Aspiration for national independence - From the August Revolution to the era of rising

The world in 2025 is entering a new era, where strategic competition among nations goes beyond the military sphere to encompass economics, international standing, and influence. In this context, our nation is steadily stepping into its new era of rising, with the determination of the entire Party, people, and army. From the August Revolution to era of rising are two distinct periods, however the core values of national unity and the aspiration for independence will forever be sunlight, guiding Vietnam toward its next great achievements.

Chairman of the Dong Nai Provincial Science and History Association, Tran Quang Toai. Photo: NVCC

On the occasion of 80th anniversary of the successful August Revolution, Chairman of the Dong Nai Provincial Science and History Association, Tran Quang Toai, shared with Dong Nai Newspaper, Radio and Television about the spirit and core values of this historic event.

The August Revolution - A milestone of unity and aspiration for independence

* Sir, 80 years have passed, yet the spirit of the August Revolution still resonates. In your opinion, what is the most essential value of this event for today?

- First of all, the August Revolution is a turning point, a symbol of the aspiration for national independence. Without that aspiration, we could not have formed the mindset necessary to win national independence. Without aspiration, we would have been unable to find a revolutionary method, and build core revolutionary forces for the uprising.

 That aspiration still holds true in the 4.0 era. As Vietnam integrates globally, it must sustain that aspiration and transform it into the aspiration to contribute, to promote intellect and talent, so that our nation becomes strong, prosperous with economic development on par with the powers of the five continents in the world.

The world and the region today are witnessing many changes, with new and complex conflicts, both traditional and non-traditional, alongside numerous external and internal factors affecting national defense and security. Thus, beyond the aspiration to develop economic and enhance people’s lives, our country must always desire to firmly keep independence, contribute to protecting regional peace. Vietnam is ready to be a friend to all nations, based on mutual benefit principle, but will always maintain independence.

* From the aspiration for gaining national independence in 1945 to today’s aspiration for prosperity, what do you see as the enduring thread that links the two eras?

- The success of the August Revolution left us with many lessons, with the foremost being the lesson of promoting patriotism and national unity. That unity must always be tied to the goal of national independence, rich people, strong country, just, democratic and civilized society. Patriotic tradition is the connecting thread that runs through both the resistance wars and nowadays.

On August 19, 1945, the General Uprising in Hanoi, revolutionary masses stormed the Bac Bo Phu building. Photo: Archive

Dong Nai - From the August Revolution to a new era

* Could you share some landmarks, notable events in Dong Nai during the August Revolution of 1945?

- In the historical period of August 1945, today’s Dong Nai was Bien Hoa province (established in 1832), part of the Southern Region and of the whole country. The Bien Hoa Party Committee was an organization of the Communist Party founded by leader Nguyen Ai Quoc. Under the overall leadership of the Central Committee and the Southern Region Party Committee, Bien Hoa Party Committee also went through many periods of arduous struggle. Many times, its branches were broken and had to be rebuilt, many leaders were imprisoned in Ba Ra and Ta Lai, however with patriotism and the aspiration for independence, Bien Hoa’s Party members regrouped and continued the struggle, ultimately seizing power on August 26, 1945, with only 40 members

Song Pho work is the site where the meeting on August 27, 1945, and the inaugural ceremony of the revolutionary government of Bien Hoa province took place. Binh Truoc Meeting Hall was the venue for the provincial Party members’ meeting on the night of September 23, 1945, to establish the Bien Hoa provincial Party Committee, in the context of French colonialists firing the first shots to re-invade Vietnam in Saigon - Gia Dinh.

The Bien Hoa Provincial Party Committee decided to build armed forces, establish the Viet Minh Front system, mobilize political forces, and set up local government throughout the province. The Vinh Cuu Guerrilla Training Camp was built and opened military-political cadre training courses for the province and the Eastern region starting September 26, 1945 - the first military-political school in the East at that time.

Binh Truoc Meeting Hall, a national historical relic site. Photo: Bich Tuyen

* In your view, how can Dong Nai maintain the spirit of the August Revolution in its development today?

- The most important thing is how we ignite the flame of patriotism, the aspiration for independence, and the desire to prosper legitimately in building strong, democratic and civilized country. Since the Party’s 6th National Congress (December 1986), nearly 40 years of renovation have passed, while Party’s policies have been adjusted, the goal of affirming independence and building Viet Nam into a prosperous, democratic, and civilized country that integrates with the world has never changed.

For Dong Nai, since July 1, 2025, with its expanded administrative boundaries, new opportunities have opened for the province to promote its economic potential, combining domestic economic strengths with international economics, attracting foreign investment. These are conditions for Dong Nai to rise and achieve its goals of becoming prosperous and worthy of being a key growth pole in the Southeastern region.

The second important thing is ensuring social welfare and developing resources, especially human resources with high intellectual capacity. This allows us to connect the tradition of aspiring for independence with today’s aspiration for socio-economic development.

Dong Nai’s youth - continuing the aspirations of their forefathers

* On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution, what message would you like to send to the young generation?

- I would like to recall Uncle Ho words in his letter to the youth and children nationwide in January 1946: “A year begins with spring. A life begins with youth. Youth is the spring of society.”

Young people are not only the spring of the nation, but also bear the responsibility of creating a beautiful spring for it. Therefore, they must strive to learn. Learning is not merely about acquiring knowledge but also about learning how to be human, it means they must develop independent thinking, and have aspiration to rise not just for themselves, for their own success, but with the understanding that their success will be a significant contribution to their family and society. Only then can our country become truly strong and prosperous.

“… "Whether Vietnam would become prosperous and the Vietnamese nation would stand proudly as equals to major powers of the five continents depends largely on your efforts in learning.”

(Excerpt from Uncle Ho’s letter sent to pupils on the first day of school in September 1945)

Thank you for your sharing!

By: Bich Tuyen (interviewer)

Translated by: Thu Hien - Thu Ha