On December 20, leaders and former leaders of the Party, State, and Vietnam Fatherland Front paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh and heroic martyrs. The event marked the 80th anniversary of the Vietnam People's Army (VPA) and the 35th anniversary of National Defense Day.

A delegation from the Party Central Committee, the President's Office, the National Assembly, the Government, and the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front laid wreaths and visited Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum. They also offered flowers and incense at the Monument to Heroic Martyrs on Bac Son Street in Hanoi.

General Secretary To Lam, President Luong Cuong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man were joined by other Party and State leaders, along with military officers, in paying homage to President Ho Chi Minh.

In solemn silence, the delegates expressed profound gratitude for Ho Chi Minh’s immense contributions to the nation's fight for independence and unification. The wreaths bore the inscription: "Eternal gratitude to the great President Ho Chi Minh."

The Vietnam People's Army, founded by President Ho Chi Minh, has always remained loyal to the people, ready to sacrifice for national independence and socialism. Known as "Uncle Ho’s Soldiers," the VPA takes pride in its deep bond with the people, exemplifying the motto: "The people are the army's parents."

The delegation then visited the Monument to Heroic Martyrs to honor the nation's fallen heroes who sacrificed their lives for independence, freedom, and the people's happiness. Reflecting on their sacrifices, President Ho Chi Minh once said: "The heroic martyrs' sacrifices have allowed our nation to bloom with independence and bear the fruits of freedom."

Even in peacetime, many soldiers have continued to sacrifice for national security, public order, and the well-being of the people.

Later in the day, the Party Central Committee, National Assembly, President's Office, Government, Central Vietnam Fatherland Front, and Central Military Commission held a grand ceremony to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the VPA and the 35th anniversary of National Defense Day.