From early morning, the cultural house in Mển village, Thanh Nưa commune (Điện Biên province) was bustling with residents eagerly awaiting their The Independence Day gift. Families brought identification papers to local officials, who checked names against the national population database before distributing gifts. Five distribution tables were set up by village clusters to ensure quick, transparent, and orderly delivery.

Holding her gift, 71-year-old Đinh Thị Viện of Độc Lập hamlet beamed: “Wonderful, my homeland! To live this long and witness the country overcoming hardship, now even being able to give gifts to every citizen, it’s an indescribable joy.”

Lò Văn Tinh of Nà Nốm village shared his delight: “My family has four members and we received VND 400,000 in cash. It’s such a meaningful surprise. I’ll buy some good food, cook a chicken, and we’ll celebrate The Independence Day together. Whatever is left, I’ll spend on pesticides for our rice fields, hoping for a good harvest to contribute to the nation.”

According to Thanh Nưa commune’s records, 29,034 residents received gifts, totaling VND 2.9034 billion. Acting on provincial instructions to provide VND 100,000 to every citizen for National Day, local authorities worked closely with the commune police to verify data, form payment teams, and ensure no one was left out.

Chu Văn Bách, Chairman of the Thanh Nưa commune People’s Committee, explained: “We set up five teams for the five former communes that merged into Thanh Nưa. Even during the holiday, officials, police officers, and village heads worked tirelessly so gifts could reach people quickly and transparently.”

In Quài Tở commune, distribution began on August 31 for 14,821 residents across 31 villages. In remote areas, officials traveled directly to villages. At Chế Á village, all households received their gifts by the morning of September 1. Village head Vừ A Tú said: “As soon as the announcement came, everyone was excited. This morning, the whole village gathered early, chatting and laughing as they waited their turn. By noon, all 77 households - over 400 people - had received their gifts, and everyone left smiling, thanking the Party and State.”

Across the province, from valleys to mountain villages, people of all ethnic groups received their Independence Day gift with excitement and gratitude. In total, Điện Biên province distributed gifts worth more than VND 66.282 billion to its 662,829 residents. While VND 100,000 may only buy a meal, a few kilos of rice, or milk for a child, its symbolic value was immense. For many, it was a heartfelt reminder of the Party, of President Hồ Chí Minh, and of generations who sacrificed so today’s citizens can celebrate the Independence Day in peace and happiness.

As the distribution wrapped up, people returned home with bright smiles. On this Independence Day, even the autumn sunshine seemed warmer, golden with joy. The gifts may have been small, but the trust they reinforced in the Party and State made this National Day celebration more complete and meaningful.

On August 28, the Prime Minister issued directive No.149 on gifts for citizens to mark the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day. Each citizen was allocated VND 100,000. The Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of Finance, State Bank of Vietnam, Ministry of Public Security, and provincial People’s Committees to coordinate closely, ensuring distribution - either via bank transfer or in person - was completed before September 2. Funding, totaling around VND 11 trillion, came from the central budget.