HÀ NỘI — Octogenarian war veterans, young people, State leaders and thousands of delegates took part yesterday in a solemn event in Hà Nội commemorating the 70th anniversary of National Resistance Day (December 19) and the fierce campaign against the French in the winter of ’46.

Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng, President Trần Đại Quang, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân, former Party and State leaders and nearly 3,500 delegates attended the event.

National Resistance Day marks President Hồ Chí Minh’s 1946 call, urging the entire people of Việt Nam to resist the French colonial rule.

Following the success of the August Revolution in 1945 and the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Việt Nam, the French sped up their attempts to re-occupy Hà Nội and other areas.

On the evening of December 19, 1946, Vietnamese troops in Láng fortress zeroed in on targets in the inner city, initiating the resistance war. The next morning, the Voice of Vietnam broadcast President Hồ Chí Minh’s appeal, urging the people to resist the French restoration of colonial rule in the country.

In response to the appeal, the Hà Nội’s army and people fought for 60 days and nights, managing to contain the French and foil their plans to capture major Vietnamese institutions.

The achievements over nine years of war culminated in the Điện Biên Phủ campaign victory over the French, laying the foundation for national liberation and reunification under the leadership of the Communist Party.

Speaking at the event, Secretary of the Hà Nội Party Committee, Hoàng Trung Hải, recalled the spirit and significance of the 60-day resistance and expressed his belief in the national construction and development at present.

Colonel Nguyễn Huy Du, 86, who joined the war, recalled the resistance and said he could not forget the winter of 1946 when the entire people and army of Việt Nam had to fight to protect the country amid severe weather conditions and many other challenges.

He said he hoped the young generation would continue upholing that traditional spirit to protect and develop the country.   

Representing the young generation, 32-year-old Trần Xuân Bách, a lecturer from the Hà Nội Medical University, said he was very pround of the revolutionary tradition and sacrifice of the previous generations in gaining and protecting natinal independence.

The young generation acknowledges its responsibility and mission and would strive to build and protect the country, he said.

Earlier, delegations from the Party Central Committee, the Government, the National Assembly, the Việt Nam Fatherland Front Central Committee, and the Hà Nội authorities paid floral tributes to President Hồ Chí Minh at his mausoleum and to heroic martyrs at a monument dedicated to them. — VNS