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The new Vietnam at sixty

Tran Trong Khanh

A victim of war, Vietnam looks beyond the past and forward to the future. It has adapted strategically and sensibly to the changing environment. A constructive member of the comity of nations, it is integrating proactively with the world economy.

THE HISTORY of Vietnam in the past six decades can be characterised by three major transformations: winning back national independence; safeguarding independence and reunifying the country; and building a better future.

Transformation One: In August 1945 under the leadership of Ho Chi Minh, the entire Vietnamese people rose up to carry out the August Revolution in order to gain back independence from fascist invaders, to overthrow the colonial and semi-feudal regime, and to establish a truly independent and democratic state of the people. The August Revolution was the culmination of nearly 80 years of resistance against colonialism.

On September 2, 1945, President Ho Chi Minh proclaimed the independence of Vietnam and the founding of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. He said: "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 success of the August Revolution and the founding of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam — now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam — marked a great turning point in our national history. From a colonial and semi-feudal state, Vietnam became an independent and free country. From being slaves, the Vietnamese became masters of their country and society.

Transformation Two: The new Vietnam had to face seemingly insurmountable challenges, notably the aftermaths of nearly 80 years of colonialist domination and the starvation of over two million people at the hands of the fascists. In this context, the colonialists staged a comeback for they wanted to occupy our country once again.

On December 19, 1946, the entire nation started a protracted war of resistance. Nine years later, on May 7, 1954, the Vietnamese People's Army commanded by General Vo Nyugen Giap overran the Headquarters and captured the entire command of colonialist forces at the Dien Bien Phu Valley.

The end of history for the colonialists was the beginning of imperialist aggression. Our forces had to confront over half a million foreign troops and over a million of their henchmen forces. The war was fought across the country, both in the South and the North. The use of tactical nuclear weapons was contemplated. Hawks of the foreign forces claimed they would bomb North Vietnam "back into the Stone Age." During Christmas in 1972, they desperately showered the capital of Hanoi with B-52 carpet-bombing. A Dien Bien Phu in the sky finally broke their will to prolong the war. In January 1973, they had to sign the Paris Peace Agreements, undertook to respect the independence and unity of Vietnam, and promised to leave. On April 30, 1975, the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign completely liberated South Vietnam and reunified the country.

Transformation Three: While preoccupied with national salvation, the Vietnamese were never pessimistic about their post-war future. In ancient times, a famous strategist and poet wrote, "After war, only life remains." In modern times, Ho Chi Minh said: "When victory comes, we will rebuild our country ten times more beautiful."

Moving a country from war to peace is not easy, especially one that had fought two wars with the foreign giants. It soon dawned on the Vietnamese that just as in war, winning the peace required the mobilisation and combination of internal and external resources.

For the past 20 years, Vietnam has carried out the most far-reaching and comprehensive reforms, known as "Doi Moi" (or Renovation). A good combination of intelligence and organisation has worked. Vietnam has been on the list of the fastest growing economies in the world. Its GDP doubles every ten years. The literacy rate is nearly a hundred per cent. Though still a poor country, the Vietnamese today are happier and freer than ever before.

Vietnam has adapted strategically and sensibly to the changing environment. A victim of war, Vietnam looks beyond the past and forward to the future. Our relations with the former adversaries have developed impressively. They are currently among the most important markets for our export products and rank high on our list of direct foreign investments. Direct flights shorten the geographical distance between us and them.

Among the more than three million international visitors to Vietnam every year, tourists from these countries increasingly see Vietnam as an attractive destination. The broad picture of Vietnam's external relations has never been better. We have never had so many friends and partners. We are a constructive member of the comity of nations and are proactively integrating with the world economy.

The new Vietnam has gone through many ups and downs. Both in war and in peace, it must compete with foreign players many times stronger. The challenge now is how to seize the opportunity to build a better future.

(The writer is Ambassador of Vietnam to India. This article is in commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of Vietnam's National Day.)

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