Tran Hung Dao Forest is recognized as a special National Monument.

On the evening of December 15, in Cao Bang province, a ceremony was held to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army (December 22, 1944 - December 22, 2014), the 25th anniversary of the National Defense Day (December 22, 1989 - December 22, 2014), and the announcement of the Tran Hung Dao Forest Special National Monument.

Attending the ceremony were President Truong Tan Sang; Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Huynh Ngoc Son; Senior Lieutenant General Ngo Xuan Lich, Director of the General Department of Politics; Head of the Central Mass Mobilization Commission Ha Thi Khiet and representatives of central and local ministries, departments and branches. Also attending were veteran cadres, representatives of General Vo Nguyen Giap's family, 34 families of soldiers of the Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Army and a large number of local people.

The ceremony reviewed the 70-year journey of building, fighting, winning and growing of our Army. In the spring of 1944, leader Nguyen Ai Quoc, after traveling around the world, returned to directly lead the revolutionary movement. In October 1944, in Pac Bo - Ha Quang (Cao Bang), leader Nguyen Ai Quoc issued a directive to establish the Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Army and assigned comrade Vo Nguyen Giap to be in charge of establishing it.

A scene from the Art Program at the Celebration (Photo: Cao Bang Newspaper)

Implementing the directive of President Ho Chi Minh, on December 22, 1944, in Tran Hung Dao forest, Tam Kim commune, Nguyen Binh district, Cao Bang province, the Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Army was established. This was the wise and talented leadership of the Party and Uncle Ho, the crystallization of the tradition of fighting to build and defend the country of our people over thousands of years of history. It was an important political and military event of great significance, a turning point for our Party and nation.

From the first main force with 34 soldiers, over the past 70 years, our Army has gradually developed, matured and grown stronger, together with the entire Party and the entire Army, successfully carried out the August 1945 general revolutionary uprising, achieved many glorious feats in the two resistance wars against French colonialism and American imperialism, reunified the country to build and firmly protect the Fatherland and socialism. At the same time, it has excellently performed international tasks. Our Army has become the heroic Army of the heroic Vietnamese people.

The ceremony also commemorated General Vo Nguyen Giap - the eldest brother of the Vietnam People's Army. At the same time, it emphasized the stature, historical value, tradition and importance of the Tran Hung Dao National Special Relic Site.

Speaking at the ceremony, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Huynh Ngoc Son stated: Under the education and training of President Ho Chi Minh, the Army born from the people, fighting for the people has quickly grown, matured, and is absolutely loyal to the Party and the country, fighting for national independence and socialism. Under the leadership of the Party, the talented command of General Vo Nguyen Giap and other generals, our Army has fought and defeated the most powerful empires in the world, firmly protected national independence and sovereignty, brought the people to peace, and built socialism.

An army is born from the people, grows and matures from the people, fights for the people, serves the people, is loyal to the Party, fights for national independence and socialism. Through 70 years of fighting, building and growing up full of hardships and challenges, our Army has, together with the whole nation, created heroic pages of history, going from one victory to another.

Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Huynh Ngoc Son affirmed that Cao Bang has made great contributions to the nation's revolution. Of the 34 soldiers of the Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Army in the past, 25 were children of Cao Bang ethnic groups. Many later grew up to become high-ranking generals in the Army and high-ranking officials of the Party. In peacetime, the cadres and people of Cao Bang ethnic groups continued to achieve great achievements, building their homeland more and more prosperous, firmly protecting local security and defense, contributing to the whole country's construction of socialism.

On behalf of the Party Committee and people of Cao Bang province, Comrade Ha Ngoc Chien, Secretary of the Cao Bang Provincial Party Committee, respectfully thanked the Party, State, and Army for their affection and attention to the army and people of Cao Bang province. The entire Party Committee and people of Cao Bang province vow to continue to unite under the Party's leadership, continue to promote the revolutionary tradition of their homeland, build an increasingly prosperous and happy life for the people, and firmly protect the national border.

At the ceremony, authorized by the Prime Minister, Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Bac Son respectfully presented the Certificate of Recognition of Tran Hung Dao Forest as a Special National Relic Site to Cao Bang province.

At the ceremony, the audience enjoyed a special art program consisting of 3 parts: The legend of the revolutionary army born from the people, fighting for the people; The heroic epic of "hundred battles, hundred victories" of the revolutionary armed forces - the heroic Vietnam People's Army; Tran Hung Dao forest, a special national relic, the golden history of the tradition of the Vietnam People's Army.

The program includes revolutionary songs and dance lessons, starting with the song "Homeland Festival" and ending with the songs "New Day of Cao Bang" and "That Soldier".

According to VOV