Excited and confident!

(Baonghean)This autumn marks the 67th autumn since the successful August Revolution of 1945, when our country became a free and independent Vietnam, with the people rising from slavery to masters of their own land. The aspiration for independence and freedom of that autumn served as the foundation for the entire Party and people to overcome all difficulties and challenges in the revolutionary stages of building and defending the Fatherland, leading the country forward to achieve the great accomplishments we see today.

In the spirit of the August Revolution, the entire nation has been inspired for the past 67 years, leading the way in revolutionary movements. And today, in the atmosphere of these historic August days, every citizen in the beloved homeland of President Ho Chi Minh is even more enthusiastic and deeply confident in the stability and comprehensive development of the province.

Mr. Bui Danh Chau, 87 years old, a veteran revolutionary from Nam Thanh commune, Nam Dan district, shared: “Every year around this time, I feel a surge of emotion and joy witnessing the progress and renewal of my homeland and country. I am very happy that the socio-economic infrastructure has developed strongly, and the lives of the people are improving, becoming more prosperous and happy. In particular, rural areas are receiving attention from all levels and sectors to develop and transform their appearance.”



Marching Song. Photo: Sy Minh

That's right! Anyone visiting Nghe An for the first time, or those who have been away for a long time and return home, will notice that Nghe An has made rapid progress in its infrastructure, from transportation to education and training, vocational training, science and technology; healthcare and social welfare; cultural and sports infrastructure; economic and urban infrastructure… Looking at Vinh City, from a city devastated after the war, it has broken through to become a Class I city with a smooth transportation system; large shopping centers, supermarkets, hotels, and new urban areas have been heavily invested in and built.

In particular, urban areas are being renovated and expanded, gradually creating the image of a civilized and modern Vinh city. In rural areas, asphalt roads have reached the center of communes; concrete roads extend to hamlets and inter-household areas. The system of public and private hospitals, medical centers, and commune health stations throughout the province has been invested in and built quite synchronously, meeting the healthcare needs of the people and striving to become a high-quality medical center in the North Central region. The province currently has 10 public hospitals at the provincial level and 8 private hospitals, 17 district-level general hospitals and 22 regional multi-specialty clinics, 475 health stations, 359 private medical practices, and hospitals of various sectors. Along with that, the infrastructure for education, training, and vocational training is also being taken care of with 5 universities, 5 colleges, 7 vocational high schools, and a total of more than 100,000 students,…

Nghe An is also affirming its determination to pursue the goal of becoming an industrial province by 2020, contributing to the overall national goal. Overcoming difficulties and challenges, all levels and sectors in the province have focused on leading and directing the implementation of specific socio-economic development targets and tasks, thereby enhancing the production capacity of businesses; significantly improving the environment; and attracting investment and developing enterprises.

In the first six months of 2012 alone, the province issued new investment certificates for 22 domestic and foreign investment projects with a total registered capital of over 1,000 billion VND and over 30 million USD; and issued business registration certificates to 477 enterprises, bringing the total number of enterprises in the province to over 1,700, focusing on diverse industries and sectors, with the strongest in agricultural product processing, beverages, minerals, and construction materials. Despite the general difficulties, many enterprises continued to invest in expanding production and markets, operating efficiently and contributing to the province's budget.

The 137 enterprises within the Nghe An Business Sector alone contributed 21.1% of the province's domestic revenue (in the first six months of 2012). The service and trade sectors, which initially focused on self-sufficient production, now achieve export turnovers of hundreds of millions of USD annually. Cultural and eco-tourism areas, as well as beach tourism, have been developed, contributing to job creation, increased income, and improved spiritual well-being for the province's residents. Furthermore, Nghe An's industry, trade, tourism, and agriculture sectors have also demonstrated significant progress. From a situation of food shortages requiring central government assistance of 50,000-60,000 tons annually, Nghe An now not only has sufficient food but also a surplus for livestock development, with a stable food production of over 1.1 million tons per year.

Nghe An has consistently affirmed its status as a studious region and a locality with a highly developed education system nationwide, boasting a high school graduation rate of 98.9%; the province ranks second nationwide in terms of national-level student achievements and continues to maintain its position as one of the top localities in the country in terms of the number of students admitted to universities and colleges, as well as students winning high awards in international competitions. Cultural and sports movements, and the development of cultural life in residential areas have made significant progress, contributing to building a healthy social life, maintaining national defense and security, and ensuring social order and safety.

Sixty-seven autumns have passed since the country gained independence and freedom, and every citizen of Nghe An province has been enjoying many achievements, which are present in the spiritual and material lives of each family and each locality. These achievements are the result of changes in people's perceptions and their adoption of new ideas for their own lives.

For example, in the three poorest mountainous districts of the country—Tuong Duong, Ky Son, and Que Phong—people have abandoned nomadic farming, gathering, and hunting in the forest, shifting to settled agriculture and slash-and-burn farming. They have also significantly expanded their knowledge of science and technology to apply to production and daily life. These mountainous districts have basically ensured local food security and have seen annual growth in livestock farming. Notably, many products produced by the local people have become well-known brands, such as: green squash, pumpkin, winter squash, taro, watermelon, ginger, gac fruit, passion fruit, Tuyet Shan tea, Tam Hoa plums, My peaches, lilies, longan cattle, black pigs, black chickens, porcupines, etc. Roads, schools, health clinics, and clean water systems have been gradually invested in, contributing to improving and enhancing the material and spiritual lives of the people.

The achievements of the country and of Nghe An over the past 67 years are numerous. These achievements are inspiring joy in every citizen and further strengthening their confidence in the leadership of the Party and the State, especially now that the Party is clearly recognizing and determined to overcome existing shortcomings and limitations by focusing on implementing Central Resolution 4, "Some urgent issues concerning Party building today," and continuing to develop the country and the homeland. And in the atmosphere of these historic autumn days, with red flags bearing yellow stars fluttering along the roads, streets, and alleys, every citizen in the homeland of President Ho Chi Minh is strengthening their spirit, will, intellect, and unity, striving even harder to contribute to the successful implementation of the Party's 11th National Congress Resolution, the 17th Provincial Party Congress, and the grassroots Party Congresses at all levels; determined to build a more prosperous and beautiful homeland and country.

Minh Chi