General Secretary and State President To Lam said Ho Chi Minh City has written a glorious chapter over the past 50 years and must now embark on "a new chapter of development that is greater, more beautiful, more worthy and even more brilliant."
Speaking on the morning of July 2 at the ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the renaming of Sai Gon–Gia Dinh as Ho Chi Minh City (July 2, 1976 – July 2, 2026), Party Chief and President To Lam recalled that on July 2, 1976, Vietnam's Sixth National Assembly officially approved the city's new name.
He said the decision was more than an administrative act. It symbolized the Vietnamese people's profound gratitude to President Ho Chi Minh and recognized Sai Gon–Gia Dinh's revolutionary tradition and its contribution to national liberation and reunification.
General Secretary and State President To Lam delivers a speech at the 50th anniversary ceremony marking the renaming of Sai Gon–Gia Dinh as Ho Chi Minh City.
According to Mr. To Lam, it was from Nha Rong Wharf that, 115 years ago, the young patriot Nguyen Tat Thanh, later known as President Ho Chi Minh, departed in search of a path to national independence.
"Whenever Nha Rong Wharf is mentioned, Vietnamese people are reminded of the sacred memory that 'it was from this city that he departed.' From this place, our nation found the road to independence and freedom. More than six decades later, that very city was liberated, reunified and honored with the name of our beloved President Ho Chi Minh," he said.
The General Secretary and State President noted that even during the years when the country remained divided, people across Vietnam held an unwavering belief that the South would eventually be liberated and the nation reunited, allowing the southern metropolis to proudly bear Ho Chi Minh's name.
"Today, after 50 years, we understand more deeply than ever that this name is not only a source of historical pride but also a responsibility for the present and the future. It is not merely an honorable designation but a standard by which the city must continually measure, improve and elevate itself," he said.
He praised Ho Chi Minh City's role during nearly four decades of economic reform, describing it as one of Vietnam's most dynamic localities, willing to innovate, take responsibility and contribute to refining the country's reform policies.
The city has consolidated its position as Vietnam's leading economic hub and a major center for finance, trade, services, science and technology, education, healthcare, culture, foreign affairs and international integration. In 2025, it again recorded the country's highest state budget revenue, exceeding VND800 trillion (US$30.6 billion).
He also highlighted the city's distinctive cultural identity, describing it as open, generous, compassionate, creative and resilient.
"In times of hardship, the city has shown greater compassion. In times of challenge, it has become more united. In periods of uncertainty, it has demonstrated remarkable resilience and determination," To Lam said.
He further praised the city's long-standing efforts to support low-income communities, people with meritorious service, workers, migrant laborers and those affected by natural disasters and epidemics, saying these initiatives reflect the deep humanitarian values of the city bearing President Ho Chi Minh's name.
Six priorities for building a strategic megacity
General Secretary and State President To Lam greets delegates attending the anniversary ceremony.
Party Chief and President To Lam said that following the recent administrative restructuring, Ho Chi Minh City now enjoys a broader development space that combines major strengths, including an urban, financial, commercial and service center; industrial, technological and innovation clusters; seaports, logistics, marine economy, tourism and energy resources; and a large, educated and socially responsible workforce.
He said these advantages should enable the city to develop into a strategic, multi-center, globally competitive megacity.
The General Secretary and State President outlined six priorities for the city's next phase of development.
First, strengthen the Party organization and political system by building a clean, disciplined and effective administration focused on serving the people. Officials should demonstrate political integrity, modern development thinking, strong ethics and effective implementation capacity while promoting accountability, preventing corruption, waste and misconduct, and protecting officials who act boldly for the public interest.
Second, turn special institutional mechanisms into measurable development outcomes through completed infrastructure, better public services, a more attractive investment environment and higher living standards. The city should lead administrative reform, digital governance and propose pioneering policies for its role as a special urban area, an international financial center, and a hub for digital and green transformation while attracting talent.
A view of the ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of Ho Chi Minh City's naming.
Third, develop a modern, green and smart multi-center urban structure that strengthens connections with the Southeast region, the Mekong Delta, the Central Highlands and international markets. Infrastructure should stay ahead of development needs, with priority given to public transport, urban railways, expressways, seaports, logistics, digital infrastructure, healthcare, education, housing, flood prevention and green spaces.
Fourth, accelerate innovation in the growth model by making science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, the green economy, the circular economy and the data economy the main drivers of growth. The city should develop an international financial center while promoting high-tech industries, logistics, the marine economy, tourism and cultural industries, alongside creating favorable conditions for private enterprises and startups.
Fifth, improve people's quality of life, making public well-being the ultimate objective and the most meaningful measure of development. Residents should benefit from better living conditions, transportation, housing, education, healthcare and cultural services.
Sixth, strengthen Ho Chi Minh City's role as a dynamic, responsible and internationally integrated city while maintaining national defense, public security, social order, economic security, cybersecurity, data security, urban security and human security.
Mr. To Lam concluded by reaffirming that Ho Chi Minh City had written a glorious chapter over the past half-century and now faces the responsibility of creating "a new chapter of development that is greater, more beautiful, more worthy and even more brilliant."
He expressed confidence that the city would continue to rise as a modern, civilized and compassionate metropolis, where the name Ho Chi Minh shines ever brighter through its achievements, culture, people, aspirations and responsibility toward the nation.
Vietnamnet.vn
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