Hanoi - the beloved “heart” of the nation, the place where the “soul of the mountains and rivers” resonates for thousands of years, and where the cultural values of the Vietnamese people converge and crystallise, endure through countless historical changes and upheavals. Especially since its liberation on 10 October 1954, under the leadership of the Party and the Party Committee, the government, military, and people of Hanoi have united, stood firm and brave in combat, resilient and creative in production, achieving numerous glorious accomplishments, contributing to form the thousand-year cultural and heroic tradition of Thang Long - Dong Do - Hanoi. These achievements have also laid a solid foundation for building a prosperous, civilised, and modern capital.

Promoting the thousand-year cultural and heroic tradition of the Capital City

After the success of the August Revolution in 1945, the people of Hanoi and the entire nation became citizens of an independent Vietnam. However, the French colonists still harboured intentions of seizing our country once more. On 19 December 1946, the army and people of Hanoi fired the first shots, initiating the nationwide resistance war with the spirit of “Sacrifice for the nation’s survival”; successfully delayed, weakened, and defeated significant enemy forces, thwarting the French colonists’ strategy of a “quick attack, quick victory”, ensuring the absolute safety of the Party Central Committee and the Government as they relocated to the Viet Bac resistance base, allowing the entire country to prepare comprehensively for a long-term resistance. This marked the first victory of our army and people in their confrontation with the invading French colonists, demonstrating the indomitable spirit of the nation and contributing significantly to the Dien Bien Phu victory, which “resounded throughout the five continents, shaking the earth”. This victory forced the French to sign into the Geneva Convention, recognising the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, and withdrawing their forces from Northern Vietnam.

In compliance with the provisions of the Convention, on 10 October 1954, the City’s Military Committee and military units divided into large contingents to triumphantly march into the Capital and take over the control. Tens of thousands of Hanoi residents welcomed the returning army, proudly bearing the banner of “Determined to fight - determined to win”. These images are forever etched in the hearts of the people of Hanoi as a source of eternal pride. The day of 10 October 1954 entered history as a golden milestone marking the revival of the Capital and the nation, symbolising the Ho Chi Minh era in the development of Thang Long - Hanoi. The resistance within the heart of the Capital enriched the leadership experience of the Hanoi Party Committee, taught valuable lessons in unity, the inseparable bond with the people, nurturing forces, and generating comprehensive strength for success. From this point, Hanoi was liberated from invaders, ready to proudly and confidently embark on a new phase of construction and development.

Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee Tran Si Thanh speaks with the City's People's Council (Photo:hanoi.gov.vn)

Unity and determination to build, safeguard, and develop a prosperous, cultured, civilised, and modern Capital

Right from the early days of returning to the Capital, President Ho Chi Minh reminded the Hanoi Party Committee and the people of Hanoi: “The entire nation looks to our Capital. The world watches our Capital. All of us must strive to maintain order and security, making our Capital a peaceful, beautiful, and healthy city, both physically and spiritually”. Following Uncle Ho’s teachings, under the leadership of the Party, the Hanoi Party Committee, government, and people continued to achieve new victories, both in resisting invaders and in productive labour.

During the resistance war against the U.S. for national salvation, the Party Committee, government, and people of Hanoi worked tirelessly to build and develop the Capital in every aspect, while upholding the spirit of “all for the frontline, all for our beloved Southern compatriots”, along with the people of the North, they actively mobilised manpower and resources to support the Southern revolution. Tens of thousands of Hanoi’s finest people participated and served in the war, on many battlefields across the country. Notably, under the wise leadership of the Party, Hanoi’s military and civilians, alongside various military forces and localities, bravely fought and created a “Dien Bien Phu in the air” over Hanoi in December 1972, thwarted the U.S. imperialists’ plans to obliterate Hanoi, turning the city into a “Capital of conscience and human dignity”, a “City for peace”. This significant victory crushed the U.S. imperialists’ invading will, forcing them to sign into the Paris Convention “on ending the war, restoring peace in Vietnam”, paving the way for the complete liberation of the South and the unification of the country.

With the reunification of the nation, Hanoi, with its mission as the capital and the heart of the country, continued its efforts in overcoming countless challenges alongside other provinces and cities to firmly build and protect the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. For nearly 40 years of implementing the renewal process initiated and led by our Party, the Party Committee, government, and people of Hanoi have continued to vigorously promote the city’s historical traditions in new conditions and achieved significant accomplishments, contributing to the country’s great and historical achievements.

Notably, in recent years, while thoroughly understanding and implementing the Resolution of the 13th Party Congress, and the 17th Congress of the City’s Party Committee, with a spirit of decisive innovation, Hanoi has continued to see comprehensive development. The Capital’s economy has made remarkable strides, creating new momentum and strength, becoming increasingly solid. The city has vigorously implemented the resolutions and conclusions of the Central Committee; with a key focus on Resolution No. 15-NQ/BCT, dated 5 May 2022, of the Political Bureau, outlining the development orientation of Hanoi until 2030, with a vision to 2045; promoting socio-economic development programmes across the city, etc. Thus, despite facing many difficulties and challenges caused by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the global economic downturn, Hanoi’s economy has continued to grow, and social welfare has been ensured. The city’s Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) consistently increased by over 6%, with the service sector remaining a bright spot. The elements of a socialist-oriented market economy continue to be completed, driving comprehensive development. Hanoi’s economy has affirmed its position as the locomotive driving the growth of the Capital Region, the Northern Key Economic Region, and its vital role in the national economy.

The work of planning, construction, management, and development of urban areas has changed positively towards smart, green, and sustainable development. The appearance of the Capital has undergone clear and notable changes, becoming increasingly spacious, civilised and modern. The city has focused on directing and implementing various measures, such as the Capital Law (amended), the Capital Planning, the Adjustment of Capital Planning, etc. In particular, through the implementation of the Comprehensive Adjustment of the General Construction Plan for Hanoi until 2045, with a vision toward 2060, the city is oriented to develop two cities under the Capital (North Red River City and Western Hanoi City); at the same time, Hanoi is promoting the implementation, completion, and operation of numerous socio-economic and urban infrastructure projects, especially the transportation infrastructure system, which serves as a driving force and creates new development spaces for Hanoi and the surrounding provinces within the Capital Region. In line with the trend of building a digital society and digital government, the city has developed and is actively implementing the project of “Building a smart Hanoi by 2025, with a vision toward 2030”; this project clearly outlines 27 targets regarding digital governance with 100 tasks; 7 targets regarding digital economy with 77 tasks; 14 targets regarding digital society with 6 tasks and several tasks concerning scientific and technological research and domestic and international cooperation. Major city-wide systems have already been completed and put into use, such as the reporting information system, the document management and operations system, and the administrative procedure information system. Hanoi is also among the first provinces and cities nationwide to fully meet the requirements and successfully connect with the national population database to facilitate the receipt and resolution of administrative procedures and electronic transactions.

A modern and traditional Hanoi (photo: qdnd.vn)

In terms of culture and society, Hanoi has always led in developing culture, viewing culture as the spiritual foundation of society and central to the city’s sustainable development policies. The city has effectively implemented Resolution No. 09-NQ/TU, dated 22 February 2022, of the Hanoi Party Committee on “the development of the cultural industry in the Capital’s area for the period 2021-2025, with a vision toward 2030 and a further vision to 2045”; Hanoi has successfully organised many national and international cultural events and festivals, becoming the first locality in the country to pioneer the development of the cultural industry in order to achieve the dual goal of preserving and promoting the thousand-year cultural values of the capital while simultaneously making the cultural industry becoming a key economic sector, increasingly contributes to the socio-economic development of Hanoi.

The work of building Party, government, and the political system has been decisively directed and has seen positive changes. With the spirit of “Discipline, responsibility, action, creativity, and development”, the city has strengthened discipline and order while gradually overcoming the mindset of shirking responsibility, avoidance among cadres, Party members, civil servants, and officers. At the same time, the city encourages and motivates cadres to dare to think, dare to speak, dare to act, dare to take responsibility, dare to  innovate, and dare to face difficulties and challenges, all for the common good. The organisational structure of the government at all levels has been streamlined, ensuring efficiency and effectiveness. The work of deploying information technology has witnessed significant improvements in progress, with the initial formation of an e-government foundation. Administrative procedures have been simplified, reducing time and minimising inconvenience for citizens and businesses, moving towards a public-oriented and citizen-serving administration.

In addition to socio-economic development, the work of building the Party and strengthening the political system, national defence and security have also been a priority and achieved clear results. Based on thoroughly understanding the Party’s new guideline, viewpoints, and though on military affairs, national defence, and safeguarding the country, with a focus on the 8th Resolution of the Central Committee (13th tenure) on the Strategy for National Defence in the new situation, in recent years, the Hanoi Party Committee and People’s Committee have provided leadership and direction for comprehensively implementing military and national defence tasks. This includes the formulation, issuance, and effective implementation of resolutions, directives, action programmes, plans, and guidelines on local military and national defence work; combine socio-economic development with strengthening national defence, security, and foreign relations; successful implement the 2021-2025 socio-economic development plan, which is closely linked to consolidating defence posture, strengthening national defence capabilities, building a whole-people national defence linking with public security; building a strong defensive region and robust armed forces for the city. The effectiveness and efficiency of leadership, direction, management, and execution of military and national defence work have continuously improved, creating favourable mechanisms for mobilising resources, particularly in economics and science and technology, to strengthen the national defence capabilities of the region, ensures the ability to protect the Capital both in the immediate and in the future. In the work of ensuring national security, the city has directed relevant agencies; with the police force playing a core role, to take the lead and coordinate in preventing numerous sabotage campaigns by reactionary and exiled Vietnamese organisations; effectively blocked the internal and external connections of adversarial forces, preventing them from establishing contact, gathering forces, establishing “flag”, and forming opposition political organisations in the Capital. Notably, the city has directed the Hanoi Capital Command to work closely with the police and other relevant forces to ensure the absolute safety of key targets and political, diplomatic, cultural, and social events held in the Capital.

In the coming time, the global and regional situations are forecasted to continue with complex developments; hostile forces will intensify their efforts to undermine our revolution with increasingly sophisticated schemes and tactics. The task of building and developing the Capital will be extremely challenging, requiring the Party Committee, government, and people of Hanoi to unite, with even greater determination, to achieve the set goals and tasks. Inheriting and promoting the thousand-year cultural and heroic traditions of the Capital, the Party Committee, government, and people of Hanoi will focus on addressing several key issues:

Firstly, concentrate on perfecting the mechanisms and policies for the development of the Capital. In particular, emphasising on implementing the Capital Law (amended), developing several special mechanisms and policies related to the organisation of urban governance, and completing legal regulations concerning urban planning, construction, and environmental protection.

Secondly, accelerate the development of urban technical infrastructure and digital infrastructure in the direction of a smart city; complete key projects, such as the urban railway system, Ring Road 4 - Capital Region, and major gateway traffic intersections, etc.

Thirdly, continue to implement breakthrough solutions to create momentum for socio-economic development, mobilise and maximise new resources and driving forces, particularly human and cultural resources; place greater focus on balancing cultural and social development on par with economic growth.

Fourthly, vigorously strengthen and enhance national defence, security, and foreign relations capabilities, ensuring political stability, social order, and safety while improving the effectiveness of external relations and international integration.

Fifthly, improve the work of building and rectify the Party and political system to become truly clean and strong; intensify efforts to prevent and push back the deterioration of political ideology, ethics, and lifestyle, as well as signs of “self-evolution” and “self-transformation” within the organisation; firmly struggle against corruption, wastefulness, and bureaucratism, contributing to the comprehensive and sustainable development of Hanoi - a “Green - Cultural - Civilised - Modern” city worthy of its role as the “political-administrative centre of the nation, a major hub of culture, science, education, economics, and international relations”.

The celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the Liberation of Hanoi (10 October 1954 – 10 October 2024) is an opportunity for us to reflect on the glorious historical road and the growth and development of the Capital. This serves to educate and instill patriotism and pride in the rich traditions of Thang Long – Dong Do – Hanoi; continue to uphold the responsibility of contributing to the development of a prosperous, civilised, and modern Capital, confidently move forward on the path of renovation, integration, and development, deserving its reputation as the Capital with thousand-year culture and heroic tradition of the heroic Vietnamese nation.

TRAN SY THANH, Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People’s Committee of Hanoi