Hanoi, December 21, 2025 – The Europe Today: The Việtnam People’s Army (VPA) has always been an absolutely loyal and trusted political force of the Party, the State and the people, Party General Secretary Tô Lâm, Secretary of the Central Military Commission, affirmed in an article released on the occasion of the VPA’s 81st founding anniversary (December 22, 1944–2025).
In the article, Party General Secretary Tô Lâm reviewed the 81-year journey of building, fighting, winning and growing of the VPA, stressing that under the Party’s glorious flag, the army has consistently upheld its revolutionary nature and fully deserved President Hồ Chí Minh’s praise for its loyalty to the Party, devotion to the people, and readiness to fight and sacrifice for national independence, freedom and socialism.
He recalled that 81 years ago, following President Hồ Chí Minh’s directive, the Việtnam Propaganda Unit of Liberation Army — the forerunner of the VPA — was founded in Cao Bằng Province with just 34 soldiers. From its earliest days, the army became a core force of the revolution, contributing decisively to the success of the August 1945 General Uprising and later to historic victories in the resistance wars against French colonialism and US imperialism, culminating in the Spring 1975 General Offensive and Uprising and the Hồ Chí Minh Campaign that reunified the country.
The article underscored that the Party’s absolute and direct leadership over the army in all aspects has been the decisive factor behind all victories of the VPA. This principle, first articulated in the Party’s 1930 Brief Political Platform, laid the foundation for building a new-type people’s army with a firm working-class nature and unwavering loyalty to the goals of national independence and socialism.
Under the Party’s leadership, the VPA also successfully fulfilled its duties in defending the Fatherland along the southwestern and northern borders, carried out noble international obligations in Laos and Cambodia, and made important contributions to regional and global peace and stability.
In the period of renewal (Đổi mới), the army has continued to affirm its role as a trusted political force by effectively performing its three functions as a fighting force, a working force, and a labour-production force. It has played a key role in safeguarding sovereignty, especially over seas and islands, strengthening all-people national defence, expanding defence diplomacy, participating in socio-economic development, and supporting the people in disaster prevention, search and rescue, poverty reduction and rural development.
Looking ahead, Party General Secretary Tô Lâm noted that rapid and complex changes in the international and regional situation, coupled with both traditional and non-traditional security challenges, place higher demands on the task of defending the Fatherland and building a “revolutionary, regular, elite and modern” army.
To meet these requirements, he outlined key tasks, including steadfastly maintaining and strengthening the Party’s absolute leadership over the army; building a clean, comprehensively strong and exemplary VPA Party Organisation; enhancing leadership capacity, combat strength and the effectiveness of Party and political work; and resolutely thwarting and defeating hostile forces’ plots of “peaceful evolution” and internal degradation.
He expressed confidence that, with its glorious 81-year tradition, the Việtnam People’s Army will continue to uphold the qualities of Uncle Hồ’s Soldiers, firmly safeguard the Fatherland, and contribute to building a peaceful, prosperous and happy Việtnam in the new era.
