Continuing the epic saga of the Ho Chi Minh era.

Dr. Pham Ngoc Hung (Communist Magazine) /
Present:Hong ToaiMay 18, 2026

*****

The 136th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birth is an occasion for the entire Party, people, and army to remember the brilliant leader of the nation – a man who dedicated his entire life to the independence and freedom of the Fatherland and the happiness of the people. More than half a century after his passing, Ho Chi Minh's thoughts and aspirations remain present in every step of the country's transformation, providing impetus for Vietnam to rise with self-reliance, self-strength, innovation, and a strong desire for development.

More than a century ago, in 1911, from Nha Rong Wharf, the young man Nguyen Tat Thanh set out to find a way to save the country with a burning desire to regain independence for the nation. His arduous journey across many continents helped him access Marxism-Leninism and find a path to national liberation suitable to the Vietnamese context. From then on, Nguyen Ai Quoc - Ho Chi Minh ushered in a new era for the Vietnamese nation: the era of national independence linked with socialism.

The founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam in 1930 ended a decades-long crisis regarding the path to national salvation. Just 15 years later, under the leadership of the Party founded and nurtured by him, the Vietnamese people achieved the great victory of the August Revolution in 1945, giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam – the first workers' and peasants' state in Southeast Asia. At the historic Ba Dinh Square, President Ho Chi Minh, on behalf of the nation, declared to the world:"Vietnam has the right to freedom and independence, and in fact has become a free and independent country."This was not only the birth certificate of a new nation, but also a declaration ushering in a new era in the nation's history - the Ho Chi Minh era.

Ho Chi Minh's stature lies not only in his role as a national liberation leader, but also in his ability to awaken and embody the great aspirations of the Vietnamese people: the aspiration for independence, freedom, happiness, and development. Ho Chi Minh Thought is a comprehensive and profound system of views on the Vietnamese revolutionary path, embodying the essence of the nation and the finest aspects of human culture. At the core of this thought is the principle of "putting the people first," the highest goal: bringing freedom, prosperity, and happiness to the people.

What is remarkable is that Ho Chi Minh's ideology has never remained merely a historical value. More than half a century after his passing, the light of his thought continues to shine, illuminating every step of the nation's development. From a poor, underdeveloped country heavily devastated by war, Vietnam has today risen to become one of the leading dynamic economies in the region. GDP growth has been maintained at a high level for many years; the size of the economy is among the top 32 largest economies in the world; it has joined the group of upper-middle-income countries and is highly regarded by many prestigious international organizations.

The independent, self-reliant, and self-strengthening mindset that President Ho Chi Minh laid the foundation for is being strongly demonstrated in the strategy of building an independent and self-reliant economy linked to deep international integration. Vietnam is proactively participating in global value chains, taking advantage of opportunities from the Fourth Industrial Revolution to create momentum for development. New-generation free trade agreements, innovation centers, technology enterprises, the rapid development of the digital economy, the green economy, and energy transition… are vivid manifestations of a Vietnam that is rising strongly.

While in the 20th century, the Vietnamese nation had to fight to protect its territorial sovereignty, in the 21st century, the challenge of development is also linked to protecting economic sovereignty, technological sovereignty, and national competitiveness. Digital transformation has become a new front for national development. From building a digital government, a digital society, and digital citizens to developing artificial intelligence, big data, and semiconductor technology, Vietnam is gradually affirming its aspiration to master the future through knowledge and innovation.

In this development process, President Ho Chi Minh's ideology of "putting the people first" continues to be clearly demonstrated. National target programs on building new rural areas, sustainable poverty reduction, development of ethnic minority and mountainous regions, social security policies, healthcare, education, etc., all aim to improve the quality of life for the people. President Ho Chi Minh once instructed:"If the people are hungry, it is the fault of the Party and the Government; if the people are uneducated, it is the fault of the Party and the Government."Today, that teaching remains a benchmark for effective national governance and the accountability of cadres and Party members to the people.

In particular, in the current national development strategy, education, science and technology, and innovation are identified as key driving forces. This further demonstrates President Ho Chi Minh's forward-thinking vision of "cultivating human resources." From the early literacy classes in the nation's founding to the goal of building a high-quality workforce and global citizens in today's digital age, it is a journey that continues the human development philosophy that he initiated.

Not only in socio-economic development, Ho Chi Minh's thought is also clearly present in Vietnam's current foreign policy. From a very early stage, he established the principles of independent, self-reliant, peaceful, friendly, and cooperative diplomacy with the peoples of the world. This spirit is being creatively inherited through the foreign policy of "independence, self-reliance, multilateralism, and diversification," building a diplomacy deeply rooted in the "Vietnamese bamboo" identity – flexible yet resilient, adaptable yet steadfast in the national interest.

Never before has Vietnam's international standing, prestige, and role been as elevated as they are today. Vietnam is increasingly becoming an attractive destination for investment, a crucial link in the global supply chain, and a responsible member of the international community. This is also a continuation of Ho Chi Minh's thought on combining national strength with the strength of the times.

One of the most vivid manifestations of today's new epic is the aspiration of the young generation of Vietnam to rise up, pioneering on new fronts: science and technology, innovation, entrepreneurship, and global integration. Young technology engineers, scientists, innovative startups, and Vietnamese students studying and working around the world are contributing to elevating Vietnamese intelligence in the digital age.

The world is entering a period of profound upheaval. In this context, Vietnam faces both historical opportunities and unprecedented development pressures. It is precisely in this challenge that the enduring value of Ho Chi Minh's thought is further affirmed. The 136th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birth is not only an occasion to pay tribute to our beloved leader, but also a reminder of our responsibility to continue the path he chose. The epic of the Ho Chi Minh era has never ended. Today, that epic is being continued with the wisdom, courage, innovative aspirations, and strong will to rise of the Vietnamese people in this new era.