Eighty years ago, the era of independence and freedom opened for Vietnam but also confronted the nation with immense challenges: a devastated economy, widespread illiteracy, and almost no infrastructure. Starting with nothing but bare hands, through unity and sacrifice, our people endured protracted wars, ultimately unifying the country and building peace. In those most difficult times, patriotism became the foundation of all revolutionary victories. It shone most brightly in the nine-year resistance against French colonialists, culminating in the historic Điện Biên Phủ Victory, and the 21-year resistance against American imperialists, which ended with the Hồ Chí Minh Campaign and the complete liberation and reunification of the country.

From a poor, backward land, the Renovation policy initiated at the 6th National Congress in 1986 gradually brought Vietnam into international integration. Today, after nearly 40 years of Đổi mới, our country has emerged as a dynamic economy and an active member of the global community. The lives of people, from upland to lowland, have steadily improved. These achievements stem from the lifeblood of the nation, patriotism and great national solidarity under the leadership of the Party.

That lifeblood has forged patriotism, resilience, and the indomitable will of the Vietnamese in the struggles against foreign invaders, natural disasters, and hardships, helping the nation overcome all storms and firmly pursue prosperity. Patriotism and unity are not only seen in wartime but also in daily life. During the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, the entire nation stood together against the “Covid enemy.” Soldiers, police officers, doctors, and nurses worked tirelessly, sacrificing even their own safety for the health and peace of the people. Thanks to such unity, our country overcame challenges and triumphed over the pandemic.

Patriotism and solidarity also shine in the way Vietnamese support one another after natural disasters. Whenever any region suffers devastation, people nationwide extend helping hands, rebuilding homes, relocating families to safety, and restoring livelihoods. With the spirit of “leaving no one behind,” the nationwide campaign to eliminate temporary and dilapidated housing has mobilized widespread contributions. In Điện Biên, a mountainous border province with a high poverty rate, the task was especially challenging. Yet through unity, community support, and contributions of labor and resources, 7,365 houses have been built, reaching 100% of the target on schedule. These sturdy homes are symbols of human compassion, solidarity, and shared responsibility.

Patriotism, unity, humanity, and resilience, nurtured through thousands of years of history, remain the defining cultural values of the Vietnamese nation. Today, in the era of integration and development, those values are expressed through diligent labor, production, and contributions to national defense and growth. The lifeblood of the nation is unity, the enduring source of Vietnam’s strength, flowing from history into the present.

The peace and independence we enjoy today were earned by our forefathers’ blood and sacrifice to protect every inch of sacred land. For every Vietnamese, the word “Fatherland” is sacred, indivisible, and belongs to the entire nation, not to any individual.

As we move forward on the path of integration and development, each Vietnamese looks back with gratitude while writing new chapters of national pride, through fresh thinking, new approaches, and concrete actions, so that the lifeblood of the nation continues to flow, carrying Vietnam into a new era of growth and global standing.