Third Party Congress: Leading the people through numerous challenges
From the Third to the Fourth Congress (1960-1976), the country simultaneously confronted the largest and most brutal war of aggression waged by the US imperialists, while building and defending the socialist North.
THIRD PARTY CONGRESS
Time:from September 5th to 10th, 1960
Location:Hanoi, the capital city
Number of delegates attending the Congress: 525
Number of Party members in the country:over 500,000
The congress elected:
ButParty ChairmanComradeHo Chi Minh
ButFirst SecretaryComradeLe Duan.
ButCentral Committee of the Party: 47 full members and 31 alternate members
ButPolitburo:11 full members and 2 alternate members
GENERAL CONTEXT:
- The world socialist system, led by the Soviet Union, grew tremendously strong, exerting a profound influence on international relations and playing a decisive role in maintaining world peace and security; creating new opportunities for revolutionary movements in various countries.
- In Vietnam, the victory at Dien Bien Phu ended the French colonial war of aggression. The Geneva Accords were signed (July 21, 1954), and peace was restored in Indochina. The country was temporarily divided into two regions.
The North was completely liberated, transitioning to the socialist revolution and becoming a solid foundation for the struggle to unify the country.
In the South, the struggle of our people against the American imperialist invaders and their henchmen was fierce.
BUILDING SOCIALISM IN THE NORTH AND FIGHTING FOR NATIONAL UNIFICATION
Based on the characteristics of the country being temporarily divided into two regions (the North was completely liberated, while the South was still under the rule of imperialism and its puppets), the Congress set forth the general line for the Vietnamese revolution: to accelerate the socialist revolution in the North, while simultaneously accelerating the national democratic revolution in the South in order to build a peaceful, unified, independent, democratic, and prosperous Vietnam. The political report of the Central Committee of the Party at the Third National Congress of Delegates clearly stated:
The two revolutionary tasks in the North and the South belonged to two different strategies, each aimed at addressing the specific needs of each region in the context of the country being temporarily divided into two. However, both tasks shared a common goal: achieving peaceful reunification of the Fatherland.
The North served as the common base for the entire country. The continuous growth of the North not only enhanced the confidence and encouraged the revolutionary fervor of patriotic compatriots in the South, but also shifted the balance of power between revolution and counter-revolution throughout the country in favor of the revolution, creating favorable conditions for the Southern revolution to develop strongly and achieve ultimate victory...
On the other hand, in order to create a peaceful environment for the North to build socialism, and to maintain peace in Indochina and the world, the South must resolutely fight against American imperialism and its henchmen, defeat their aggressive and war policies, and overthrow their brutal rule. There is no other way besides that.
Regarding the socialist revolution in the North, the Congress adopted the First Five-Year State Plan (1961-1965) with the following basic tasks:
+ Strive to develop industry and agriculture, prioritizing heavy industry and comprehensive agricultural development.
+ Complete the socialist transformation of agriculture, handicrafts, and commerce.
+ Raising the cultural level of the people
+ Improve the material and cultural living standards of the working people.
+ Strengthening national defense, enhancing security and order, and protecting the cause of building socialism in the North.
The Congress approved
+ Resolution on the tasks and guidelines of the Party in
+ Resolution on the founding day of the Party
+ Party Charter (amended)
+ The appeal of the Third National Congress of the Vietnam Workers' Party.
The Congress elected a new Central Committee comprising 78 members, including 47 full members and 31 alternate members. Comrade Ho Chi Minh was re-elected as Chairman of the Party; Comrade Le Duan was elected as First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party.
DOMESTIC EVENTS
- The uprisings in Bac Ai (February 1959) and Tra Bong (August 1959) spread throughout the South, becoming the "General Uprising" movement, notably in Ben Tre (January 1960), breaking the enemy's grip, seizing control in villages and communes, and shifting the revolution from a defensive to an offensive stance.
- January 1, 1960: The 1959 Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam was promulgated.
- March 1960: The "Long-Haired Army" emerged, originating from the Đồng Khởi movement in Ben Tre. The "Long-Haired Army" elevated the Vietnamese women's struggle movement to a new level.
- May 8, 1960: Elections for the Second National Assembly. The candidate with the most votes was President Ho Chi Minh with 99.91% of the vote.
- December 20, 1960: The National Liberation Front of South Vietnam was established, advocating for unity between the military and the people in the struggle against the American imperialist aggression and its puppets.
- In 1961: The US imperialists implemented the "Special War" strategy to isolate the revolution in the South, separating our armed forces and infrastructure from the people.
- February 15, 1961: All armed forces of the South were unified into the South Vietnamese Liberation Army and placed under the overall command of the Command of the Armed Forces of the South Vietnamese Liberation Army.
- August 10, 1961: The U.S. military began using Agent Orange in Vietnam.
INTERNATIONAL EVENT
- September 2, 1960: The Cuban National Congress of the People adopted the Havana Declaration, which stipulated the fundamental rights of citizens, defined the anti-imperialist policy, and united the peoples in the struggle for freedom and peace.
- 1960: The Year of Africa - 17 African countries declared independence, marking the fundamental collapse of old colonialism.
- May 22, 1960: A 9.5 magnitude earthquake in Chile killed approximately 1,600 people and injured 3,000.
- September 1960: The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was established with 13 members.
- December 1960: The United Nations issued a declaration on granting independence to colonial countries and peoples.
- January 20, 1961: John Kennedy of the Democratic Party is sworn in as President of the United States.
- April 12, 1961: Yuri Gagarin became the first person to fly into space.
- April 1961: The Cuban army and people completely annihilated more than 1,500 mercenaries who had been given the green light by the US to land on Hiron beach.
- August 12, 1961: The Berlin Wall was built, separating West Berlin from East Berlin.
