From the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness of every individual to the self-determination of a nation, the values affirmed in the Declaration of Independence continue to illuminate Viet Nam’s journey today: firmly defending sovereignty, developing the country, integrating with the world, and striving toward an ever-improving life for the people.

From human rights to the rights of a nation

On September 2, 1945, before hundreds of thousands of compatriots at Ba Đình Square, President Hồ Chí Minh, on behalf of the Provisional Government, proclaimed the birth of the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam. It was the moment a nation that had endured colonial subjugation stepped onto the international stage as an independent country.

Opening the Declaration, President Hồ Chí Minh cited progressive ideals from the 1776 United States Declaration of Independence and the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen of the French Revolution. However, he did not stop at individual rights, elevating them into the equal rights of all nations: all peoples have the right to live, to be happy, and to be free. That thought held profound significance in the 20th century, when much of humanity across Asia, Africa, and other regions still lived under colonial rule. Thus, Viet Nam’s Declaration of Independence both reflected its era and transcended it. Human rights were placed in an inseparable relationship with national rights. An individual can hardly enjoy complete freedom if their nation lacks independence; conversely, national independence is truly meaningful only when its fruits deliver a free, prosperous, and happy life to the people.

Independence means more than preserving territory

If in 1945 independence meant primarily escaping colonial rule and claiming self-determination, in today’s era the connotation of independence is vastly broader. It also encompasses self-reliance in economics, science and technology, energy, and national defense and security; resilience against global shocks; and the capacity to choose a development pathway aligned with national and ethnic interests. After four decades of Doi Moi (Renewal), Viet Nam has traversed a long journey from a poor, war-torn economy to an essential link in global manufacturing and trade chains. The Associated Press (AP) of the United States once observed that Viet Nam’s transformation is one of Asia’s remarkable stories: Viet Nam has become a manufacturing hub for electronics, textiles, and footwear, with poverty rates falling sharply and an expanding middle class.

Yet, deeper integration poses higher-level challenges for independence and self-reliance. Trade shifts, great power competition, climate change, population aging, and pressures to transform growth models show that a nation cannot rely solely on low-cost labor or external resources. Reuters, analyzing Viet Nam’s development orientation, also highlighted the imperative to enhance internal capabilities, attract advanced technologies, and strive toward becoming a high-income nation by 2045.

Therefore, defending independence in the new era does not mean closing borders. It means integrating deeply while preserving self-determination; broadening external ties while safeguarding national interests; and absorbing global capital, knowledge, and technology while building robust internal strength.

The destination remains the people

A consistent thread runs from the autumn of 1945 to today: independence is not the ultimate end if the people have not yet enjoyed its fruits.

The word “Happiness” following “Independence - Freedom” thus carries a special significance. That value must be tangible in everyday life: children attending school, citizens receiving healthcare, workers securing employment and income, vulnerable groups protected, and remote communities gaining access to ever-improving development conditions. That is the true measure of development. A strong country is measured not only by the size of its economy, modern cities, or mega-projects, but also by the quality of life, personal development opportunities, and the capacity to leave no one behind.

During the 80th National Day celebration in 2025, Reuters and AP captured images of crowds, including vast numbers of young people, filling the streets of Hanoi. Red flags with yellow stars hung from aged balconies, new high-rises, and amidst the sea of people heading toward Ba Đình Square. Spanning the 80-year distance between generations is a seamless continuity: the forebears fought for the right to live in an independent nation; today’s generation bears the responsibility to make that nation stronger and the people’s lives better. The Declaration of Independence therefore does not remain confined to September 2, 1945. Its vitality is present in every forward step of the country, in the consciousness of defending sovereignty, in the ambition to master science, technology, and knowledge, and in an economy resilient against volatility - so that every citizen may live in greater freedom, prosperity, and happiness.

Eighty-one years after that autumn, the world has transformed profoundly. Yet enduring values remain timeless: the self-determination of nations, human dignity, and the aspiration for a better life. These constitute the lifeblood and resilient vitality that ensure the 1945 Declaration of Independence continues to accompany Viet Nam on its path to the future.