On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification Day (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025), on the morning of April 9, in Hanoi, a meeting was held between Party and State leaders and representatives of war veterans, former youth volunteers, former militia and self-defense forces, and forces participating in the resistance war against the US to save the country.

The event was organized by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Veterans Association in coordination with the Ministry of National Defense and the Central Committee of the Vietnam Veterans Association.

General Secretary To Lam, Secretary of the Central Military Commission attended and delivered a speech.

Also attending were Politburo members, Party Central Committee Secretaries: Do Van Chien, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front; Le Minh Hung, Head of the Central Organizing Committee; Nguyen Trong Nghia, Head of the Central Propaganda and Education Committee;

Politburo members: Nguyen Hoa Binh, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister; General Phan Van Giang, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission, Minister of National Defense; General Luong Tam Quang, Secretary of the Central Public Security Party Committee, Minister of Public Security; Bui Thi Minh Hoai, Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee; Nguyen Van Nen, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee;

Party Central Committee Secretaries: Le Hoai Trung, Chief of the Central Office; Senior Lieutenant General Trinh Van Quyet, Director of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People's Army;

Party Central Committee members: Vo Thi Anh Xuan, Vice President; Vu Hong Thanh, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly;

Former leaders of the Party, State, leaders of central and local departments, ministries, branches, socio-political organizations; representatives of Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, Heroes of the Armed Forces, Labor Heroes, veterans, former youth volunteers, former militia and self-defense forces and forces participating in the resistance war against the US to save the country.

Speaking at the meeting, on behalf of the Party and State leaders, General Secretary To Lam expressed his deep gratitude for the great, persistent and silent sacrifices and contributions of war veterans, former youth volunteers and militiamen for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland and for the happiness of the people.

Reviewing the heroic history of 50 years ago, the General Secretary emphasized that in the common feats of arms of the nation, it is impossible not to mention the special role of veterans, former youth volunteers and militiamen, who fought on all battlefields, on all fronts, from the fiery front lines to the solid rear, from the fierce battlefields of Truong Son, Tay Nguyen, Nam Bo to the war zones and areas temporarily occupied by the enemy.

Veteran comrades - Uncle Ho's soldiers - have overcome countless hardships and dangers, writing golden pages of history on every battlefield.

The youth volunteers - the "fire flowers" of a fiery youth - rolled around in the rain of bombs and bullets, clearing the way, carrying ammunition, providing first aid, and creating immortal miracles.

The militia and self-defense forces - soldiers in the countryside, day and night staying and protecting their homeland, both producing and fighting - are a solid pillar in the rear of the Fatherland.

During the arduous war years, with their ardent patriotism, courageous spirit and steadfast will, they overcame all losses and sacrifices to contribute to the victory of the Vietnamese revolution.

Many comrades have fallen, forever remaining in the green forests and red mountains, in the bosom of Mother Earth. Some have returned with wounds on their bodies, with memories of war deeply imprinted in their minds. Some have continued to silently contribute to the country in peacetime: from social work, economic development, building new rural areas to educating the younger generation.

Expressing gratitude for the veteran comrades’ responsible contributions to the Party and the people and their desire to contribute to the country’s development, the General Secretary affirmed that the war has long gone, but the noble qualities of “Uncle Ho’s soldiers”, of the youth volunteers and militiamen of the past still shine in today’s life. Despite returning from the battlefield with many wounds on their bodies, despite their old age and weak health, the comrades have continued to contribute, being a solid spiritual support for today’s and future generations.

The General Secretary highly appreciated the Veterans Association, the Youth Volunteer Veterans Association and the Militia and Self-Defense Forces at all levels across the country for maintaining the revolutionary flame over the years, promoting the qualities of "Uncle Ho's soldiers", the vanguard spirit of wartime youth and the tradition of steadfastness, indomitability and loyalty to the Fatherland.

The Association at all levels has done a very good job of fostering revolutionary ideals, educating the younger generation on patriotic traditions, organizing many profound gratitude activities, contributing to the effective implementation of the policy of "When drinking water, remember its source", while always paying attention and taking practical care of the material and spiritual lives of members and former comrades - not letting anyone be forgotten or left behind.

The General Secretary affirmed that the Party and State always attach importance to and carry out as best as possible social policies for those who have rendered meritorious service to the country, those who have contributed and sacrificed for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland.

Over the years, the work of “repaying gratitude” has always been one of the top political tasks. The system of preferential legal policies for people with meritorious services has been constantly improved, becoming more and more synchronous, humane and practical.

Policies and guidelines such as subsidies, 100% health insurance, housing support, free medical examination and treatment, vocational training programs, preferential loans, job creation, and care for children of meritorious people all demonstrate the Party and State's deep responsibility and morality towards those who have contributed and sacrificed their blood for the Fatherland.

Sharing the special significance of 2025, the year of accelerating the successful implementation of the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress, organizing Party congresses at all levels, preparing for the 14th National Party Congress, realizing the aspiration and vision of developing a prosperous and happy country, the General Secretary expressed his belief that the contingent of veterans, former youth volunteers, and militia and self-defense forces, no matter where they live and work, with love and responsibility, talent and creativity, can contribute to the Fatherland in their own way, work more and more actively, educate and train the younger generation, make greater and greater contributions to the common cause of the Party and the nation, together foster and promote the tradition of great national unity and the good values ​​of Vietnamese culture and people, creating a great endogenous strength, making our country increasingly developed, prosperous, civilized and happy.

On behalf of millions of veterans, former youth volunteers, former militiamen, former police and other forces nationwide, Senior Lieutenant General Be Xuan Truong, Chairman of the Vietnam Veterans Association, expressed his honor and pride in the General Secretary's deep concern for those who contributed to the glorious history of the miraculous resistance war against the US to save the country.

"We would like to thoroughly grasp the General Secretary's speech and concretize it into an action program to be implemented in 2025 and the following years. Promoting the spirit and guiding ideology: speed, boldness, determination, and total victory of the General Offensive and Uprising, culminating in the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign.

We promise to the Party, the State and the people that we will continue to preserve and promote the fine nature and traditions of "Uncle Ho's Army", the tradition of the Vietnam Veterans Association; the tradition of the People's Public Security; the tradition of the Youth Volunteers; the tradition of the Militia and Self-Defense Forces, actively participate in building and defending the Fatherland, protecting the achievements of the revolution...", Senior Lieutenant General Be Xuan Truong said.

On this occasion, General Secretary To Lam presented gifts of gratitude to Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, Heroes of the Armed Forces, veterans, former youth volunteers and former militiamen attending.

On the same morning, before the meeting, the delegation of veterans, former youth volunteers, and former militiamen visited President Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and offered incense and flowers at the Monument to Heroes and Martyrs on Bac Son Street (Hanoi).