Ho Chi Minh City holds rally to commemorate 38th anniversary of national reunification.

Thirty-eight years have passed, but the value of the great national liberation struggle of the Vietnamese people remains enduring.

This morning (April 29th), at the City Hall, the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, and Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee solemnly organized a ceremony to commemorate the 38th anniversary of the complete liberation of Southern Vietnam and national reunification (April 30, 1975 – April 30, 2013), the 127th anniversary of International Labor Day (May 1, 1886 – May 1, 2013), and to receive prestigious State awards. Attending the ceremony were former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, General Phung Quang Thanh, Minister of National Defense, Mr. Huynh Dam, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, Mr. Le Thanh Hai, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, leaders of various ministries and agencies, Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, veteran revolutionaries, and a large number of officials, soldiers, and citizens of the city. Before the ceremony, Ho Chi Minh City leaders laid wreaths and offered incense to commemorate the heroes and martyrs at the city's Martyrs' Cemetery.

The Reunification Palace in Ho Chi Minh City, 38 years ago, witnessed the historic moment of national reunification.

At the commemoration ceremony, Mr. Le Hoang Quan, Chairman of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, delivered a speech reviewing the historical revolutionary struggle of the Vietnamese nation, especially the resistance war against the US to save the country, culminating in the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign, which completely liberated the South and unified the country. Thirty-eight years have passed, but the value of the great resistance war of the Vietnamese people remains enduring. Continuing and strongly promoting the revolutionary heroism of the years of struggle for independence and drawing on the experience of 38 years of construction and development, Ho Chi Minh City is increasingly affirming its position as the leading economic engine of the country.

Mr. Le Hoang Quan emphasized: The Party Committee, the government, and the people of Ho Chi Minh City are determined to build Ho Chi Minh City into an increasingly civilized, modern, and compassionate city. As a special urban center leading the cause of industrialization and modernization, it will gradually become a major center for economy, finance, trade, science, and technology of the country and the Southeast Asian region, actively contributing to Vietnam's transformation into a modern industrialized nation by 2012. This is worthy of the city named after the great President Ho Chi Minh.

Over the past 38 years, the Party Committee and people of Ho Chi Minh City have united, been dynamic and creative, fostered self-reliance and self-improvement, overcome all difficulties and challenges, successfully implemented the reform process, and made important contributions to the country's economic growth. In 2012, the city contributed more than 20% of the gross domestic product and one-third of the national budget, developing the economy and improving the quality of life for its people.

Mr. Hoang Thanh Ha, a resident of Ward 15, District 10, commented: "The city has undergone many changes. Traffic is much smoother with improvements like the East-West Boulevard and the Thu Thiem overpass... Furthermore, recreational activities are also emphasized, and the rivers and canals have been improved with many boat racing activities, which contributes to improving the lives of the people."

Proud of the nation's glorious traditions, the people of Ho Chi Minh City affirm their unwavering faith in the correct leadership of the Party, the administration of the Government, and the city. The youth of Ho Chi Minh City demonstrate their determination to continuously study, work, and contribute to the development of the country and the building of an increasingly prosperous and beautiful city.

Ms. Tran Thanh Thao, Secretary of the District 4 Youth Union, said: "We, as young people in the city, will continue to promote our creativity, initiative, and dynamism in finding practical solutions and actions to contribute to building Ho Chi Minh City into an increasingly civilized, modern, and compassionate city."

On this occasion, Ho Chi Minh City also held a ceremony to award the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces to two collectives: the 950th Suicide Battalion, Saigon-Chợ Lớn Special Zone, Military Region 7, Ministry of National Defense, and the Party Committee and People's Committee of Ward 11, Tân Bình District - formerly the Bảy Hiền revolutionary base area. In addition, five individuals were also honored with the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces on this occasion.

According to (vov.vn) - LT