On the morning of October 21, in Hanoi, Comrade Pham Minh Chinh, Politburo member and Prime Minister attended the ceremony to receive the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces and celebrate the 62nd anniversary of the Air Defense - Air Force tradition day (October 22, 1963 - October 22, 2025).
Also attending the event were comrades: Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Trong Nghia, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission; former Politburo members, former Ministers of National Defense : General Pham Van Tra, General Ngo Xuan Lich; Party Central Committee members: Senior Lieutenant General Tran Quang Phuong, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly; General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, Deputy Minister of National Defense; Party Central Committee members, former Party Central Committee members, leaders, former leaders of the Ministry of National Defense, ministries, branches, central and local agencies; revolutionary veterans, heroic Vietnamese mothers, and heroes of the people's armed forces.
General Secretary To Lam and President Luong Cuong sent congratulatory flower baskets.
Pursuant to the Decree of President Ho Chi Minh, on October 22, 1963, General Vo Nguyen Giap, Commander-in-Chief of the Vietnam People's Army signed the Decision to establish the Air Defense - Air Force Service. This is an important historical event, marking a great step forward in the development of our Army and October 22 became the traditional day of the Air Defense - Air Force Service.
With its outstanding achievements and feats in construction, combat and development, the Air Defense - Air Force Service has been awarded many noble prizes by the Party and the State, 147 groups and 150 individuals have been honored with the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces, Hero of Labor; along with thousands of orders and medals of all kinds awarded to groups and individuals. The Service was honored to be visited by Uncle Ho 17 times and visited many times by Party and State leaders. The Service has 7,429 martyrs, 10,120 wounded and sick soldiers, about 3,000 comrades are still alive, of which 17 are working in the Service.
At the ceremony, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, on behalf of the Party and State leaders, presented the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces to the Air Defense - Air Force Service for its outstanding achievements.
The victories created strategic turning points that changed the situation of war and revolution.
Speaking at the event, on behalf of Comrade To Lam, General Secretary, Secretary of the Central Military Commission and leaders of the Party and State, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sent to the delegates, revolutionary veterans, Heroic Vietnamese Mothers, Heroes of the People's Armed Forces, generals, officers, soldiers, wounded and sick soldiers, and relatives of martyrs of the Air Defense - Air Force Service his respectful greetings, affectionate regards and best wishes.
"In this sacred and solemn moment, we respectfully remember and express our infinite gratitude to President Ho Chi Minh - the genius leader, teacher of the Vietnamese revolution, national liberation hero, world cultural celebrity, beloved father of the people's armed forces, who "brought glory to our nation, our people and our country".
"We respectfully bow in gratitude and forever remember the heroic sacrifices of countless heroic martyrs, generations of officers and soldiers of the People's Army's armed forces, including the Air Defense - Air Force, for the independence and freedom of the nation, for the prosperous and happy life of the people," Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stated that, throughout the 81-year history since President Ho Chi Minh founded the Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Army - the predecessor of the heroic Vietnam People's Army; under the leadership, education and training of the Party and beloved President Ho Chi Minh, and with the love and protection of the people, our Army has developed and matured remarkably, becoming an army that "once in battle, it is victorious", writing heroic and glorious pages in the history of building and defending the country of the nation.
In peacetime, our Army is a strong pillar, steadfast in protecting the sovereignty and sacred territory of the Fatherland; working hard, producing, excellently completing military and defense tasks; truly a solid "support" for the people in times of danger and hardship; continuing to affirm the heroic tradition of "Our Army comes from the people, serving the people".
The heroic tradition and great achievements of great significance to the revolutionary cause, the construction and protection of the Fatherland of the Army have the contribution of the Air Defense - Air Force Service - one of the three main services of the heroic Vietnam People's Army. As a fighting army, a working army, a production labor army, the Service has contributed to the development of the art of people's warfare, "using the weak to fight the strong, using the few to fight the many".
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that our Party and President Ho Chi Minh paid special attention to building air defense and air force forces, demonstrating the mindset of preparing early, from afar, proactively, and not being passive or surprised by the enemy's strategic air attacks.
After 62 years of building, fighting and growing, the Air Defense - Air Force has written golden pages of Vietnamese courage, intelligence and mettle, with feats of historical and strategic significance, contributing to changing the revolutionary situation of our country.
During the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, the young 367th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment used anti-aircraft firepower to shoot down dozens of enemy planes, cutting off the air bridge, contributing to isolation, creating favorable conditions for infantry to surround, approach, and completely destroy the stronghold, establishing the Dien Bien Phu Victory "famous in five continents, shaking the earth".
On August 5, 1964, in the first battle, the units of the Air Force achieved a brilliant victory, shooting down 8 planes, opening the tradition of "Winning the first battle", strengthening the belief of "Dare to fight - Know how to fight - Determined to win" against the most modern air force in the world.
Then, in April 1965, in the battle with the large US Air Force attacking Ham Rong Bridge - a strategic traffic artery, the Air Defense - Air Force soldiers shot down 47 enemy planes, proving their ability to defeat the US Air Force.
The climax was the great strategic battle in the air - "Dien Bien Phu in the air", in 12 days and nights, the army and people, with the core being the Air Defense - Air Force, achieved a legendary victory, shooting down 81 US aircraft, including 34 B-52 bombers, creating a strategic turning point to change the situation of the war, forcing the US to resume negotiations, sign the Paris Agreement to withdraw troops from Vietnam, creating a strategic turning point for the liberation of the South and the reunification of the country.
In the historic Ho Chi Minh campaign, the Army Corps was both the main and core force and an effective and efficient support force for our army and people to "fight the Americans and overthrow the puppet regime", liberate the South, and unify the country.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed: Those outstanding victories and countless other victories have affirmed Vietnam's intelligence and mettle, demonstrated the unique and creative combat art of the Air Defense - Air Force, and contributed to glorifying the glorious tradition of the heroic Vietnam People's Army and the heroic Vietnamese nation.
Although the country is at peace, the Air Defense - Air Force soldiers do not rest, silently guarding the sacred sky and sea of the Fatherland day and night. Each radar signal, each patrol flight is an honorable order, an iron-clad oath "The Fatherland's sky is not violated". At the same time, they are always at the forefront in overcoming the consequences of natural disasters, epidemics, searching, rescuing, and developing the economy and society...; bringing a prosperous and happy life to the people, making important contributions to the country's development achievements in recent years.
Over the past 62 years, the Air Defense - Air Force has excellently completed its assigned tasks, further enhancing the good qualities of "Uncle Ho's soldiers", creating precious values and glorious traditions: "Infinite loyalty, determined to fight and win"; "Close coordination, bravery and intelligence"; "Self-reliance, self-strengthening, mastering the Fatherland's sky".
With many outstanding achievements and feats of arms, hundreds of collectives and individuals of the Air Defense - Air Force have been awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces and many other noble awards.
On behalf of the Party and State leaders, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh highly appreciated and warmly commended the feats and achievements that generations of officers and soldiers of the Service have achieved over the past 62 years; warmly congratulated the Service on receiving the noble title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces, a noble award bestowed by the Party and State.
Air defense - air force becomes the front line of national strategic defense
According to the Prime Minister, in the coming period, the world and regional situation will develop rapidly, complicatedly, and unpredictably; the risk of conflict and war will increase. Modern warfare tends to apply high technology, smart weapons, unmanned aerial vehicles, electronic warfare, cyberspace, etc. In particular, recent wars have shown that air and missile attacks are always the main attack points, so air defense - air force becomes the front line of national strategic defense.
That context poses increasingly difficult, challenging and heavy tasks for the cause of building and defending the Fatherland, in which firmly protecting the airspace and sea is crucial. The Prime Minister requested the Air Defense - Air Force Service to continue promoting the tradition of "loyalty to the Party, filial piety to the people", effectively serving the cause of building and defending the socialist Fatherland of Vietnam, firmly grasping the situation, maintaining strategic initiative, not being passive and surprised in the air and other fronts; being a pioneer and exemplary leader in applying science and technology, innovation, digital transformation and force modernization; building and developing the force with the spirit of "three no's": No subjectivity, negligence, loss of vigilance, no complacency, no satisfaction, no fear of any enemy, once in battle, victory.
The Prime Minister requested the Army to perform well the following tasks:
Firstly, build a revolutionary, disciplined, elite, modern army that can meet tasks in all situations.
The service must constantly innovate its strategic thinking, improve its combat readiness, and firmly protect the Fatherland "early and from afar" in the spirit of Resolution No. 44 dated November 24, 2023 of the 13th Central Executive Committee on "Strategy for protecting the Fatherland in the new situation" and resolutions on the National Defense Strategy and Military Strategy.
Building a clean, strong, and exemplary Party organization of the Army; enhancing the leadership capacity and fighting strength of the Party organization and Party members; maintaining solidarity and unity within the Party organization and the Army.
Focus on building a truly strong human force, building a team of cadres at all levels with political mettle, practical capacity and high professional qualifications. Promote traditional values to become an endogenous strength, a driving force to build a revolutionary, disciplined, elite and modern Army. Have policies to attract, train and make use of talents, especially technical and high-tech personnel.
Second, continue to do a good job of grasping the situation, providing strategic advice on military, national defense and combat missions to protect the Fatherland.
Continue to advise the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense on strategies to build people's air defense forces and the entire army's air force, creating a strong and widespread position. Promote the role of the core force on the air front, always ready to fight and fight victoriously against any enemy invasion.
Continue to study and summarize lessons learned from the practical experience of wars to defend the Fatherland and experiences in recent wars around the world, especially in major air defense campaigns, to apply in new conditions. Focus on studying and summarizing military theory, military art, practical combat experience, developing fighting and combat methods, especially in protecting sovereignty over seas and islands; responding to high-tech warfare.
Third, breakthroughs in development, application of science and technology, digital transformation, improvement of combat and management capacity; consolidation and breakthroughs in the defense industry.
Promote modernization, enhance technological autonomy; research, produce, manufacture, equip and master high-tech, modern weapons; repair, improve, innovate equipment, produce spare parts and replacement components. Promote the application of science and technology, artificial intelligence, digitalization in management and operations; synchronously integrate weapons and equipment systems throughout the army. Research and propose to the Party, State and Army to purchase and supplement modern technical weapons and equipment, meeting mission requirements and suitable to the country's economic conditions.
Fourth, firmly manage, control and protect national airspace.
Closely monitor and control all flight activities of civil and military aircraft, domestically and internationally; ensure the safety of political, economic and defense centers; focusing on researching and developing the "Sustainable Air Defense Dome" project. Help maintain security and order in the air, operate flights safely, and create conditions for economic, tourism and international trade activities to take place safely and smoothly.
Fifth, continue to focus on and perform well the functions of the working team and the production labor team.
Actively participate in and contribute to the construction of a self-reliant and modern national aviation industry; develop civil aviation infrastructure and services, and participate in the aviation engineering supply chain. Promote research, application, and technology transfer; train high-quality human resources in the aviation sector. Improve the operational efficiency of defense enterprises.
Pay attention to improving the material and spiritual life of officers and soldiers; take care of and implement well the military and military rear policies; and perform the work of gratitude. Continue to do well the work of overcoming the consequences of natural disasters, searching and rescuing, and eliminating hunger and reducing poverty, which is one of the important, regular and humanitarian tasks of the Air Defense - Air Force.
Sixth, strengthen and improve the effectiveness of defense diplomacy. Continue to innovate and promote foreign affairs and international exchanges, contributing to raising the position and prestige of the Service and the Vietnam People's Army. Strengthen international cooperation to contribute to strengthening defense potential, ensuring weapons, equipment and training high-quality human resources, close to the practical situation and the task of protecting the Fatherland.
The Head of Government emphasized: The 62-year heroic and glorious history is a great spiritual value, an unparalleled source of strength for the Air Defense - Air Force to continue to be the "Steel Shield" protecting the sacred sky of the Fatherland and establishing a national strategic defense posture; demonstrating the will, mettle and intelligence of Vietnam in the new era.
We expect and believe that, under the leadership of the Party, directly by the Central Military Commission, the Ministry of National Defense, all cadres, generals, officers and soldiers of the Air Defense - Air Force will continue to strive, overcome all difficulties and challenges, excellently complete all assigned tasks, have more achievements and feats, make greater contributions to the cause of building and defending the Fatherland, forever worthy of the trust and love of the Party, the State and our people, with the title "Uncle Ho's Soldiers", continue to write the glorious history of the heroic Vietnam People's Army "Our army is loyal to the Party, filial to the people, ready to fight and sacrifice for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland, for socialism. Every task will be completed, every difficulty will be overcome, every enemy will be defeated", "once in battle, victory is assured".
Updated on October 21, 2025
Source: https://laichau.gov.vn/tin-tuc-su-kien/chuyen-de/tin-trong-nuoc/thu-tuong-phong-khong-khong-quan-la-tuyen-dau-phong-thu-chien-luoc-can-nghyen-cuu-xay-dung-vom-phong-khong-ben-vung-.html
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