With that historic moment, more than 80 years of colonial domination and thousands of years of monarchy were swept away, giving birth to a republican and democratic regime, marking a great turning point in the history of the Vietnamese nation. The 1945 Declaration of Independence has since become a red thread running through history, yesterday, today, and forever.

Right at the beginning of the Declaration, read before the entire nation and the world, President Hồ Chí Minh cited an immortal truth from America’s 1776 Declaration of Independence, that all people have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, before affirming a new truth of the era: “All peoples on the earth are equal; every people has the right to live, to be happy, and to be free.” Independence and freedom are the foundation of all things. From the universal values of human rights, liberty, equality, and fraternity, he declared the most sacred aspiration of the Vietnamese people: independence for the nation and freedom for the people.

President Hồ Chí Minh emphasized that independence and freedom are invaluable, purchased with the blood and sacrifice of countless patriots, and must be safeguarded at all costs. Independence meant complete independence in politics, economy, culture, society, diplomacy, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. It meant a Việt Nam belonging to the Vietnamese, where all national affairs are decided by the people themselves, free from foreign interference. Above all, independence must be embodied in real life, in a prosperous, free, and happy society where “everyone has food, clothing, and education.”

When writing the first lines of the Declaration at No.48 Hàng Ngang Street, Hà Nội, President Hồ Chí Minh recalled later that he had never felt such profound joy and pride in his life. The Declaration voiced the will of millions of Vietnamese, crowning decades of heroic struggle, culminating in the victory of the August Revolution in 1945, which restored independence and freedom to the nation.

The August Revolution and the Declaration of Independence became a milestone in national history and a source of inspiration for colonial and dependent peoples around the world in their struggle for freedom and independence. The Declaration proclaimed to the world the achievements of a model national liberation revolution of the 20th century, bearing profound national and international significance. Eighty years on, those noble values continue to illuminate Việt Nam’s path of renewal and international integration.

Over nearly 40 years of comprehensive đổi mới (reform), inspired by the spirit of the August Revolution and the Declaration of Independence, Việt Nam has combined national strength with the strength of the times, greatly enhancing its overall power. As the Party affirmed, “Never before has our country had such fortune, potential, international position, and prestige as it does today,” creating a new foundation for further development.

From the victory of the August Revolution and the Declaration of Independence to the great triumph of Điện Biên Phủ in 1954 lies a powerful lesson for the Party, authorities, and people of Điện Biên today, one that continues to guide local development. The Điện Biên Phủ Victory remains a living testament to daring vision, resilience, intelligence, and unity, a vivid embodiment of the truth: “Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom.” That spirit endures, shaping every step of Điện Biên and the nation on their path of development.

Looking to 2025, Điện Biên has set comprehensive goals: to accelerate administrative reform, improve the investment environment, mobilize resources for modern infrastructure, urban development, and services; to push forward with public investment disbursement; to enhance governance capacity and efficiency; to advance education, healthcare, and social welfare alongside economic growth; to reduce poverty sustainably and improve living standards; to preserve cultural heritage and the historic Điện Biên Phủ battlefield; to strengthen environmental management and disaster response; and to reinforce political stability, defense, security, and foreign relations.

With the Declaration of Independence as its foundation and the spirit of Điện Biên Phủ as its inspiration, the Party, authorities, armed forces, and people of Điện Biên will continue to nurture patriotism, self-reliance, and resilience, striving to achieve the set goals for 2025. These will form a firm stepping stone for the province’s sustainable development in the years ahead.