietnamese people.

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The Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Army – forerunner of Vietnam People's Army was founded near Tran Hung Dao Forest (now Nguyen Binh district, Cao Bang province) (source: Commemoration materials of the 80th Anniversary of the Foundation of Vietnam People's Army)


 

The historic victory of Dien Bien Phu Battle resounding throughout the five continents and shaking the globe. (source: Commemoration materials of the 80th Anniversary of the Foundation of Vietnam People's Army)

Embarking on the new period, the VPA has continuously promoted our heroic tradition, constantly improved our combined qualities, strength, competencies, combat-readiness capacity, functioned well as a combat, working and production army, brightening the image of "Uncle Ho's Soldiers", who are closely connected to the people, etc. The images of cadres and soldiers of VPA daring not to sacrifice their lives to be at the front in the fight against Covid-19 pandemic, being immersed in flood water to help people mitigate the consequences of natural calamities, etc. are greatly respected. All these have been the vivid illustrations of the VPA's sentiment and responsibility with the people, thus the VPA is loved and believed by the people. That our Party and State decided December 22nd (from 1989) as the All-People's National Defence Festival represents the inheritance of tradition of fighting enemies and defending country by all Vietnamese people, and reaffirms CPV's view that all Vietnamese people join hands to build and strengthen national defence, and protect the Fatherland, in which Vietnam people's armed forces are the core.

 

Military training in the flood season (source: Commemoration materials of the 80th Anniversary of the Foundation of Vietnam People's Army)

 

Combat readiness training exercise by the Vietnamese Navy (source: Commemoration materials of the 80th Anniversary of the Foundation of Vietnam People's Army)

 

Chemical Command spray Covid-19 disinfectant chemicals at Bach Mai Hospital. (source: Commemoration materials of the 80th Anniversary of the Foundation of Vietnam People's Army)

 

Helping the people mitigate flood consequences. (source: Commemoration materials of the 80th Anniversary of the Foundation of Vietnam People's Army)

 

2. Defence diplomacy as an important channel for building and fostering strategic trust, as well as building and developing Vietnam's friendly relations contributes to enhancing the status and prestige of Vietnam

Vietnam's national defence is the all-people defence, featured by peace and self-defence; proactively, positively, decisively and persistently preventing and repelling risks of war. CPV's and State's perspective is to combine socio-economic development with strengthening defence-security capabilities, and to closely collaborate defence-security activities with diplomatic ones. Vietnam consistently abide by policy of "Four Nos", which are of not joining military alliances, not siding with one country against another, not allowing foreign militaries set up bases on Vietnam's territory or using Vietnam's territory as leverage to counteract others, and not using force or threaten to use force in international relations.

Persistently implementing the foreign policy line of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development; proactive and dynamical participation in the international integration by CPV and Vietnamese state, over the past years, the VPA has been actively engaged in international defence integration and relations on both bilateral and multilateral spheres, gaining practical fruits. The VPA has been actively participating in the United Nations peacekeeping, in international cooperation in nontraditional security, human assistance, search and rescue, post-war consequence mitigation, thus making great contributions to the maintenance of international and regional peace, stability, cooperation and development.

 

General Phan Van Giang, Vietnamese Minister of National Defence delivers a speech at the 11th Beijing Xiangshan Forum in China 13/09/2024 (source: Commemoration materials of the 80th Anniversary of the Foundation of Vietnam People's Army)

 

General Phan Van Giang, Vietnamese Minister of National Defence meets with his Chinese counterpart Senior Lieutenant General Dong Jun (in the framework of the state visit to China by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam) (source: Commemoration materials of the 80th Anniversary of the Foundation of Vietnam People's Army)

 

 United States Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin hosts an official welcome ceremony for General Phan Van Giang, Vietnamese Minister of National Defence on his official visit to the United States (source: Commemoration materials of the 80th Anniversary of the Foundation of Vietnam People's Army)

 

 General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, Deputy Defence Minister attends the 21st ASEAN Chiefs of Defence Forces Meeting (ACDFM-21) in Vientiane, Laos 04-07/09/2024 (source: Commemoration materials of the 80th Anniversary of the Foundation of Vietnam People's Army)

 

General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, Deputy Defence Minister hosts the Heads of Intelligence Delegations from ASEAN countries attending AMICLC-1 31/10/2024 (source: Commemoration materials of the 80th Anniversary of the Foundation of Vietnam People's Army)

 

Defence diplomacy is part of the CPV Diplomacy and the State's diplomacy, an important channel for building and fostering strategic trust, as well as building and developing Vietnam's friendly relations with countries and international organizations in the region and the world, which contributes to enhancing the status and prestige of Vietnam, Vietnamese people and VPA. To the present time, Vietnam has participated in a large number of multilateral defence and military mechanisms and forums at both regional and international levels; established defence relationship with over 100 countries, and opened Defence/Military Attaché Offices in 35 countries and the United Nations. There are now 42 countries having their Defence Attaché Office in Vietnam.

 

Vietnamese peacekeepers in an airborne training session (source: Commemoration materials of the 80th Anniversary of the Foundation of Vietnam People's Army)

 

Charity works of the medical staff of the Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 2 in South Sudan (source: Commemoration materials of the 80th Anniversary of the Foundation of Vietnam People's Army)

 

3. Defence diplomacy contributes positively to the advancement of the friendly relationship as well as the Strategic Partnership between Singapore and Vietnam

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 Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen signed the renewed Defence Cooperation Agreement with Vietnam's Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang 25/02/2022 (source:mindef.gov.sg)

 

Vietnam Deputy Minister of National Defence Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien calling on Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen on the occasion of the 15th Singapore-Vietnam Defence Policy Dialogue 22/08/2024 (source:qdnd.vn)

 

Delegates from Vietnam's Ministry of National Defence attending the 15th Singapore-Vietnam Defence Policy Dialogue 22/08/2024 (source: qdnd.vn)

 

Ambassador Mai Phuoc Dung, Rear Admiral Sean Wat and Sr. Col. Nguyen Le Phuong preside over the flag-saluting ceremony at the Commemoration event in Singapore celebrating the 80th founding anniversary of the Vietnam People's Army 05/12/2024 (source:TTXVN)

Representatives of the Singapore Armed Forces and foreign defence attaches to Singapore attending the Commemoration event in Singapore celebrating the 80th founding anniversary of the Vietnam People's Army 05/12/2024 Singapore (source:TTXVN)

 

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Commemorating the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army and the 35th anniversary of the National Defence Day is an opportunity for us to review our nation's heroic history; attributes, good traditions, glorious victories of our army and people. Thereby, draw forth national pride, promoting revolutionary heroism, enhancing patriotism, love of socialism, indomitable will, sense of self-reliance and resilience to overcome all obstacles, difficulties and challenges; strive to build a strong all-people national defence in connection with a firm people's security battle array, building a revolutionary, regular, elite, gradually modernize Vietnam People's Army, capable of firmly defending Vietnam in the new era./.

 

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