“Golden Week” was one of the most beautiful examples of national unity during the early days of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam after the August Revolution in 1945. At that time, the young revolutionary government faced numerous difficulties and challenges, particularly in economics and finance. The national treasury was empty while poverty was widespread. One of the measures the State implemented to overcome the problem was mobilizing public donations. Nearly 400 kg of gold and millions of dong, equivalent to 130 million USD in today’s money were collected during Golden Week, showing the degree of public trust in the Party and President Ho Chi Minh. Hero of the People’s Armed Forces Tran Ngoc Phuong of Bac Giang province says that without trust in the Party the people would never have donated their personal property to help the nation and the regime: “I grew up after the success of the August Revolution led by the Party. Our country was struggling at that time but the people were confident in the Party and the regime and ready to donate their money and gold.”

Thanks to the people’s trust and its close bond with the people, the Communist Party of Vietnam mobilized national strength to gain victory after victory including the 1954 historical Dien Bien Phu victory, the Great Victory in the spring of 1975 and the great achievements of the national renewal period. It has been the people’s trust that has created the strength for Vietnam to overcome numerous difficulties over the past 90 years.

During the current national renewal, the Vietnamese people have increasing trust in the Party and are determined to unite with the Party to promote democracy and develop the country. The Party has issued several resolutions, restructured its organization, strengthened its strategic cadres, and promoted role models in Party building. The Party has standardized personnel processes to ensure fairness, transparency, and objectivity. The Party has been resolute in Party building and implementing anti-corruption measures in order to gain the people’s trust. Associate Professor Doctor Nguyen Minh Tuan, Director of the Party Building Institute of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, said: “In its 12^th tenure, the Party focused on fighting corruption. Within just one tenure more than 2,000 Party members were prosecuted for corruption. We need to acknowledge the Party’s great efforts, which have received support from the people.”

In founding the Party, President Ho Chi Minh was particularly concerned about the moral degradation of Party officials and members, considering it a major risk for the Party. Therefore, the Party has particularly focused on fighting bureaucracy and corruption and asked Party members to uphold revolutionary dignity and morality to gain the people’s trust. Professor Hoang Chi Bao of the Central Theoretical Council said: “President Ho Chi Minh told Party members that actions are more important than words and only devotion and good role models can maintain the people’s trust in the Party. President Ho Chi Minh was an outstanding example. Party members should learn the lessons of being courageous in fighting individualism, staying away from individual interests, and serving the people. Only by so doing will the Party always remain in the hearts of the people.”

The 90 years since the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam have been a test of the people’s trust in the Party that has required the Party to honor its responsibility and make steady efforts to strengthen its leadership. In an article marking the 89^th anniversary of the Party, Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong wrote: “Strong Party, Prosperous Country, Eternal Nation” urging the Party to reform its leadership and strengthen its bond with the people.