This is a letter from President Ho Chi Minh to students on the first day of school, 72 years ago.

(Baonghean.vn) - On September 5, 1945, President Ho Chi Minh wrote "A Letter to Students" on the occasion of the opening of the first school year of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. The letter expressed both boundless love and affection.express trustHis guidance for the younger generation in the nation's revolutionary cause.

Documents containing President Ho Chi Minh's letter to students on the occasion of the first opening day of the new school year in the country.

In the letter, Uncle Ho wrote: “Dear students, today is the first day of school in the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. I have imagined the bustling and joyful scene of the first day of school everywhere. You are all happy because after several months of school holidays, after so many extraordinary changes, you are able to meet your teachers and friends again. But even happier, from this moment on you will begin to receive a completely Vietnamese education.”

In the past, your fathers and brothers, and even you yourselves last year, had to endure a slave-like education, meaning it only trained people to be henchmen and servants for the French colonialists. Today, you are more fortunate than your fathers and brothers because you are receiving an education from an independent country, an education that will train you to become useful citizens for Vietnam, an education that will fully develop your inherent abilities.

You are fortunate to have achieved this thanks to the sacrifices of so many of your compatriots. So what do you think? How can you repay the efforts of those who spared no effort or expense to regain independence for our country?

Listen to me, my dear children, the words of an older brother who always cares and wishes for your success. In the coming school year, try your best, study diligently, be well-behaved, listen to your teachers, and love your friends. After 80 years of slavery that weakened our nation, today we must rebuild the foundation that our ancestors left us, so that we can catch up with other countries around the world.

In this endeavor of national reconstruction, the country places great hope and expectation in you. Whether Vietnam's land will become beautiful and prosperous, and whether the Vietnamese nation will reach the pinnacle of glory to stand shoulder to shoulder with the world's leading powers, depends to a large extent on your academic achievements.

Specifically for the older ones, I would like to add this advice: We have driven out the colonialists, we have gained independence. But the French invaders are still plotting to return. They rely on others who are stronger to provoke us. Of course, they will be defeated, because all our people are united and fighting wholeheartedly for our homeland.

Being ready to fight against foreign invaders is the duty of every citizen. While older children may not yet be old enough to shoulder such heavy responsibilities, they should, outside of school hours, participate in national salvation organizations to further train themselves in soldierly life and to assist with some lighter tasks in the defense of the country.

I have sincerely advised you all. I hope you will always remember my words. Today, on the occasion of your first day of school, I can only wish you a year full of joy and great achievements.”

President Ho Chi Minh is watching a young child spelling out words during a visit to a kindergarten class on Hang Than Street, Hanoi, in 1958. (Archival photo)

The letter fully expresses President Ho Chi Minh's affection for the "future generations" of the country, demonstrating his foresight and exceptionally insightful wisdom regarding education and training. It also serves as encouragement and motivation for students nationwide to enthusiastically enter the new school year with the determination to study hard. It entrusts the younger generation with the responsibility of studying well and acquiring knowledge to build the nation.

This is not only a historical document, but also an invaluable spiritual legacy for the education sector, as well as for our Party and State; it reflects President Ho Chi Minh's affection, foresight, and insightful wisdom regarding the cause of nurturing future generations.

Uncle Ho with children from Sen village, Kim Lien commune, Nam Dan district, Nghe An province, on the occasion of his visit to his hometown. (Archival photo)

Following Uncle Ho's teachings, for many years, under the leadership of the Party, the education sector has always strived to implement his teachings well, training countless generations of students to become good citizens, good workers, good soldiers, and good cadres of the country; transforming the nation from one where over 90% of the population was illiterate (in 1945) into a country with a developed education system that can stand shoulder to shoulder with other countries and make worthy contributions to the cause of national construction and defense as it is today.