A delegation from the Party Central Committee, the President, the National Assembly, the Government, and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee paid respects at President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum on the occasion of the 51st anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification (30/4/1975).

The delegation included General Secretary and President To Lam, former General Secretary Nong Duc Manh, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, former Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, former National Assembly Chairpersons Nguyen Sinh Hung and Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, Standing Secretary of the Secretariat Tran Cam Tu, and President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Bui Thi Minh Hoai.

General Secretary and President To Lam, along with Party and state leaders, paid respects at President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum on the morning of 28/4. Photo: Hoang Phong

The delegation's wreath bore the inscription: "Eternal gratitude to the great President Ho Chi Minh".

Earlier the same morning, a delegation of current and former Party and state leaders laid wreaths at the Monument to Heroic Martyrs on Bac Son street. The wreath from the delegation carried the message: "Eternal gratitude to the heroic martyrs".

Subsequently, delegations from the Central Military Commission - Ministry of National Defense, the Central Public Security Party Committee - Ministry of Public Security, and the Hanoi Party Committee and city leadership paid respects at President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and offered incense to commemorate the heroic martyrs at the Monument on Bac Son street.

The Central Military Commission delegation paid respects at President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Photo: Hoang Phong

At 11:30 on 30/4/1975, the revolutionary flag flew atop the Independence Palace (now Reunification Palace), marking the complete victory of the 1975 Spring General Offensive and Uprising, culminating in the Ho Chi Minh Campaign. The South was fully liberated, and Vietnam was reunified from North to South.

This year, for Reunification Day, the entire country observes a two-day holiday on 30/4 and 1/5, extending to a four-day break with the two weekend days. Many cultural and artistic activities are organized nationwide during this period.

On the evening of 28/4, Hanoi will host the "Am vang To quoc" (Echoes of the Homeland) art program and a large-scale fireworks display at My Dinh Stadium. On the evening of 30/4, TP HCM will feature artistic fireworks at 8 locations as part of the "Ngay hoi non song thong nhat" (Festival of National Reunification) program.

According to the Ordinance on the Management and Protection of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Historical Site, state-level visits by delegations attending national Party Congresses, the Party Central Committee, the President, the National Assembly, the Government, and the Vietnam Fatherland Front are organized on the occasion of the Lunar New Year; Party Founding Day (3/2); Victory Day (30/4); milestone anniversaries of Dien Bien Phu Victory Day (7/5); President Ho Chi Minh's birthday (19/5); War Invalids and Martyrs' Day (27/7); National Day (2/9); national Party Congresses; and National Assembly sessions.

Nguyen Phong