General Secretary To Lam: Focus on building revolutionary, regular, elite, and modern armed forces in Military Region 9.
On the morning of December 8th, in Can Tho city, the Party Committee of the 9th Military Region Command solemnly organized a ceremony to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the traditional day of the armed forces of the 9th Military Region (December 10, 1945 - December 10, 2025) and to receive the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces.
General Secretary To Lam, Secretary of the Central Military Commission, attended and delivered a speech at the commemoration ceremony.
Members of the Politburo, including President Luong Cuong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and Standing Member of the Secretariat Tran Cam Tu, sent congratulatory flower arrangements.
Also attending were: former Politburo members and former Presidents: Nguyen Minh Triet and Truong Tan Sang; former Politburo member and former Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung; Politburo member and Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man; former Politburo member and former Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan; and former Politburo member and former Standing Secretary of the Party Central Committee Le Hong Anh.
Members of the Politburo, former members of the Politburo, members of the Secretariat, members of the Central Committee, former members of the Central Committee, alternate members of the Central Committee; leaders and former leaders of the Party, State and Army; leaders and former leaders of central and local departments, ministries and agencies; Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, Heroes of the People's Armed Forces; leaders and former leaders of the Ministry of National Defense and Military Regions; representatives of units of the Royal Cambodian Army.
Enhancing the noble image of Uncle Ho's soldiers - the soldiers of the Western region in the hearts of the people.
Delivering a speech at the commemoration ceremony, Lieutenant General Nguyen Xuan Dat, Commander of Military Region 9, stated that over 80 years of historical journey, advancing under the glorious banner of the Fatherland, the armed forces of Military Region 9 have overcome all difficulties, hardships, and sacrifices, fought, won, and developed in the Mekong Delta, writing an immortal epic of revolutionary heroism. They have built a tradition of "military-civilian solidarity, unwavering steadfastness, self-reliance, and heroic fighting," which has become ingrained in their being, serving as a guiding principle throughout all activities of the armed forces of the Military Region.
The establishment of the Military Region's armed forces was the inevitable result of the widespread revolutionary struggle throughout Southern Vietnam, especially after the Southern Uprising of 1940 and the August Revolution of 1945. Implementing the Central Party Committee's policy of resistance and national construction, on December 10, 1945, the Southern Regional Party Committee held an expanded conference in Binh Hoa Nam commune, Duc Hoa district, Long An province (now Duc Hue commune, Tay Ninh province) to decide on the establishment of Military Zones 8 and 9 (the predecessors of today's Military Region 9). From that historical milestone, December 10th has become the traditional day of the armed forces of Military Region 9.
In response to the demands of the revolution in the new phase, on November 11, 1976, Military Regions 8 and 9 merged to form Military Region 9. From then on, the armed forces of Military Region 9, together with the people of the Mekong Delta, embarked on the task of healing the wounds of war, rebuilding the country, resolutely defending every inch of sacred land, fighting and winning in the war to protect the southwestern border of the Fatherland with the motto "helping others is helping ourselves," shining brightly with the pure, loyal, and righteous spirit of internationalism.
Entering a new phase of construction and development, the armed forces of the Military Region have always been an absolutely loyal political and combat force of the Party, the State, and the people, excellently fulfilling their functions and tasks; building a national defense system linked to the people's security posture, building a solid defense zone, and effectively carrying out defense diplomacy; maintaining political stability and social order, creating favorable conditions for socio-economic development in the Mekong Delta region. As a revolutionary army, always closely connected to the people, the armed forces of the Military Region have always proactively and actively participated with other forces in disaster prevention and control, rescue operations, and disease prevention; doing well in policy work, showing gratitude and appreciation, and enhancing the noble image of Uncle Ho's soldiers - the soldiers of the Western region - in the hearts of the people.
Speaking at the commemoration ceremony, General Secretary To Lam emphasized that the armed forces of Military Region 9 are stationed in the strategic southwestern region of the country. Originating from the people and fighting for the people, the armed forces of Military Region 9 have always been closely connected to the people, protected, nurtured, and supported by them, enabling them to continuously grow and strengthen, defeat all enemies, and excellently fulfill all assigned tasks; building a tradition of "military-civilian solidarity, unwavering steadfastness, self-reliance, and heroic fighting." This tradition, forged in the hardships and sacrifices of war, continues to shine brightly in the task of building and defending the Fatherland. Proud of the past and confident in the future, the military and people of the Mekong Delta maintain unwavering faith and boundless human compassion, promoting the unique identity of the region to reach out to the sea, working together to move forward into an era of prosperous development, for the well-being and happiness of the people, worthy of the trust of the Party, the State, and the people.
The General Secretary stated that, over 80 years of building, fighting, winning, and maturing, the armed forces of Military Region 9 have always demonstrated the fine nature and glorious traditions of the heroic Vietnamese People's Army. On behalf of the Party and State leadership, the General Secretary warmly congratulated the great victories, achievements, and growth of the armed forces of Military Region 9; and congratulated Military Region 9 on receiving the title of Heroic Unit of the People's Armed Forces - a high honor bestowed by the Party and State.
Entering a new stage of development, the global and regional situation is undergoing rapid, complex, and unpredictable changes with traditional and non-traditional security challenges, especially climate change, sea level rise, and saltwater intrusion, which are profoundly impacting the Mekong Delta. The General Secretary pointed out that the task of defending the Fatherland, the task of building the Army in general, and of Military Region 9 in particular, is placing increasingly high demands on the country.
Training, practice, and realistic scenarios to fight and win in any situation.
To effectively fulfill the functions and tasks of a strategic-level unit of the Ministry of National Defense in the crucial southwestern region of the country, the General Secretary proposed continuing to thoroughly understand Ho Chi Minh's military thought, the Party's military and national defense guidelines, especially the Strategy for National Defense in the new situation and the breakthroughs identified in the Resolution of the 11th Party Congress of Military Region 9 and the 12th Party Congress of the Army; improving overall quality and combat strength; uniting and closely cooperating with Party committees, governments, and people of localities; accurately grasping and forecasting the situation, and doing a good job of strategic planning for the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense. The armed forces of Military Region 9 should build and consolidate a strong national defense system and a robust national defense posture linked with a people's security posture, build a solid defense zone, and create a proactive position to thwart all subversive plots of hostile forces. Maintaining a peaceful and stable environment in the region and safeguarding the country's sovereignty.
The General Secretary requested that the focus be on building a revolutionary, regular, elite, and modern armed force for Military Region 9, using political development as the foundation to improve overall quality and combat strength; thoroughly understanding President Ho Chi Minh's ideology of "people first, weapons second," focusing on innovation and improving the quality of combat training, cultivating courage, physical fitness, and technical and tactical skills. Mastering weapons and equipment, especially new and modern weapons, and being ready to fight and win in all conditions, situations, and new forms of warfare. In the new development space, new situations, and new tasks, special attention must be paid to improving the scientific and technological level of the troops in training and combat readiness; it is necessary to "practical training, practical training, and realistic situations" to fight and win in all situations.
The General Secretary emphasized the importance of consistently doing a good job in mass mobilization work, strengthening the close relationship of solidarity between the military and the people, and building a solid foundation of public support; closely combining the tasks of consolidating national defense and security with socio-economic development, effectively implementing economic-defense projects in the region; and doing a good job in policy work and actively participating in social welfare activities. Always proactive and ready to assist the people in preventing, combating, and overcoming the consequences of natural disasters and epidemics, Military Region 9 must be an elite force and a reliable support for the people on this front. In the new revolutionary period, it is even more necessary to uphold the glorious tradition: "Every task is completed - Every difficulty is overcome - Every enemy is defeated," truly being a fighting force, a working force, and a productive labor force of the heroic Vietnamese People's Army.
The General Secretary noted that the successful implementation of the Resolution of the Military Region Party Congress, the Resolution of the Army Party Congress, and the Resolution of the 14th National Party Congress, as well as the newly issued Politburo resolutions in 2025 and action programs, should be closely aligned with the military and defense situation and tasks of the Military Region's armed forces and the local situation; focus on building a strong Military Region Party Committee in terms of politics, ideology, ethics, organization, and personnel; promote the study and emulation of Ho Chi Minh's thought, ethics, and style, and the "Promoting traditions, contributing talents, and living up to the name of Uncle Ho's soldiers" campaign in the new era; and build a team of cadres, especially leading cadres at all levels and campaign staff cadres, who are truly exemplary in character, perceptive, sharp, flexible in grasping and handling situations, and possess the skills and capacity to advise, guide, and successfully implement all tasks.
Military Region 9 continues to effectively carry out its defense diplomacy mission with the Royal Cambodian Army and the Kingdom of Cambodia; coordinates with forces of the Ministry of National Defense in defense diplomacy, especially with ASEAN countries; closely monitors relevant situations, proactively provides strategic advice, and resolutely and skillfully handles issues related to borders and islands; and combats and thwarts all conspiracies and schemes aimed at undermining and dividing relations between Vietnam and Cambodia and other ASEAN countries.
The 80th anniversary of the Traditional Day is a historical milestone, a driving force for the armed forces of Military Region 9 to continue to advance, achieving many new accomplishments and victories, writing more glorious chapters in their history. The General Secretary believes that, under the leadership of the Party and the State, directly the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense, all generals, officers, cadres, commanders, staff, soldiers, and workers of the armed forces of Military Region 9 will increasingly mature, excellently fulfill all assigned tasks, and forever be worthy of the trust and affection of the Party, the State, and the people.
On this occasion, on behalf of the Party, State, and Central Military Commission leaders, General Secretary To Lam, Secretary of the Central Military Commission, awarded the title of "Hero of the People's Armed Forces" to the Armed Forces of Military Region 9, recognizing the great contributions of the Armed Forces of Military Region 9 to the revolutionary cause of the Party, State, and people.
* On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Traditional Day of the Armed Forces of Military Region 9 (December 10, 1945 - December 10, 2025) and the awarding of the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces, earlier that morning in Can Tho City, General Secretary To Lam, Secretary of the Central Military Commission, and the Central Delegation visited and offered incense and flowers at the Victory Monument, the Memorial Monument to the Heroes and Martyrs, and the Memorial House of President Ho Chi Minh. In a solemn atmosphere, the General Secretary, the delegation, and the delegates expressed their profound respect, remembrance, and gratitude for the immense contributions of the great President Ho Chi Minh and the Heroes and Martyrs. On this occasion, General Secretary To Lam attended and cut the ribbon to inaugurate the Headquarters of Military Region 9.
