Current Affairs

Honoring the past - building the future

Content: Thanh Cuong | Design: Huu Quan • July 27, 2026 06:00

In his letter to the Heroic Vietnamese Mothers, wounded soldiers, sick soldiers, relatives of martyrs, and meritorious individuals on the occasion of the 79th anniversary of the Day of Wounded Soldiers and Martyrs, General Secretary and President To Lam emphasized: "Gratitude is a time-honored moral principle of the Vietnamese nation, a political responsibility, a command from the heart and honor of every Vietnamese person." This is not only a profound expression of gratitude to those who have dedicated and sacrificed themselves for the Fatherland, but also a reminder of the responsibility to preserve the achievements of the revolution and continue to uphold them.

Content:Thanh Cuong| Design:Huu Quan
July 26, 2026

In his letter to the Heroic Vietnamese Mothers, wounded soldiers, sick soldiers, relatives of martyrs, and meritorious individuals on the occasion of the 79th anniversary of the Day of Wounded Soldiers and Martyrs, General Secretary and President To Lam emphasized: "Gratitude is a time-honored moral principle of the Vietnamese nation, a political responsibility, a command from the heart and honor of every Vietnamese person." This is not only a profound expression of gratitude to those who have dedicated and sacrificed themselves for the Fatherland, but also a reminder to each generation of their responsibility to preserve the achievements of the revolution and continue building a prosperous and happy country.

For Nghe An, the birthplace of President Ho Chi Minh, a land rich in patriotic and revolutionary traditions, this message carries even deeper significance. Because in this land, almost every village has sons and daughters who fell for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland; each cemetery preserves stories of patriotism, dedication, and the aspiration for peace.

Strategically located in the central region of Vietnam, Nghe An served as both a major rear base and a fierce battlefront during the wars of national liberation and defense. Bombs and bullets not only destroyed bridges, roads, and ports but also cut off supply lines to the front lines. It was in these hardships that the will and resilience of the people of Nghe An were further forged.

Places like Truong Bon, Ben Thuy, Cau Cam, Hoang Mai… have gone down in history as “battlefields of fire,” where countless cadres, soldiers, volunteer youth, civilian workers, and people fell to keep these vital transportation routes open. Every inch of land here is soaked with the sweat, tears, and blood of many generations.

During the two wars of resistance, more than 163,000 people from Nghe An enlisted in the army; 45,000 martyrs bravely sacrificed their lives; 56,000 wounded and sick soldiers bore the scars of war; and nearly 3,000 Heroic Vietnamese Mothers were awarded or posthumously honored by the Party and the State. These figures not only reflect the immense contribution of Nghe An to the cause of national liberation but also show the very high price that the homeland had to pay to achieve the peace we have today.

Behind those numbers lie countless stories. There are mothers who bid farewell to their husbands and sons going to war; wives who received death notices before they could even enjoy happiness; children who grew up hearing only stories about their fathers; and wounded soldiers who carried their injuries throughout their lives but never considered it a loss to complain about.

The war is long over, but the pain never ends. Every July, tens of thousands of people return to Truong Bon, the Vietnam-Laos International Martyrs' Cemetery, and other martyrs' cemeteries throughout the country to offer incense in remembrance. This is not only to pay tribute to those who have passed away, but also to remind themselves of the invaluable value of peace.

During his lifetime, President Ho Chi Minh affirmed: "The blood of the martyrs has made the revolutionary flag even brighter red. The heroic sacrifice of the martyrs has prepared the ground for our country to blossom with independence and bear the fruits of freedom."

More than half a century after the country's reunification, that advice remains just as valuable. Because every achievement that Nghe An has today – from modern industrial zones and strategic transportation routes to rural areas undergoing daily transformation – is built on the foundation of peace that generations of our ancestors sacrificed their youth, blood, and lives for.

Deeply aware of this, the Party Committee, government, and people of Nghe An have always affirmed that gratitude is not just about remembering on anniversaries, but must be realized through practical policies, concrete actions, and a determination to build an increasingly prosperous homeland. Gratitude is not just about remembering the past, but also about the responsibility of building the future.

For Nghe An – a land that has sacrificed tens of thousands of its sons and daughters for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland – the work of "showing gratitude and repaying kindness" has never been just a momentary activity. It is a regular task, a political responsibility, and also an expression of gratitude realized through concrete actions.

Over the years, the province has consistently shown concern and care for those who have rendered meritorious services to the revolution through a comprehensive range of policies, from resolving preferential benefits, providing rehabilitation and healthcare, supporting housing, to caring for Vietnamese Heroic Mothers. The goal is not only to ensure full entitlement according to regulations but also to gradually improve the material and spiritual lives of those who have rendered meritorious services.

According to the report on the implementation of preferential policies for people with meritorious services to the revolution in the first six months of 2026, the key tasks for the last six months of 2026 by the Department of Internal Affairs of Nghe An province are to pay regular allowances to 61,788 people with meritorious services and their relatives, with a budget of approximately 199 billion VND per month; at the same time, fully implement the regimes for rehabilitation, functional recovery, support for assistive devices and many other preferential policies.

With the State's care and support, the "Gratitude and Repayment" movement is spreading ever wider. From the "Gratitude and Repayment" Fund and the joint efforts of the business community, organizations, and individuals, many policy beneficiary families have received support for building and repairing houses; thousands of people with meritorious service have been visited and given gifts; and surviving Vietnamese Heroic Mothers have received lifelong care. These actions not only have material value but also affirm society's respect for those who have contributed to the country.

A particularly significant achievement in the commemorative work was the "500-day and night campaign to search for, collect, and identify the remains of fallen soldiers," which General Secretary and President To Lam called "a march in peacetime to find those who made peace."

For Nghe An province, home to the Vietnam-Laos International Martyrs' Cemetery, the resting place of tens of thousands of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who sacrificed their lives in Laos, this work takes on even deeper significance. During the 2025-2026 dry season, provincial forces searched for and collected 83 remains of martyrs, including 79 in Laos and 4 in Vietnam; simultaneously, they continued to collect DNA samples, digitize records, and complete the database to serve the identification of martyrs. Each remains brought back to their homeland means another family finds solace in their grief, and another promise to history is fulfilled.

Those who fell did not sacrifice themselves for the sake of mere remembrance by today's generation. They sacrificed themselves so that the country could have peace, so that the people could live in independence, and so that their homeland could have the conditions for development. Therefore, the most meaningful way to show gratitude is to continue preserving the achievements of the revolution and transforming peace into a driving force for the homeland's progress.

That was also the overarching message in the Letter from General Secretary and President To Lam, who affirmed: "The most meaningful way to commemorate those who have contributed and sacrificed is to continue preserving the achievements of the revolution and building a peaceful, independent, democratic, prosperous, civilized, and happy Vietnam."

Looking back at Nghe An's development, the value of peace becomes even clearer. From areas that were once "battlegrounds," today are emerging modern industrial zones, strategic transportation routes, new urban areas, and promising development spaces.

In the first six months of 2026, the province's GRDP is estimated to increase by 9.65%, ranking among the highest in the country; total newly registered and adjusted investment capital reached over 72,000 billion VND, and FDI reached 2.28 billion USD, ranking third nationwide. Many key projects such as the Vinh - Thanh Thuy expressway, the Quynh Lap LNG Thermal Power Plant, and projects in the Southeast Economic Zone are opening up new development opportunities for the province.

These figures not only reflect the results of economic development but also demonstrate the value of a peaceful and stable environment – ​​a prerequisite for attracting investment, developing production, and improving people's lives.

It can be said that peace is an invaluable asset left behind by previous generations. The responsibility of today's generation is to transform this asset into a resource for development, so that every construction project, every implemented initiative, every step forward in our homeland becomes a practical expression of gratitude to those who sacrificed for the nation.

History entrusted our forefathers with the mission of regaining independence. Today's history entrusts us with the mission of preserving peace, developing the country, and realizing the aspiration of building a strong and prosperous Vietnam.

For Nghe An, this aspiration holds even greater significance. Every step in the development of the homeland not only meets the demands of reality but also represents a worthy continuation of the revolutionary traditions of the land that is the birthplace of President Ho Chi Minh.

This requires every official and Party member to continue to innovate their thinking, enhance their sense of responsibility, stay close to the people, and serve the people; every enterprise to constantly innovate; and every citizen to uphold the tradition of studiousness, diligence, and solidarity to work together to build their homeland.

Because, ultimately, there is no more practical expression of gratitude than making our homeland increasingly prosperous and beautiful; no wreath more meaningful than projects that bring a better life to the people; and no incense offering more enduring than educating the younger generation to cherish history, love peace, and live responsibly towards the country.

Every July, tens of thousands of candles illuminate the Vietnam-Laos International Martyrs' Cemetery, Truong Bon Cemetery, and other martyrs' cemeteries throughout the country. This light not only illuminates the rows of tombstones but also kindles the belief that, built upon the foundations sacrificed with the blood and bones of previous generations, Nghe An will continue to develop rapidly and sustainably, joining the rest of the country in entering a new era of development.

Concluding his letter to wounded soldiers, sick soldiers, relatives of martyrs, and meritorious individuals, General Secretary and President To Lam conveyed: “This is a solemn promise from today’s generation to previous generations; so that the sacrifices and contributions of comrades and fellow citizens will forever shine brightly in the sky of the Fatherland, guiding the Vietnamese nation to confidently move into a new era of development.”

That message also serves as a reminder to every citizen of Nghe An. Gratitude is not just about remembering the past. Gratitude is also a responsibility in the present and an aspiration towards the future. Only by building a homeland that is increasingly prosperous, civilized, and happy can we truly continue the legacy that our ancestors sacrificed their youth, blood, and lives for.