(VOVworld) – On September 2, 1945, President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence, founding the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. At that time the history of the Vietnamese nation turned a new page and advanced into an era of independence and freedom. For every Vietnamese, memories of the first days of life in a liberated country are unforgettable.

On September 2nd, 1945, President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence, founding the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

“Vietnam has the right to enjoy freedom and independence and in fact has become a free and independent country. The entire Vietnamese people are determined to mobilize all their physical and mental strength to sacrifice their lives and property in order to safeguard those rights to freedom and independence,” said Uncle Ho. 

Early that morning, people from across the country were eagerly directed to Ba Dinh Square. They held red flags with a star in the middle. Their faces were shining and full of happiness.

Le Duc Van, one of those in attendance at that time, recalled: “On September 2, the whole of Hanoi was jubilant. Everybody made flags, learned to sing the ‘Army March’ song and ‘Wipe out the Fascists’. All people warmly welcomed national independence, the new government, and the Declaration of Independence. This was the first time everyone came to know of President Ho Chi Minh. Before that, everyone including me, didn’t know who he was.”

Nguyen Quang Phong, a former policeman of Hanoi’s Security Service, said the police force and the northern security service had the honor of providing protection for the ceremony at Ba Dinh Sqaure.

Phong said: “On September 2, we were entrusted with safeguarding the meeting and the convoy escorting President Ho Chi Minh to the rostrum. At that time, there weren’t uniforms for the security force, so all wore shirts and rode bicycles to accompany the President.”

For Ms. Le Thi, the moment of the most honour was when she raised the national flag at the historic event more than 70 years ago.

She was moved to say: “I was very nervous to go to the rostrum because I hadn’t been informed in advance. When I was near the platform, I met a woman. When the ‘Army March’ song was played, we slowly hoisted the flag, which fluttered in the wind exactly at the end of the song. We sighed with relief because we had completed our mission.”

71 years have gone by, but the memories of the first days when the country was liberated will be indelibly imprinted on the heart of each Vietnamese person.