Vietnamese Ambassador to Singapore Trần Phước Anh and Singapore’s Coordinating Minister for Public Service and Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing and other former Vietnamese ambassadors to Singapore cut the cake to welcome the 80th National Day of Việt Nam. — VNA/VNS Photo

SINGAPORE — The Vietnamese Embassy in Singapore on Thursday hosted a ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of Việt Nam's National Day (September 2, 1945 – 2025).

The August 21 event brought together around 500 distinguished guests, including Singaporean officials, members of the diplomatic corps, scholars, business leaders, and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Singapore.

In his opening remarks, Vietnamese Ambassador to Singapore Trần Phước Anh highlighted Việt Nam's remarkable achievements in national building and development since President Hồ Chí Minh read the Declaration of Independence on September 2, 1945, affirming universal values of freedom, dignity, and self-determination.

He stressed Việt Nam's two major goals of becoming a developing country with modern industry and upper-middle income by 2030, and a high-income developed nation by 2045. The diplomat underscored the importance of partnerships in this journey, emphasising that one of Việt Nam's most enduring and dynamic partnerships is with Singapore.

With expanding cooperation in areas ranging from economy, trade, and defence to digital transformation, green growth, and human resource development, and with the close ties between the two countries’ leaders, he expressed confidence that Việt Nam and Singapore will move forward together toward a shared future of peace, innovation, and prosperity.

Speaking at the event, Singapore’s Coordinating Minister for Public Service and Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing praised Việt Nam's resilient and dynamic transformation. He said that during his visit to Việt Nam last month, he witnessed the dynamism of the Vietnamese economy and the determination of its people, and believed that with Party General Secretary Tô Lâm's vision of an era of the nation's rise, Việt Nam will achieve its set goals.

Minister Chan emphasised that with the longstanding friendship between the leaders of both nations and robust Việt Nam–Singapore cooperation, particularly in the fields of economy, green transition, energy security, science and technology, innovation, defence, non-traditional security, and people-to-people exchanges, the partnership will not only benefit the two countries but also strengthen the centrality of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). This, he noted, would help shape an inclusive, rules-based regional architecture that promotes stability and prosperity for all.

The ceremony also featured a photo exhibition highlighting milestones in Việt Nam's 80 years of development and achievements in Việt Nam–Singapore cooperation. A special August/September edition of iN Diplomacy magazine provided additional insights for those seeking to learn more about Việt Nam and explore business opportunities. Guests enjoyed an elegant áo dài (Vietnamese traditional long dress) show by both professional and amateur models, as well as captivating performances by Vietnamese singers, which left a strong impression on the audience. Vietnamese cuisine added to the cultural experience, delighting many guests with its flavours and diversity.

The 80th National Day celebration marked the beginning of a series of events to be held in Singapore, such as a cultural programme for the Vietnamese community, a networking golf tournament, and the screening of Một điều ước (One Wish) by director Lý Hải, all promising rich and memorable experiences for participants. — VNA/VNS