Through its proud 75-year history (December 22, 1944 – December 22, 2019), the Việt Nam People’s Army has always been the core force accompanying the Party and the people in the cause of liberating people; gaining independence, freedom and reunification; and building and protecting the country.

The Việt Nam Liberation Army Team (early body of the Việt Nam People’s Army) was established in Trần Hưng Đạo Forest in today’s Cao Bằng Province on December 22, 1944. The team gathered 34 members led by Võ Nguyên Giáp. — VNA/VNS File Photo

In his article praising the People’s Army on this occasion, Party General Secretary, President Nguyễn Phú Trọng stressed the various factors led to the army's victories, with the wisdom of the Party and the People’s Army playing a decisive role.

“The Party, State and Vietnamese people have been always proud and believe in the People’s Army – a heroic army of a heroic people,” he wrote.

The flag of the Việt Nam People’s Army flies on the roof of De Castries’ shelter on May 7, 1954. The Điện Biên Phủ victory ended the long-term revolution against the French invaders. — VNA/VNS File Photo

When the Việt Nam Liberation Army Team was born on December 22, 1944, the Communist Party set up its Party cells to guide the team.

Under the guidance of the Party, the army led the August Revolution in 1945 together with the people and established the Democratic Republic of Việt Nam, ushering in an era of independence and socialism for the people.

During the revolution against the French between 1946 and 1954, with the guideline of gathering all people for the revolution, the army secured many big victories, with tactics ranging from small-scale guerrilla attacks to en masse assaults.

Another victory was the Winter-Spring Campaign 1953-54, the peak of which was the Điện Biên Phủ victory, forcing the French government to sign the Geneva Agreement in 1954.

In the revolution against Americans between 1954 and 1975, the army together with the Vietnamese people was not afraid of hardship and sacrifice to win victory.

President Hồ Chí Minh visits an air defence unit protecting Hà Nội on September 25, 1966. — VNA/VNS File Photo

Big victories were won by people in both the north and south, especially the 12-day air strike against American B-52 bombers in Hà Nội in December 1972, which forced the Americans to sign the Paris Agreement to stop the war in Việt Nam. The uprising in spring 1975 with the historic Hồ Chí Minh Campaign totally liberated the South and reunited the nation, putting an end to the 30-year war.

Multi-functioned air-striking craft SU-30MK2 at a training session. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

After that, the People’s Army supported revolutionary armed forces and people in Laos and Cambodia to fight common enemies.

Vietnamese staff members of the level-two field hospital say goodbye to their families and comrades to depart for the United Nations’ peacekeeping mission in South Sudan. — VNA/ VNS Photo Trường Giang

A view of Tiên Nữ Island in Trường Sa (Spratly) Archipelago in the central province of Khánh Hòa. — VNA/VNS Photo Quang Quyết

Seventy-five years is a period long enough to say that the Việt Nam’s People’s Army has confirmed its strength and ability to work with Vietnamese people to build a prosperous country. — VNS