80 years: Building momentum, continuing miracles
From the first electricity generated at Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant, to the cheers when the 500 kV North-South transmission line was completed and the footsteps stretching along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, each project is proof that national will can overcome all limits.
This morning (August 19), that momentum continued to multiply when 250 projects and works with a total investment of 1.28 million billion VND simultaneouslyInauguration and groundbreaking to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the successful August Revolution and National Day September 2, conveying a strong message on the journey to bring the country into an era of development, prosperity and strength.
On the fierce Da River, the Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant stands tall as a witness to the will of the Vietnamese people in difficult times. When construction began in 1979, the country had just recovered from the war, the economy was exhausted, and there was a severe power shortage.
With the help of the Soviet Union, tens of thousands of engineers and workers worked day and night on the construction site, taming the fierce river, moving each block of concrete and each turbine into position to create the largest hydroelectric plant in Southeast Asia for decades, with a capacity of 1,920 MW and an output of 8.16 billion kWh/year, before that position was handed over to Son La Hydroelectric Plant in 2012.
From the success of Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant, Vietnam has entered a new challenge to bring electricity from the North to the South to solve the power shortage in the Central and Southern regions.
In 1992, under the direct direction of the late Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet, the construction of the 500 kV North-South transmission line circuit 1 began. In just 2 years, more than 1,487 km of transmission line crossed mountains, forests, and the dangerous Hai Van pass, connecting the two power regions.
Many people call this a “20th century miracle” not only because of its technical scale but also because it was completed in record time, under limited technological and material conditions. When the electricity from the North reached the South, it was also the time when a socio-economic turning point opened up: Factories and plants operated more stably, production was no longer interrupted, and people's lives improved significantly.
If Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant and the 500 kV line are strategic achievements in energy, Ho Chi Minh Road is a strategic landmark in transportation.
Started in 2000, this route stretches from Pac Bo (Cao Bang) to Dat Mui (Ca Mau), more than 3,180 km long. This is the second vertical axis of the country, parallel to National Highway 1A, opening the way for mountainous, border and Central Highlands regions to develop.
On the roads through the majestic Truong Son Mountains, memories of the legendary wartime transport route still go hand in hand with the rhythm of new life. In the middle of the vast forest, convoys of trucks carrying goods, agricultural products, materials, etc. travel back and forth, spreading economic vitality throughout the region.
Ho Chi Minh Trail became a symbol of the spirit of "opening the way to progress" in peacetime, a strategic step to narrow the development gap between regions, connecting the economic and social space of the whole country.
Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant, the 500kV North-South Transmission Line and the Ho Chi Minh Road have become iconic projects, being three of the eight outstanding projects of the country since 1975 honored in 2018 through a vote organized by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor. Each project originated from an urgent need but has gone beyond the immediacy to become a long-term foundation for the future.
In 2025, the autumn of the 80th anniversary of independence, Vietnam opens a special milestone: From the golden memories of history, the country continues to move forward with new projects of great significance. Implementing the Official Dispatch No. 129/CD-TTg dated August 7, 2025 of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, 250 large-scale projects and works will simultaneously start and be inaugurated across all regions.
On this occasion, the Nghe An Oncology Hospital project (phase 2) in Vinh Hung ward, Nghe An is 1 of 80 points selected by the Prime Minister for live broadcast, 1 of 34 points with the participation of leaders of the Party, State, Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies and 1 of 9 points with representatives of leaders of the Government, ministries, branches, localities, businesses, and people speaking.
This is a project of strategic significance, improving the quality of medical examination and treatment for people not only in Nghe An but also in the North Central region.
When President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence on September 2, 1945, he not only officially gave birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam but also opened a new era, marking a historical turning point for the Vietnamese people on the path to freedom, independence and sustainable development.
80 years since National Day, his words still resonate, a beacon of light guiding our nation's journey of building and defending the country.
From a country that was once deeply immersed in backward agriculture, poverty, and the severe consequences of war, Vietnam has made constant efforts and grown strongly to become a dynamic, modern economy with an increasingly synchronous infrastructure system, the material and spiritual life of the people has been significantly improved, affirming its increasingly great position in the international arena.
The image of hundreds of new projects being inaugurated and started simultaneously across the country to celebrate the 80th anniversary of independence is not only a vivid demonstration of the country's comprehensive development, but also sends a strong message about the nation's steadfastness and perseverance on the path towards modernization and deep international integration; is a call for all people to nurture the aspiration to reach new heights, join hands to preserve and promote the achievements of many generations; is a symbol of the spirit of constant innovation and creativity to build a rich, democratic, fair and civilized country.
This event also emphasizes the message: Today's generation is the successor but also the pioneer. The spirit of conquering the Da River, crossing the Truong Son Mountains, connecting the North - South power line is present in every project.
Because looking back at the infrastructure miracles of the past shows that every great project starts with a courageous decision. Without determination, there will be no groundbreaking; without consensus, there will be no inauguration; without vision, there will be no lasting project.
Since the fall of 1945, Vietnam has gone through countless difficult challenges but has never backed down. The groundbreaking and inauguration ceremony of hundreds of projects on August 19, 2025 is a way to pay tribute to the past, live fully in the present and proactively pave the way to the future.
