Throughout Vietnam's history of defending and building the nation, ethnic minority communities have made vital contributions to the struggle for independence and national unification. They continue to affirm their significance in the country’s journey of renewal and integration.

Human and material contributions to the revolution

Vietnam is home to 53 ethnic minority groups residing primarily in mountainous and border regions, which hold a strategically crucial position in the revolutionary cause and national defense.

Across centuries, generations of ethnic minority communities have united to safeguard and cultivate the borderlands, transforming these regions into the nation’s protective ramparts, both in times of war and peace. The Communist Party of Vietnam has always upheld the consistent viewpoint that the Vietnamese revolution is the cause of the entire nation. Ethnic minority groups are inseparable from this cause and are regarded as an essential force within the great national unity bloc.

Reality has proven that ethnic minority communities have remained deeply connected to the revolution, making substantial contributions to its success through every historical period. Notably, their efforts in the August Revolution were profound, offering manpower, resources, and creating revolutionary bases across mountainous areas and minority regions.

When the Viet Bac base was established, the homelands of ethnic groups like the Tay, Nung, Dao, Mong, San Diu, and Lo Lo became the cradle of the revolutionary armed forces and the de facto capital of the revolution during the pre-uprising period. The Bac Son guerrilla unit was formed with ethnic youth from the northern provinces at its core. This was the Communist Party’s first armed force and later evolved into the Viet Minh Liberation Army, a predecessor of the Vietnam People's Army. Among the first 34 soldiers of this force, 29 were outstanding youths from ethnic minority backgrounds.

During the nine-year resistance against French colonialism (1945–1954), the sacrifices of ethnic minorities contributed significantly to key military campaigns. Many ethnic individuals became national heroes, sacrificing their lives for the revolution. Names such as Vu A Dinh, La Van Cau, Be Van Dan, and Dinh Nup remain symbols of pride for the entire nation and particularly for the ethnic minority communities.

In the resistance against American forces, the Truong Son Mountains and Central Highlands served as strategic revolutionary strongholds. Ethnic minority groups in these regions provided immense support in manpower and materials, contributing crucially to the victories of campaigns in the Central Highlands, especially the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign that led to national reunification.

Striving forward with the nation

The Vietnamese Party and State have consistently upheld the principle of ensuring equality, unity, mutual support, and co-development among all ethnic groups. This vision has been institutionalized through comprehensive policy systems.

Hundreds of policies specifically targeting ethnic minorities and mountainous regions have been enacted, with annual investments amounting to trillions of dong (equivalent to billions of US dollars). These policies are designed to improve the material and spiritual well-being of ethnic communities. Since 2021, a dedicated national target program has been implemented to address urgent challenges and enhance living conditions for ethnic minorities.

Today, ethnic minorities are not merely beneficiaries of policy. They are active, creative agents playing an increasingly critical role in politics, socio-economic development, national defense, and the preservation of cultural heritage.

With the support of governmental policies, ethnic communities have harnessed their own strength, embracing self-reliance and determination to build prosperous lives and thriving villages. Their traditional cultures are being leveraged to develop community-based tourism, eco-tourism, and experiential tourism. Many communities have established diverse economic models, turning local resources into “One Commune One Product” (OCOP) goods that have reached international markets.

As a result, the poverty rate among ethnic minority and mountainous communities has significantly decreased. From 2021 to 2024, the average annual poverty reduction rate reached 3.4%. By the end of 2024, the average per capita income among ethnic minorities rose to 43.4 million VND (approximately 1,700 USD), a 3.1-fold increase compared to 2020.

In this era of national resurgence, maximizing the strength and role of all 54 ethnic groups, including 53 minority communities, is a strategic imperative. It is essential for consolidating the great national unity, enhancing internal strength, and realizing the goal of sustainable national development in the modern era.

Cu Thi Huong