The August Revolution and the National Day, September 2, 1945, were crucial events, which opened up a new era in the history of the Vietnamese nation.

Under the far-sighted leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President Ho Chi Minh, in August 1945, the entire Vietnamese people took part in the general uprising to seize power throughout the country. On September 2, 1945, at Ba Dinh Square, President Ho Chi Minh, in the Declaration of Independence, solemnly proclaimed the birth of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. In the Declaration, President Ho Chi Minh affirmed that "Vietnam has the right to be a free and independent country - and in fact it is so already. The entire Vietnamese people are determined to mobilise all their physical and mental strength, to sacrifice their lives and property in order to safeguard their independence and liberty."

The victory of the August Revolution and the birth of a new Vietnam were a historic milestone, shattering the cruel of colonialism and fascism that had existed for nearly a century, putting an end to the obsolete feudalist regime in Vietnam, giving way to the formation of the democratic republic, and ushering in a new era in the history of the nation, the era of independence and freedom, in which the working people are the masters of the country. The August Revolution and the establishment of the state of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam also raised the banner of inspiration for the struggle of the movement of  oppressed nations against the rule of colonialism and imperialism, and marked the collapse of colonialism worldwide.

Building on the success of the August Revolution, the Vietnamese people continued their 30-year arduous struggle overcoming numerous challenges and hardships to gain glorious victories in the wars of resistance against the most brutal aggressors of the modern time, completed the national liberation cause, reunited the fatherland, and opened up a new era of nation building and development towards socialism.

Surmounting untold difficulties and challenges in the post-war period, the Party has launched the renovation (doi moi) process in 1986 and recorded remarkable achievements of historic significance, taking the country out of stagnation, and creating a new position and strength for the nation. The people’s material and spiritual life has been improved, the national independence, defence and security firmly maintained, the country’s posture in the international arena enhanced.

Looking back upon the glorious accomplishments of the Vietnamese Revolution over the last 60 years, we are very proud of our nation, a nation with a courageous, brilliant, benevolent and united people. We are also proud of our Party, the vanguard of the working class, the loyal representative of the interest of the working class toiling people and the whole nation. The Party has always stayed firm steering a revolutionary course through all the ups and downs in the history to the glorious victory. We are so proud of President Ho Chi Minh - the brilliant leader of the nation, whose thoughts and life will forever be the guiding torch and an invaluable treasure of the nation. Ho Chi Minh thoughts, the historic mission of the Vietnamese Communist Party, patriotism and the revolutionary heroism, are the decisive factors, making up the unparalleled strength of the Vietnamese people in the new era.

At the solemn celebration, we pay tribute to President Ho Chi Minh and other forefather leaders of the Party, State and the National Unified Front. Millions of sons and daughters had sacrificed their lives for national independence, freedom, socialism and the glorious international cause. They will be forever remembered. We also express our deepest gratitude to the veteran revolutionaries, Vietnamese heroic mothers, families with meritorious contributions to the revolution, relatives of war martyrs, war invalids, and all fellow countrymen and soldiers for their sacrifice and devotion to the revolutionary cause of the whole nation.

It is still engraved on our mind with profound gratitude the enormous support and assistance extended by the Parties, Governments and people of fraternal countries, progressive forces and friends near and far during the past struggle for national independence as well as in the current cause national defence, construction and development.

Compatriots,
Comrades and friends,

There will be both opportunities and challenges for the cause of construction and safeguard of our socialist fatherland in the coming years. Apart from the enormous achievements recorded over the last 20 years of Doi Moi, Vietnam remains an underdeveloped economy with a high incidence of poverty. The state management apparatus and political system are still cumbersome and inefficient, red-tape, extravagance, unaccountability, non-compliance and indiscipline are still rampant; corruption and other social evils are grave concerns for the whole society. The world and regional situation continues to develop in a complex fashion. Globalisation and international economic integration for peace, co-operation and development remain a prevailing trend. Nevertheless, local wars, armed conflicts, interference and subversion, terrorism, amongst other factors continue to threaten peace, security and the stability of countries and regions.

Under such circumstances, our Party, people and army will continue to stand united and follow our chosen revolutionary path in order to maintain the goals of national independence and socialism, construction and safeguard of the Fatherland and turn Vietnam into a developed country in the coming decades.

We will continue our open-door foreign policy of independence, sovereignty, diversification and multilateralisation of external relations. Vietnam is willing to be a friend and a reliable partner of all countries in the international community, striving for peace, independence and development.

The celebration of the 60th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day this year takes place at a time when the whole people are striving in the national role model movement in response to the Party grassroots congresses held towards the 10th National Party Congress. All Vietnamese people, regardless of their past, ethnicity, region and social groups, come together in the great national unity and join hands to continue moving forward the Doi Moi process, successfully realising the State targets for 2005, and pushing forward the industrialisation and modernisation of the country.

We call on Vietnamese compatriots living aboard to stand united and assist each other in work and study so as to be successful in life and maintain the fine cultural identities and traditions of the Vietnamese nation, and to contribute to prospering their homeland.

The future of our nation is bright. New opportunities await us. Proceeding from the tradition of national self-esteem, the heroic Vietnamese nation will surely record new miracles in the fight against poverty and backwardness, successfully realising the goals of turning Vietnam into a strong country with wealthy people, a just, democratic and advanced society and firmly safeguarding our Fatherland, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

• Long live the spirit of the August Revolution and the Nation Day!

• Long live the Socialist Republic of Vietnam!

• Long live the heroic Vietnamese people!

• Long live the Communist Party of Vietnam!

• President Ho Chi Minh live forever in our cause!

Thank you for your attention.