Image: Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)
TL;DR: On September 2, 1945, at Ba Đình Square, President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence, founding the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. The event opened an era of national independence and became a sacred symbol of patriotism. National Day is an occasion to reflect on the past and look to the future.
What was the 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. Nguyễn Tiến Hà, a member of the Hoàng Diệu Youth Rescue League, recalled scenes of "people dying like fallen rice straws, ox carts carrying bodies to cemeteries."
Against this backdrop, leader Nguyễn Ái Quốc issued a call: "Use our own strength to liberate ourselves, not relying on any other force." In August 1944, at 46 Bát Đàn Street, the Hoàng Diệu Youth Rescue League was founded with 60 members, operating secretly as a shock force. Many members changed their names for secrecy, such as Nguyễn Hữu Tự becoming Nguyễn Tiến Hà.
Summary table of witnesses and details they recounted about September 2, 1945.
| Witness | Role | Recounted details |
|---|---|---|
| Nguyễn Tiến Hà | Member of the Hoàng Diệu National Salvation Youth Union | The scene of dead people lying like fallen rice, ox carts specializing in carrying corpses to gather and take them to the cemetery |
| Phạm Gia Đốc | Hoàng Diệu National Salvation Youth | People arrived early, before 2 o'clock the lines were neatly formed and stood still |
| Nguyễn Tiến Hà | Member of the Hoàng Diệu National Salvation Youth Union | The detail that Hồ Chủ tịch asked compatriots whether they could hear clearly bridged the distance between Hồ Chủ tịch and the people |
| Nguyễn Văn Quyết | General Leader of the Dịch Vọng B Primary School Team | September 2 was an extremely special day, the younger generation was excited and only wanted to sing out songs about the beloved Fatherland |
| Nguyễn Thị Diệp Anh | Secretary of the Cống Vị Ward Youth Union | Imagined the capital Hà Nội on that day bustling with red, smiles ready on lips, hearts overflowing with hope |
What happened on September 2, 1945 at Ba Đình Square?
After the success of the August Revolution, on September 2, 1945, at the historic Ba Đình 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. Phạm Gia Đốc, a Hoàng Diệu youth, said: "People arrived very early, before 2 PM orderly queues stood still." From suburban districts like Hoài Đức and Gia Lâm to provinces like Bắc Ninh and Ninh Binh (formerly Nam Định and Hà 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 Văn 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. Nguyễn Tiến Hà, "bridged the distance between President Ho and the people, forming a strong bond between leader and masses."
What is the 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."
What does Vietnam National Day mean for history?
September 2, 1945 marked a great turning point: the country entered a new era, an era of national independence linked with socialism. Ba Đình 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 Đình Square that day became a sacred symbol representing the spiritual strength of the nation.
How do you pass the memory to today's generation?
Historical witnesses like Mr. Nguyễn Tiến Hà, 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. Nguyễn Văn Quyết, 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. Nguyễn Thị Diệp 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.
