Historical Context Before September 2, 1945
To fully understand the significance of National Day, one must look back at Vietnam before the autumn of 1945. The people lived under French colonial rule and Japanese fascist occupation, while enduring a devastating famine. In his memoirs, Mr. Nguyen Tien Ha, a member of the Hoang Dieu Youth Rescue League, recalled scenes of "people dying like fallen rice straws, ox carts carrying bodies to cemeteries."
Against this backdrop, leader Nguyen Ai Quoc issued a call: "Use our own strength to liberate ourselves, not relying on any other force." In August 1944, at 46 Bat Dan Street, the Hoang Dieu Youth Rescue League was founded with 60 members, operating secretly as a shock force. Many members changed their names for secrecy, such as Nguyen Huu Tu becoming Nguyen Tien Ha.
The Events of September 2, 1945 at Ba Dinh Square
After the success of the August Revolution, on September 2, 1945, at the historic Ba Dinh Square, President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence, founding the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
Witnesses recounted the atmosphere with deep emotion. Mr. Pham Gia Doc, a Hoang Dieu youth, said: "People arrived very early, before 2 PM orderly queues stood still." From suburban districts like Hoai Duc and Gia Lam to provinces like Bac Ninh, Nam Dinh, and Ha Nam, hundreds of thousands converged on the square. Youth Rescue members wore blue trousers and white shirts, Hanoi girls in flowing ao dai, militia in brown shirts with cinched belts, rural women with coiled hair and four-panel dresses.
The ceremony began with "Tien Quan Ca" by musician Van Cao. President Ho Chi Minh stepped out in an old yellow khaki outfit, thin and weathered, and asked: "Can you hear me clearly, compatriots?" The sea of people responded in unison: "Yes." This simple detail, according to Mr. Nguyen Tien Ha, "bridged the distance between President Ho and the people, forming a strong bond between leader and masses."
Core Content of the Declaration of Independence
The Declaration was not merely a proclamation of nationhood but a political document asserting Vietnam's right to freedom and independence before the world. The resounding words still echo today: "A people who have courageously opposed French enslavement for more than eighty years, a people who have courageously stood side by side with the Allies against the fascists during these last years, such a people must be free! Such a people must be independent!"
And the sacred oath: "Vietnam has the right to enjoy freedom and independence, and in fact has become a free and independent country. The entire Vietnamese people are determined to mobilize all their physical and mental strength, to sacrifice their lives and property to safeguard their freedom and independence."
Historical Significance and Enduring Value
September 2, 1945 marked a great turning point: the country entered a new era, an era of national independence linked with socialism. Ba Dinh Square has since witnessed many important events of the nation.
For every Vietnamese, National Day evokes sacred emotions, love, and national pride. The red flag with a yellow star flying over Ba Dinh Square that day became a sacred symbol representing the spiritual strength of the nation.
From Memory to Today's Generation
Historical witnesses like Mr. Nguyen Tien Ha, though advanced in age, wish to pass on their memories to future generations. Continuing this tradition, today's youth express pride and determination to build the country. Mr. Nguyen Van Quyet, a school youth leader, shared: "For the younger generation, September 2 is a very special day that fills us with excitement and makes us want to sing songs about our beloved Fatherland."
Ms. Nguyen Thi Diep Anh, a local youth union secretary, imagined Hanoi that day as "ablaze with red," with "smiles ready on lips, hearts full of hope."
Looking to the past to move forward, National Day is not only an occasion to honor the contributions of ancestors but also a reminder of the value of independence and freedom, and the responsibility to protect and build the nation.
