Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission Nguyen Trong Nghia speaks at the ceremony to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification Day (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025), April 24, 2025 in the province. Photo: T. Dong

The great victory of the spring of 1975, culminating in the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign, liberating the South and unifying the country, was a victory of the spirit of great national unity, of ardent patriotism and the will and aspiration for national unification of our people. This was also a victory of intelligence, of the correct and creative strategic line that our Party led the entire nation to overcome countless hardships to reach the final victory. Assessing the results and significance of the victory of the Spring General Offensive and Uprising in 1975, the Resolution of the 4th National Party Congress affirmed: “The victory of our people in the cause of resistance against the US, saving the country will forever be recorded in the history of our nation as the most brilliant page, a shining symbol of the complete victory of revolutionary heroism and human intelligence, and will go down in world history as a great feat of the 20th century, an event of great international significance and profound contemporary significance”.

For Ben Tre, a land rich in revolutionary tradition, a sacred land with outstanding people, the cradle of the Dong Khoi movement with the eight golden words "Heroic Dong Khoi, defeating the Americans, destroying the puppets", has become a typical symbol of the revolutionary offensive spirit, lighting the fire of struggle in the South, bringing the resistance movement to a new height. The mothers, sisters, the "Long-haired Army" of Ben Tre have made history with their own resilience, intelligence, and indomitability. From the Dong Khoi movement in 1960, it quickly spread, promoting the resistance movement throughout the South, contributing greatly to the great victory of the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign, liberating the South, and unifying the country.

To have the victory day, the people of Ben Tre had to endure many painful losses with extremely touching numbers: Of more than 70 thousand of their children who went to war, more than 35 thousand people heroically sacrificed themselves, lying forever on the motherland on all battlefields from the South to the North; more than 18 thousand people became wounded and sick soldiers; nearly 20 thousand people were arrested, tortured, imprisoned, beaten to the point of disability, many families had 5-7 people killed by the enemy at the same time; more than 30 thousand people were infected with Agent Orange, the consequences lasting for many generations.

Each of us further honors and appreciates the sacrifices of countless soldiers and compatriots for the national liberation struggle of Ben Tre province as well as the whole country. With the ethics of "When drinking water, remember its source", "Repaying gratitude", in the past time, our Party, State, people and leaders, the political system and people of Ben Tre have paid attention to implementing many regimes and policies, demonstrating great efforts in overcoming and healing the wounds of war, caring for the material and spiritual life of families of martyrs, war invalids and policy beneficiaries who have contributed to the country.

Looking back 50 years ago, Ben Tre, from a mainly agricultural economy with small-scale production, was severely devastated by war, the land was deserted, devastated by bombs, toxic chemicals, industry and handicrafts were underdeveloped, the whole province did not have any important industrial facilities. The biggest difficulty was the shortage of food, especially pests, consecutive crop failures leading to serious famine. In the 90s, when I worked in the North, the province also did not have national grid electricity. Most public works such as offices, medical stations, schools... were makeshift. After the war, gasoline, means of transport, materials for road construction, bridge construction, house construction... were all scarce. Therefore, the restoration of transportation, reconstruction of public works in communes, hamlets, and housing for people, especially in rural areas in the province, encountered many difficulties.

But with political determination and aspirations to rise up, the Party Committee, government and people of Ben Tre have strived to develop the province's socio-economy rapidly and sustainably. In particular, the Resolution of the Congress of the Ben Tre Provincial Party Committee has been effectively implemented. Especially in this 11th Congress term, all aspects of work have achieved very encouraging results, the rate of new rural communes in the province has doubled the number of previous periods, the National Target Program on building new rural communes was completed 1 year ahead of the target for the entire term 2020 - 2025. The highlight and breakthrough is the "New Dong Khoi" emulation peak in the 2 years 2024 - 2025, which has mobilized the combined strength of the entire political system and the people; many results have been achieved and exceeded the resolution, with impressive numbers. From a poor province, Ben Tre has risen to develop and open up many new potentials.

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Currently, our Party and State are vigorously implementing many policies and resolutions on socio-economic growth; focusing on leading and directing the implementation of Resolution No. 18-NQ/TW dated October 25, 2017 of the 12th Central Executive Committee "Some issues on continuing to innovate and reorganize the apparatus of the political system to be streamlined and operate effectively and efficiently"; including implementing solutions on merging and reorganizing the apparatus of the political system; making breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation and national digital transformation... Especially the Resolution of the 11th Conference of the 13th Central Executive Committee of the Party, with many important policies and decisions, has been thoroughly disseminated to a large number of cadres, party members and people. This is a historic conference, deciding on very important and breakthrough issues of the new revolutionary period, creating a new momentum and new impetus for the cause of comprehensive innovation, bringing the country into an era of strong and prosperous development. The Central Committee has issued many directives, resolutions and conclusions, especially on continuing to streamline the organizational apparatus, reorganize administrative units, organize local governments at two levels and prepare for Party Congresses at all levels leading up to the 14th National Party Congress.

The Rach Mieu 2 Bridge project, invested by the province, was opened to traffic on April 27, 2025. Photo: T. Thao

Ben Tre province at present and in the future vision is a locality with many opportunities. This opportunity comes from the achievements of 40 years of innovation of the province, from the internal strength of Ben Tre province, at the same time from attracting investment from outside and many potentials that need to continue to be exploited and promoted effectively... On the basis of promoting the revolutionary tradition, the spirit of Dong Khoi in the past, it is necessary to continue to spread and carry out well the emulation movement "New Dong Khoi", determined to successfully implement the Resolution of the 11th Provincial Party Congress, term 2020 - 2025 and key tasks towards the 14th National Party Congress.

First of all, we need to focus on thoroughly grasping and implementing the Resolution of the 11th Conference of the 13th Party Central Committee. We must determine the highest political determination in leading and directing the implementation of the Resolution of the 11th Central Conference, identifying this as a "revolution" in the arrangement of the organizational apparatus, the arrangement of administrative units and reform and innovation for national development. We must be unified in perception and ideology; must surpass ourselves, for the common interests of the country; overcome concerns and worries, to move towards a broader mindset and vision - "the country is the homeland". I understand that Ben Tre province is also urgently and actively implementing these tasks, creating consensus among cadres, party members and people of all walks of life.

Second, the Party Congresses at all levels and the 14th National Party Congress take place in a context where we are simultaneously carrying out many important major tasks. We need to streamline the organizational apparatus - reorganize administrative units - accelerate and make breakthroughs in economic development - and organize the Congress. Therefore, Ben Tre province needs to focus on leading and directing the organization of the Congress to ensure it is tight and methodical in accordance with the spirit of Directive No. 45-CT/TW dated April 14, 2025 of the Politburo on Party Congresses at all levels towards the 14th National Party Congress, especially when we will soon merge provincial-level administrative units to create a new space and new development conditions. We need to pay more attention and focus on the preparation of documents. We need to focus on leading and organizing thorough, profound and effective discussions on the draft documents of the 14th National Party Congress; Urgently develop and complete the draft documents of their level, with new thinking outlining the development path of the newly established province; newly established communes and wards based on new space, land and resources. This is a very important task that requires intellectual investment, effort and close coordination of localities with each other to carry out this work well.

Third, it is necessary to continue promoting strengths and strategic positions, effectively implementing regional linkages according to Resolution No. 13-NQ/TW dated April 2, 2022 of the Politburo on "Orientations for socio-economic development and ensuring national defense and security in the Mekong Delta region to 2030, with a vision to 2045"; focusing on effectively organizing and implementing the Ben Tre Provincial Planning for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050 in conjunction with implementing the Project on the provincial merger plan, not organizing the district level, merging the commune level and building a 2-level local government organization model in the spirit of the 11th Conference of the 13th Party Central Committee. Continue to promote the spirit of Dong Khoi in 1960 in the emulation movement "New Dong Khoi", the peak of the emulation movement "New Dong Khoi" in the two years 2024 - 2025, determined to achieve and exceed the set targets.

Fourth, continue to synchronously and effectively implement the major policies of the Party and State on social security, policies for people with meritorious services, sustainable poverty reduction, new rural and civilized urban construction. In particular, the movement to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses - a bright spot in Ben Tre - needs to be promoted with the highest political determination, demonstrating the morality of "When drinking water, remember its source", "Repaying gratitude" in the most profound way and strongly spreading the spirit of solidarity and humanity in the community.

With that belief and on this great victory day, I deeply believe that, with the tradition of the heroic homeland of Dong Khoi, with solidarity, unanimity, the spirit of innovation and the strong aspiration to rise up, the Party Committee, government and people of Ben Tre province will continue to reap even greater achievements in the cause of developing the homeland to become more and more beautiful, contributing worthily to the cause of building and defending the socialist Fatherland of Vietnam in the new era for peace, national independence, democracy, wealth, prosperity and happiness.

Nguyen Trong Nghia

- Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department

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(Title given by the editorial board)