General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee TO LAM

Every year in July, the Vietnamese people solemnly express their most sacred and deepest affection to remember and show gratitude to those who laid down their lives for the nation — the heroic fallen soldiers and wounded and sick soldiers who selflessly sacrificed their blood and lives for the independence, freedom, and peace of the Fatherland.

Over more than 95 years under the leadership of theEach July 27 also serves as a special occasion for the entire Party, people, and armed forces to pay tribute to revolution contributors’ families. The noble tradition of “When drinking water, remember its source” has become a sacred thread linking generations of Vietnamese people. It is a great spiritual force that unites the whole nation, enabling us to overcome all difficulties and build a stronger, more advanced and prosperous country worthy of the immense sacrifices and contributions of previous generations.

More than 4,000 years of the Vietnamese history form an immortal epic of patriotism, unyielding will, and indomitable struggle, the gratitude from the living to those who dedicated their lives for the country.
Party, our country and nation have overcome countless difficulties, hardships, and immense sacrifices to achieve glorious and great victories. Especially after nearly 40 years of Doi Moi (Renewal) process, Viet Nam has attained significant, historic achievements.

The noble tradition of “When drinking water, remember its source” has become a sacred thread linking generations of Vietnamese people. It is a great spiritual force that unites the whole nation, enabling us to overcome all difficulties and build a stronger, more advanced and prosperous country worthy of the immense sacrifices and contributions of previous generations.

Through arduous and sacrificial wars to defend the nation, from the era of the Hung Kings who laid the foundations of the country to the difficult resistance wars against foreign invaders, the Vietnamese nation never bowed to tyranny nor retreated in the face of aggression.

For more than 95 years under the leadership of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, and throughout 80 years of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, millions of people have laid down their lives so that the nation could rise, gain independence, secure peace and unification, and so that the people could live in freedom, prosperity and happiness, striving towards a future of affluence, strength, and greatness.

Youth volunteers actively participating in land clearing and road construction during the resistance against the US to save the nation. (Photo: VNA)

Youth volunteers actively participating in land clearing and road construction during the resistance against the US to save the nation. (Photo: VNA)

A Vietnamese soldier waving the national flag on top of a French command bunker in Dien Bien Phu, May 7, 1954. (Photo: VNA)

A Vietnamese soldier waving the national flag on top of a French command bunker in Dien Bien Phu, May 7, 1954. (Photo: VNA)

From humble paths, the Ho Chi Minh Trail developed into a major logistical route for transporting troops and supplies to the southern front. (Photo: VNA)

From humble paths, the Ho Chi Minh Trail developed into a major logistical route for transporting troops and supplies to the southern front. (Photo: VNA)

General Secretary To Lam visits severely wounded veterans at the Thuan Thanh War Invalids Nursing Centre.

General Secretary To Lam visits severely wounded veterans at the Thuan Thanh War Invalids Nursing Centre.

Millions of the nation's finest have fallen so that the country could rise, achieve independence, peace, and reunification; so that the people could live in freedom, prosperity and happiness, and look ahead to a future of strength and prosperity.
Party General Secretary To Lam

Today’s achievements—a dynamic, renewing, and globally integrating Viet Nam—would not have been possible without the sweat, blood, and sacrifices of generations of revolutionary fighters, soldiers, youth volunteers, frontline logistics workers, and the mothers and fathers who sent their children to the battlefield, bearing the pain and hardship themselves in the spirit of “sacrifice for national survival” and “all for the front lines”.

Along with the ancestors, more than 1.2 million martyrs, 9.2 million people with revolutionary contributions and relatives of those with revolutionary contributions nationwide today, are the immortal souls of the nation, the most beautiful symbols of Vietnamese revolutionary heroism. More than 3,000 martyrs’ cemeteries, more than 4,000 works honouring martyrs nationwide are torches that always light up the achievements and commemorate the heroic martyrs; more than 100 million Vietnamese hearts are a source of abundant emotions, imbued with the morality of “when drinking water, remember its source”, for those who have contributed to the country.

We could not have today, could not have a renewed, developed, deeply integrated Viet Nam without the sweat, blood and bones of many generations of revolutionary soldiers, soldiers, youth volunteers, frontline workers, mothers and fathers who were ready to encourage their children to go to war and take the hardships, difficulties and losses for themselves with the spirit of “determination to die for the country”, “all for the frontline”
General Secretary To Lam

Uncle Ho once advised: “For those who have bravely sacrificed a part of their blood and bones... The Party, the Government and the people must find every way to provide them with stable living conditions, and at the same time open vocational training classes suitable for each person so that they can gradually become self-reliant. For martyrs in each locality, it is necessary to build flower gardens and memorial stele to record the heroic sacrifice of the martyrs, to forever educate the spirit of patriotism for our people. For the parents, wives and children of war invalids and martyrs who lack the ability to work and are in need, the local government must help them find suitable jobs, absolutely not letting them go hungry or cold”.

Following Uncle Ho’s teachings, many preferential policies have been issued, many social houses and gifts have come to war invalids, families of war martyrs, and people with meritorious services in all parts of the country.

General Secretary To Lam presents gifts to seriously wounded soldiers at Thuan Thanh Nursing Centre for Wounded Soldiers (Ninh Xa ward, Bac Ninh Province).

General Secretary To Lam presents gifts to seriously wounded soldiers at Thuan Thanh Nursing Centre for Wounded Soldiers (Ninh Xa ward, Bac Ninh Province).

Directive No. 14/CT-TW, issued by the Party Central Central Committee’s Secretariat on July 17, 2017, on continuing to strengthen the Party’s leadership over affairs concerning revolution contributors; Resolution No. 42-NQ/TW, issued by the Party Central Committee on November 24, 2023, on continuing to reform and enhance social policies to meet the national construction and defence requirements in the new period; and the Ordinance on preferential treatment for people who contributed to the revolution... – these demonstrate the obligations, sense of responsibility, moral duties, and also the sentiments and profound gratitude of the people, of the Party and the State towards those who have shown “utmost loyalty to the nation, utmost filial piety to the people,” and have wholeheartedly served the country and its people.

To continue upholding the national tradition, following Uncle Ho’s teachings, and realising the Party and the State's guidelines regarding war invalids, the families of martyrs, policy beneficiary families, and revolution contributors, we must maintain focus on implementing the following key tasks:

First: It is important to strengthen the leadership and direction of all-level Party committees, authorities, Vietnam Fatherland Front committees, and all mass organisations in caring for and protecting the rights and legitimate interests of revolution contributors. Efforts must be made to ensure the full and timely implementation of all preferential policies for wounded soldiers, martyrs, sick soldiers, people with meritorious service and their relatives, and policy beneficiary families, without any mistakes, delays or tokenistic actions.

Second: Policies and laws regarding revolution contributors should be reviewed and perfected in a fair and transparent manner for right beneficiaries, while also expanding the scope of policies to include those who have truly contributed but whose services have yet to be appropriately recognised. Priority must be given to reforming administrative procedures for the verification and provision of entitlements for those who have contributed to the cause of national liberation, reunification, and the building and development of socialism.

Third: Efforts must focus on mobilising resources to improve the material and spiritual well-being of policy beneficiary families and revolution contributors, particularly those in disadvantaged areas, remote and rural regions, border zones, islands, ethnic minority communities, former revolutionary bases, and former resistance areas. The “repaying debts of gratitude” movement should be further promoted through the construction and repair of charity houses, medical support, functional rehabilitation, vocational training, and the creation of sustainable jobs for children of those who rendered service to the nation.

Fourth, the supervisory, oversight, and facilitative roles of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front, socio-political organisations, and the people in implementing policies for wounded and fallen soldiers and individuals with meritorious services to the nation should be fully promoted. At the same time, it is crucial to promptly detect and strictly handle fraudulent activities and dishonest declarations in the application process aimed at benefiting from social policies.

Fifth, the dissemination and education of patriotic traditions and activities to express gratitude toward those who have rendered services to the nation should be intensified, especially among the younger generation. These values should be effectively integrated into political and ideological education programmes and extracurricular activities in schools, agencies, and institutions. It is essential to raise public awareness and responsibility in practicing the moral principles of repaying gratitude.

Sixth, digital technology needs to be applied strongly to develop a digitised data system on revolutionary contributors, enabling accuracy, synchronisation, and transparency in policy management, monitoring, and evaluation. The interconnectivity among central and local authorities must be ensured to better serve citizens in a convenient and efficient manner. In addition, scientific and technological advances should be leveraged in collecting the remains of fallen soldiers and identifying those whose identities remain unknown.

Seventh, agencies must thoughtfully and meaningfully organise activities to express gratitude, commemorate, visit, and honour individuals who contributed to the revolution, avoiding superficiality and waste. Campaigns such as “Repaying Gratitude” and “All People care for revolutionary contributors” in connection with building new-style rural areas, modern urban settings, national defence, people's security, and sustainable social welfare.

General Secretary To Lam presents gifts to severely wounded veterans at the Thuan Thanh Centre for Wounded Soldiers Rehabilitation (Ninh Xa Ward, Bac Ninh Province).

General Secretary To Lam presents gifts to severely wounded veterans at the Thuan Thanh Centre for Wounded Soldiers Rehabilitation (Ninh Xa Ward, Bac Ninh Province).

The abovementioned tasks must be concretised into action programmes in localities, villages, residential groups, sectors, agencies, and organisations, with the highest sense of responsibility, thereby demonstrating the deep gratitude of the Party, the state, and the people for the immense sacrifices made by wounded and fallen soldiers and individuals with contributions to the revolution.

Published: July 2025
Content: Xuan Bach - Ngo Huong
Design: NDO