Provincial armed forces grow mature in step with national development

Colonel Nguyen Thanh Tam, Head of Logistics and Technology of Military Region 7, encourages young people in Trang Bom commune to join the army in 2025. Photo: Nguyet Ha

Eighty years of National independence have also marked the journey of the Provincial armed forces (PAF), which have consistently played the core role in defending the Fatherland, the Party, the State and the People, while contributing to building a prosperous and civilized Dong Nai.

Nearly 80 years ago, on December 25, 1945, in An Son Revolutionary Base (now Thuan An ward, Ho Chi Minh City), the armed forces of former Binh Phuoc province were established. On May 15, 1946, the armed forces of former Dong Nai Province were officially formed. Very quickly, the PAF became the core force of the people’s uprising to safeguard the achievements of the August Revolution. Soon after independence, French colonialists returned to invade the South, beginning their second war of aggression in Vietnam. Alongside the Southern people, the PAF remained the backbone of the resistance, protecting the revolution’s achievements.

Reconnaissance–Mechanized Company soldiers under the Provincial Military Command’s Staff Office train in high-rise assault operations.

After the nine-year resistance war (1945-1954) against the French colonialism, the North was liberated while the South continued the people's national democratic revolution. Under the Party’s leadership, the PAF became the vanguard in the resistance against American imperialists. Many decisive victories resonated across Dong Nai, including Bu Dang (December 14, 1974), Dong Xoai (December 16, 1974), and especially the victory of the Road 14 – Phuoc Long Campaign on January 6, 1975, which liberated Phuoc Long; the victories at Binh Long (March 23, 1975) and Chon Thanh (April 2, 1975) put an end to the existence of U.S.–Saigon forces in former Binh Phuoc (the Northern area of present-day Dong Nai).

These days, the PAF are carrying out many meaningful activities, including groundbreaking for a cultural facility at the Tinh Hoi Pagoda in Binh Phuoc ward, and soon another cultural and sports facility in one commune or ward of former Dong Nai province. Each project is worth VND 500 million, funded by Military Region 7 under the program to strengthen ties between the armed forces and religious communities. In addition, cultural and sports events, as well as support for people affected by floods and natural disasters, are being actively implemented by the PAF.

During the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign, the Northern area of the province played a key role in supplying weapons and food to the southern battlefield, serving as a local rear base. Alongside strategic and campaign-level transport forces, the local armed forces, together with residents, mobilized all resources to ensure logistics and troop movements. The PAF quickly grew in tactics, combined-arms coordination, and methods of the three-pronged offensive.

In the Spring 1975 General Offensive and Uprising, the PAF contributed to breaking through the “steel gate” of Xuan Loc; opening up Trang Bom; and launching strong attacks from the Southeast, paving the way for the army’s advance into Saigon, liberating the South, reunifying the country, and safeguarding National independence.

The mobile militia force practices to protect the target.

Recalling many battles in the wars for independence, Hero of the PAF Pham Van Can, a resident of Tran Bien ward, affirmed that the spirit of the August Revolution and September 2nd, along with the heroic traditions, are being worthily inherited by today’s PAF, upholding the “Determined to fight, determined to win” banner of the army, the nation, and heroic Dong Nai.

Senior Lieutenant Colonel, Hero of the People’s Armed Forces Pham Van Can, expresses confidence in the strong growth of the PAF. He shared: “Witnessing the development of the Dong Nai’s armed forces today, I, along with my comrades, place great trust and expectations in the bright future of the country. Especially, with the two-tier local government model and the merger of provinces and cities, Dong Nai now has borders, seaports, and international exchanges, but also new challenges. With the achievements made by the PAF in recent years, we are fully assured of this core force in defending the Fatherland, the Party, the State, and the People in the province.”

Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of Dong Nai People’s Committee Vo Tan Duc inspects activities at Hoa Lu International Border Gate Border Guard Station. Photo: Nguyet Ha

Colonel Vo Thanh Danh added that in the 2020-2025 term, the Provincial Military Party Committee has fulfilled and exceeded 41 of 45 resolution targets. Several indicators exceeded expectations, such as political reliability: the proportion of Party members in the militia reaching 31.12% (6.12% above target); Party members in the reserve force exceeding by 0.15%; and the proportion of Party members among new recruits surpassing by 0.63%.

Colonel Vo Thanh Danh further noted that in the first eight months of 2025, the Party Committee and Military Command of Dong Nai completed many key tasks. Especially after the restructuring to adapt to the two-tier local government model on July 1, 2025, the unit has quickly stabilized and coordinated smoothly with local authorities, ensuring uninterrupted operations and fulfilling assigned missions effectively.

The new model has been proving effective in the practical operations and activities of the armed forces from provincial to communal levels. Major General Dang Van Lam, Member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and Deputy Commander of Military Region 7, during his inspection at the Long Khanh Command of the Defense Region 2, commented: “The Dong Nai Military Party Committee and Command have closely followed higher-level directives and effectively put resolutions into practice. Despite initial difficulties, the regional Defense Commands quickly adapted, kept pace with realities, and found practical solutions.”

At the time we wrote this article, the PAF in Long Thanh and Long Khanh Commands of Defense Regions 1 and 2 were actively assisting residents in overcoming the aftermath of floods in several communes and wards.

Senior Lieutenant Colonel Ong Van An, Commander of the Long Thanh Command of Defense Region 1, stated that the unit deployed over 100 officers and soldiers to flood-hit areas to help evacuate residents, protect property, and ensure safety.

Nguyen Bac, a resident of Sa Ca hamlet, Binh An commune, shared emotionally: “Thanks to the soldiers and militia, we were able to move our belongings and valuables to safety. They even set up guard posts so that people could feel secure during the floods.”

According to Colonel Vo Thanh Danh, in just two months under the new administrative model, the PAF not only stabilized its organization but also successfully held an early Party Congress for Military Region 7’s armed forces, which was highly praised. Training, discipline, and building regular, exemplary units continue to be maintained effectively.

These results are the testament to the strong growth of the PAF in step with the nation in the new context. It reflects their inheritance of heroic traditions, their spirit of unity, and their efforts to rise and build an exemplary, elite, compact, and strong force capable of fulfilling tasks in the new context.

By: Nguyet Ha

Translated by: M.Nguyet-Thu Ha