On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the complete liberation of the South and national reunification (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025) and the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Con Dao (May 1, 1975 - May 1, 2025), on the afternoon of May 3, in Con Dao district, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended a meeting to pay tribute to revolutionary soldiers who were imprisoned by the enemy.

Attending the meeting were comrades: Politburo member, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen; former Secretary of the Party Central Committee, former Vice President Truong My Hoa; Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan; Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Quang Phuong; leaders of departments, ministries, branches, central agencies, provinces and centrally run cities. The special ceremony was attended by more than 700 delegates who were Vietnamese revolutionary soldiers imprisoned by the enemy and their relatives from 49 provinces and cities.

In the revolutionary struggle for national independence and unification, holding in its heart the blood, bones and sacred souls of thousands of the country's elite children, Con Dao is the place that witnessed and preserved extremely great historical values. This place is a symbol of the indomitable spirit, indomitable spirit, heroic spirit of communist soldiers and Vietnamese patriots in the face of the brutality of colonialism and imperialism.

At the meeting, Vietnamese revolutionary soldiers who were imprisoned by the enemy - living witnesses of history, representing the spirit of loyalty, indomitability, protecting revolutionary integrity in colonial and imperialist prisons... reviewed the glorious and heroic history of the nation. The delegates shared unforgettable memories, but no less painful, of a time of heroic struggle, protecting the integrity and steadfast belief in the Party of revolutionary soldiers on the sacred land of Con Dao.

The National Liaison Committee of Vietnamese Revolutionary Soldiers imprisoned by the enemy said that over the past time, the Liaison Committee has always played a valuable role as a bridge between former political prisoners across the country, preserving and spreading noble historical values. To date, the Liaison Committee has connected more than 63,000 living former political prisoners, tens of thousands of martyrs' families, and organized more than 500 meetings, seminars and gratitude activities nationwide.

Over the past 10 years, the Liaison Committee has mobilized more than 60 billion VND from organizations and individuals to build gratitude houses, grant scholarships to children of former prisoners, and provide medical support to more than 5,000 former prisoners in difficult circumstances.

In particular, the Liaison Committee has coordinated with publishing agencies to publish more than 50 books, over 20 documentary films, reports, and historical documents recording the memories of former prisoners, and more than 300 thematic talks at schools, aiming to educate the younger generation about revolutionary traditions.

Speaking at the meeting, on behalf of the Party and State leaders, General Secretary To Lam and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh respectfully sent to the revolutionary veterans, Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, Heroes of the Armed Forces, former political prisoners, wounded and sick soldiers, relatives of martyrs, and people with revolutionary contributions their warm greetings, deep gratitude, and best wishes.

The Prime Minister emphasized that throughout the history of national construction, our country, Vietnam, has always faced difficulties, fierce challenges, and many invaders. However, with unparalleled solidarity, bravery, and intelligence, generations of Vietnamese people have been resilient, indomitable, and sacrificed for independence, freedom, and the eternal survival of the nation.

Patriotism, national pride, self-esteem, and the will to be self-reliant permeate every citizen, patriotism becomes a core value of the Vietnamese people. That strength was multiplied by the Party to create the success of the August Revolution, turning Vietnam from a colony into an independent and autonomous nation; the Vietnamese people from slavery raised their heads high, standing shoulder to shoulder with free nations in the world; then won victories in the resistance wars to save the country and unify the country.

The Prime Minister said that in the struggle for national liberation, millions of the nation's outstanding sons and daughters fought bravely, sacrificed, and gave their blood and bones for the Fatherland. Among them, former political prisoners are shining examples of the qualities and integrity of indomitable and resilient revolutionary soldiers, encouraging and adding to the belief in victory over any enemy.

“You, my brothers and sisters, have devoted your youth, put aside your personal dreams, and are ready to sacrifice for the Fatherland. The notorious prisons and detention camps on earth such as Hoa Lo, Son La, Con Dao, Phu Quoc, Chi Hoa, Phu Loi, Tan Hiep, Thu Duc... still cannot extinguish the revolutionary fire, cannot subdue the will of the soldiers and patriots. The spirit of living and fighting of the revolutionary soldiers and imprisoned patriots has written another heroic page in the history of the nation,” the Prime Minister emphasized.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that Con Dao prison alone, in its more than 113 years of existence (1862-1975), through 53 generations of island lords, colonialists, and imperialists, has imprisoned more than 200,000 political prisoners, of whom about 20,000 died in hells such as Tiger Cages, Cow Cages, Rice Mills, Phu Hai Camp..., using the most brutal and barbaric punishments to torture both the body and spirit of patriots. Hang Duong Cemetery alone currently has 1,922 graves, of which 714 have names, while many graves have not been identified, many comrades lie deep underground, under the sea...

“Our gratitude to those who fought and sacrificed for the Fatherland and the people cannot be expressed in words,” the Prime Minister said emotionally.

According to the Prime Minister, Con Dao is considered a special "revolutionary school", a place to nurture, train, and incubate many loyal cadres, many of whom later became outstanding leaders of the Party and State.

With the revolutionary fire burning brightly, revolutionary soldiers organized struggles, educated themselves in revolutionary spirit; studied theories and Uncle Ho’s Testament; embroidered national flags with threads taken from prison uniforms; secretly transmitted news… to maintain faith in the day of liberation. Revolutionary poems, letters written in blood, many brave prison breaks… became symbols of patriotism, a spirit of steel against the enemy, creating an unparalleled strength for the day of victory.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the living and fighting examples of the steadfast revolutionary soldiers who devoted themselves to the country and forever remain in the nation's history books, the Party's leaders and predecessors such as Le Hong Phong, Ngo Gia Tu, Nguyen Van Cu, Le Duan, Pham Van Dong, Nguyen Van Linh, Ton Duc Thang, Le Duc Tho, Pham Hung...; heroes and martyrs such as Vo Thi Sau, Luu Chi Hieu, Cao Van Ngoc...

The Prime Minister wishes and calls on all cadres, party members, all levels, all sectors, compatriots, soldiers nationwide, especially the young generation to uphold the spirit, live, work, labor, study, and perform well, worthy of the sacrifices of former political prisoners, heroic martyrs, and people with meritorious services to the revolution in the struggle for national independence and reunification.

The Prime Minister said that after 80 years of the successful August Revolution, 50 years of unification, and 40 years of Renovation, our country has achieved comprehensive and outstanding achievements. From a country at the "bottom of the well and the foot of the wall", surrounded and embargoed, by 2024 the economic scale reached 476.3 billion USD, becoming the 32nd largest economy in the world; GDP per capita reached nearly 4,700 USD.

People's lives are improved; Human Development Index is high compared to the level of economic development; Happiness Index in 2025 ranks 46/143 in the world, up 8 places compared to 2024. The country's position and prestige in the international arena are enhanced.

“Today’s great achievements are partly thanks to the patriotism and sacrifice of the heroic martyrs, of millions of comrades and compatriots. They fell, their flesh and blood soaked into the motherland, merged into the homeland’s rivers, into the Fatherland’s sea... to have the beautiful life we ​​have today,” the Prime Minister affirmed.

The Prime Minister said that in today's peaceful life, former political prisoners still keep the flame of revolution burning brightly in their hearts, always worthy of being loyal sons of the country, enthusiastic, actively participating in activities, movements, and campaigns; loyal to their compatriots, comrades, and comrades in arms. Those who together overcame hardships in prison, now continue to accompany each other in life.

The Prime Minister hopes that with their steadfast political will and indomitable spirit, former political prisoners will continue to contribute their efforts and intelligence to the construction and protection of the Fatherland; continue to be shining examples in educating children, grandchildren, and youth of all walks of life about the heroic traditions and sacrifices of previous generations; be a solid spiritual support for the Party Committee and authorities at all levels; be close to the people, share with the people.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested ministries, sectors and localities to promote the tradition of "Repaying gratitude", continue to pay attention to solving policies well, take care of the material and spiritual life of comrades and soldiers imprisoned by the enemy, families of war invalids and martyrs; and implement policies for people with meritorious services to the regime better and better.

Requesting relevant ministries and branches to develop a project on a database of former political prisoners imprisoned by the enemy and the struggles, sacrifices, hardships but extremely heroic of former prisoners; on behalf of the Party and State leaders, the Prime Minister respectfully acknowledged and thanked the efforts and results of the activities of the National Liaison Committee of Vietnamese Revolutionary Soldiers imprisoned by the enemy in the past time.

The Prime Minister said that in 2025 and the coming time, our Party, State and People are carrying out many important tasks to bring our country on par with the world powers; maintain independence and freedom; our people are increasingly happy and prosperous; and bring the country into a new era - an era of striving to develop richly and prosperously. This is the most practical action to show gratitude for the great sacrifices and contributions of heroic martyrs and revolutionary soldiers who were captured and imprisoned by the enemy for the independence, freedom and unification of the country.

On this occasion, the Prime Minister presented meaningful gifts to Vietnamese revolutionary soldiers imprisoned by the enemy and their relatives, expressing gratitude for their contributions to the cause of national liberation, peace and happiness for the people.