From the August Revolution to the revolution of streamlining apparatus (Part 1)

The August Revolution of 1945 and the National Day on September 2 marked the dawn of a new era - an era of national independence closely associated with socialism. These historic events elevated the Vietnamese people from a state of enslavement to the masters of their own nation and destiny. From the August Revolution, great values such as national unity, the principle of " taking the people as the root," and the strategic art of seizing opportunities - have remained valuable lessons that the Communist Party of Vietnam has creatively applied throughout the renewal process and national development.

PART 1: TURNING TO THE LIGHT OF THE PARTY

Throughout Vietnamese history, never before had the aspiration for independence and freedom burned as intensely as in the late 19th and early 20th centuries - a time when the nation was plunged into the long and dark night under colonial and feudal oppression. In the historical land of Tran Bien, encompassing the former provinces of Binh Phuoc and Dong Nai (now the modern-day Dong Nai province), the earliest Communist Party organizations began to take shape. Under the guiding light of the Party, the brilliant leadership of President Ho Chi Minh, and the solidarity between the military and the people, bound by deep compatriot sentiment, the revolutionary ship of Vietnam steadfastly braved stormy waves and sailed into the open sea, achieving countless monumental victories.

THE BIRTH OF THE PARTY – THE LIGHT OF IDEAL OF INDEPENDENCE

On these autumn days of August, as the entire nation looks forward to the grand celebration marking the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day (September 2), we had the opportunity to return to Hamlet 3, formerly part of Thuan Phu commune, now Thuan Loi commune, in Dong Nai province - a revolutionary land that has undergone remarkable transformations. Revolutionary fervor radiates from every home and alley, with red national flags fluttering proudly amid lush rubber plantations, promising a thriving land of heroes.

The Phu Rieng Do Party Cell Monument, located in Thuan Loi commune, Dong Nai province, marks the establishment of the first Communist Party organization in the Southeastern region. Photo: Minh Luan

It was here, nearly a century ago, that the Indochinese Communist Party cell was established on October 28, 1929, comprising six members led by Nguyen Xuan Cu as its Secretary. This was the first Communist Party cell in Southeastern Vietnam. Under its leadership, on February 3, 1930, over 5,000 rubber plantation workers rose up in a struggle and, within a week, had taken full control of the Phu Rieng rubber plantation from the French colonialists.

This was the largest strike among all labor movements in the region, shaking the entire Indochinese system of rubber "hells" and sending shock waves across  domestic and international press. The Phu Rieng Do Uprising event was not only a nightmare for French colonialists but also a source of pride for Vietnamese rubber workers. From this heroic cradle, countless examples of courage and sacrifice were nurtured and tempered on the land of former Binh Phuoc province, glorifying the proud traditions of the nation.

Nguyen Quang Minh, a Party member with 55 years of service from Thuan Phu 1 Hamlet, Thuan Loi Commune Party Committee, proudly recalled his life and contributions on this heroic land. According to him, the revolutionary tradition of his homeland has nurtured and forged the resilient spirit, idealism, and dedication among generations of cadres, Party members, and local residents - from Thuan Phu of the past to today’s Thuan Loi. The locality’s present-day prosperity owes much to the contributions of its people and their spirit of self-reliance.

Looking back since the French imposed colonial rule in the late 19th century, countless patriotic movements arose one after another, namely the Can Vuong, Dong Du, Duy Tan, Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc, all resounding with the indomitable spirit of the nation. However, lacking sound leadership and a unified organization, they all ended up in failure. The nation was plunghed into darkness, without a path forward. It was at that very moment, Nguyen Ai Quoc, a patriotic young man, discovered in Marxism-Leninism the right path for national liberation.

From 1921 to 1930, Nguyen Ai Quoc dedicated himself to introducing Marxism-Leninism among Vietnam’s workers’ and patriotic movements, laying the ideological groundwork for the birth of the Communist Party.

Following years of careful organizational preparation and tireless efforts by Nguyen Ai Quoc and other early revolutionaries, the conditions for forming a unified Party had ripened.

On February 3, 1930, under the chairmanship of Nguyen Ai Quoc, a unification conference of three communist organizations - the Indochinese Communist Party, the Annamese Communist Party, and the Indochinese Communist League - was held in Hong Kong (China), leading to the establishment of the Communist Party of Vietnam. This was not only a monumental political event but also a historic turning point. For the first time, the Vietnamese nation had a genuine revolutionary party with a clear platform: national independence associated with socialism, with workers and peasants as its foundation, and the solidarity of the entire people in the struggle for freedom. The Party’s birth was like a beacon dispelling the darkness that had long shrouded the nation.

Since the founding of the Party, workers, farmers, intellectuals, youth, and women found purpose and belief in life. They turned to the Party with unwavering faith and courageous action, helping translate ideals into reality. In 1930-1931 period, the Soviet – Nghe Tinh Uprising erupted, and for the first time, people's governments were established in revolutionary strongholds, demonstrating the immense power of the masses when led by the Party.

In 1939, as World War II broke out and the Vietnamese people endured brutal oppression under both French colonial and Japanese fascist forces, the Party promptly adjusted its strategic direction, prioritizing national liberation above all.

The 8th Plenum of the Party Central Committee in May 1941, chaired by Nguyen Ai Quoc, decided to establish the Viet Minh Front, calling on all citizens to unite. The Party focused on building revolutionary bases, organizing armed forces, and preparing for a general uprising.

THE PARTY’S LEADERSHIP IN BIEN HOA’S REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENT

After the 1930-1931 Nghe Tinh - Soviet movement, the French launched brutal crackdown of white terror, leaving the revolutionary situation in the country and in the South in severe difficulty. The Southern Party Committee was repeatedly dismantled by colonial repression. In Bien Hoa, revolutionary activities resumed after 1934 through propaganda and Party-building efforts by comrades Luu Van Viet (from Saigon) and Hoang Minh Chau, dispatched by the Southern Committee.

The relic site marking the establishment of the Binh Phuoc - Tan Trieu Party Cell becomes a red address for educating young generations about patriotism. Photo: Phuong Hang

In February 1935, based on Party members recruited by Luu Van Viet, the Binh Phuoc - Tan Trieu Party Cell was formed in Tan Binh commune (now Tan Trieu ward, Dong Nai province), with Hoang Minh Chau as Secretary and members including Luu Van Viet, Luu Van Van, Huynh Xuan Phan, Quach Sanh, and Quach Ty.

From its inception, this cell became a rallying flag and a pioneering force that expanded patriotic bases and the Indochinese Democratic Front movement throughout Bien Hoa. It established the Bien Hoa Students’ Federation, using various means to spread communist ideology. Many local youths, inspired by the Binh Phuoc – Tan Trieu Party members, joined the Party, and new cells sprang up in Tan Uyen, Xuan Loc, Long Thanh and beyond.

The emergence of this cell, followed by others across the province, affirmed the Party's leadership role and the local revolutionary movement’s need for a unified provincial Party organization.

Recognizing this, the Southern Party Committee appointed Truong Van Bang, former Secretary of the Committee, to consolidate Party members and organize the Bien Hoa Provincial Party Committee. In February 1937, using the Binh Phuoc - Tan Trieu cell as a core, he convened a meeting at the same historic site to establish the Provisional Bien Hoa Provincial Party Committee.

The founding of Bien Hoa Provincial Party Committee marked a new milestone in the local revolutionary movement. Under its leadership, revolutionary activities in Bien Hoa rapidly expanded in scale and form. Notably, in July 1940, the Provincial Committee formed the province’s first armed unit to participate in uprisings. Though the uprising did not succeed, the spirit of the Southern Uprising, led by Bien Hoa's Party Committee, endured. The armed unit preserved its strength and later contributed to the August 1945 Revolution, seizing power in Tan Uyen district, Bien Hoa province.

Master TRAN QUANG TOAI, Chairman of the Dong Nai Provincial Historical Sciences Association

With the establishment of the Party, under its brilliant leadership headed by President Ho Chi Minh, the entire Vietnamese people united to rise together in a general uprising to seize power and found the Democratic Republic of Vietnam - the first worker-peasant state in Southeast Asia. Historians regard this as a revolution that "shook the heavens and the earth," altering the political landscape not only in the region but also across the world. Within only 15 years, a young Party led the nation from colonial darkness to the autumn of independence. It stands as a powerful testament to the strength of revolutionary light - the guiding light of the Party.

By: Minh Luan

Translated by: Thuc Oanh - Thu Ha