On the afternoon of October 16, in Da Nang city, Politburo member and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the ceremony to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Armed Forces of Military Region 5 (October 16, 1945 - October 16, 2025) and received the Ho Chi Minh Medal for the third time - a noble award of the Party and State in recognition of the process of building, fighting, winning and growing of Military Region 5 over the past 80 years.
Also attending the ceremony were: Politburo member, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh ; Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Quang Phuong; leaders of central departments, ministries, branches and the Ministry of National Defense; leaders of provinces and cities; Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, Heroes of the People's Armed Forces; representatives of diplomatic agencies in Da Nang; representatives of armed forces units of Laos and Cambodia.
General Secretary To Lam, President Luong Cuong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man sent congratulatory flower baskets.
The distinctive identity of the Armed Forces of Military Region 5
The commemorative speech stated that the Armed Forces of Military Region 5 - the predecessor of the Ba To Guerrilla Team and other guerrilla and self-defense teams, were born during the high tide of resistance against Japan to save the country, and were the core for the masses to win the August Revolution in the South Central region.
During the resistance war against French colonialism, the Inter-Zone 5 Armed Forces proactively organized campaigns to attack the enemy in Quang Nam-Da Nang, the Central Highlands, and Khanh Hoa; protecting the free zone of Nam-Ngai-Binh-Phu into a large, solid revolutionary base, a strategic rear.
Along with that, the Military Region's Armed Forces performed international duties to help friends build the Southern Laos Resistance Zone, a revolutionary base in Northeastern Cambodia.
In particular, with the resounding victories of the Dak Po and Bo Bo victories in 1954, the Armed Forces of Military Region 5, together with the whole country, won the Winter-Spring War of 1953-1954, successfully ending the resistance war against the invading French colonialists.
During the 21 years of resistance war against the US to save the country (1954-1975), the Armed Forces of Military Region 5, together with the army and people of the South and the whole country, fought steadfastly, successively defeating the war strategies of the US imperialists.
With the motto and strategic offensive ideology of "Two legs, three prongs of attack", "Cling to the enemy's waist and fight"; with intelligence, creativity, and the spirit of "Dare to fight the Americans, know how to fight the Americans and be determined to defeat the Americans", the Armed Forces of Military Region 5 were "brave, steadfast, and took the lead in destroying the Americans", achieving typical victories such as Nui Thanh, Ba Gia, Van Tuong, Playme, Dak To, Tan Canh..., contributing significantly with the army and people of the whole country to the glorious victory of the resistance war against the Americans to save the country.
The armed forces of Military Region 5 participated in helping Cambodia escape genocide, fought steadfastly at Front 579 until the final stage of the war, leaving a good image of the "Buddhist Army" in the hearts of the people of the neighboring country.
In the new revolutionary period, the Armed Forces of Military Region 5 always thoroughly grasp and effectively implement the military and defense viewpoints and policies of our Party, State and Army.
With its outstanding achievements, the Armed Forces of Military Region 5 were honored to be awarded the Gold Star Order twice by the Party and State, the Ho Chi Minh Order three times, 942 collectives and 474 individuals were awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces and many other noble awards.
On behalf of the Party and State leaders, he presented the Ho Chi Minh Medal to the Armed Forces of Military Region 5; speaking at the Commemoration Ceremony, Politburo member and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh respectfully remembered and expressed his infinite gratitude to President Ho Chi Minh; respectfully expressed his gratitude and forever remembered the heroic sacrifice for the independence and freedom of the nation, for the prosperous and happy life of the people, of countless heroic martyrs, generations of cadres and soldiers of the People's Army's armed forces, including the soldiers of Military Region 5.
Reviewing the 81-year process of establishment, growth and development of the Vietnam People's Army, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that Military Region 5 - the intersection of strategic routes, Indochina Junction, is a strategic and important area in terms of economy, politics, national defense and security of our country, both on land, border and islands; is important in performing the three functions of the Army "combat army, working army, production labor army"; is also an area with many sensitive factors in national defense and security, requiring Military Region 5 to always improve its overall quality, combat strength, and be ready for all situations, not to be passive or surprised.
The Prime Minister also pointed out that Military Region 5 is an area with a large number of ethnic minorities and a large religious population; requiring Military Region 5 to focus on mass mobilization, ethnic and religious work, and participate in building the grassroots political system.
Along with that, this is also a socio-economic area with many difficulties; with a border of over 311km with Laos and 291km with Cambodia, the defense foreign affairs work of Military Region 5 has practical significance, concretizing the foreign policy of the Party and State, building and protecting a peaceful, friendly and stable border with neighboring countries.
According to the Prime Minister, immediately after the success of the August Revolution, with a profound and comprehensive strategic vision, our Party and President Ho Chi Minh established War Zone 5 (now Military Zone 5), marking a turning point in the development of the armed forces and military art of Vietnam, especially in terms of organization and war posture in key strategic areas, meeting the urgent requirements of the revolution.
During the two resistance wars to save the country, Military Region 5 was one of the most fierce key battlefields, directly facing dangerous war strategies, new types of operations, and confronting large and well-trained enemy forces.
The victories in the Military Region 5 battlefield were often decisive, contributing to changing the revolutionary situation of our country, with feats of historical and strategic significance.
In particular, the fierceness of the battlefield of Military Region 5 contributed to the formation of many units that have gone down in history, shining symbols of Vietnamese bravery and spirit such as: Regiment 1, Division 2, Division 3 Sao Vang, Division 315...; with talented generals, excellent commanders such as General Hoang Van Thai, General Chu Huy Man, General Doan Khue, General Nguyen Quyet, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chon, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Minh Thao... and is the place where many prestigious leaders of our Party, State and Army were developed.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh pointed out that when the country was unified and entered the stage of construction, development and international integration, the armed forces of Military Region 5 quickly shifted their tasks from the liberation war to overcoming the consequences of war; suppressing reactionaries, resolving the FULRO issue, fulfilling their noble international obligations to Cambodia; participating in socio-economic development; being the core in preventing and fighting natural disasters, epidemics, rescue, and relief, making important contributions to maintaining political and social stability in the area.
The Prime Minister affirmed that during 80 years of fighting, building and growing, the armed forces of Military Region 5 have always been absolutely loyal to the Party, the Fatherland and the people; strived to overcome difficulties and challenges, excellently completed assigned tasks, and enhanced the good qualities of "Uncle Ho's soldiers", creating a unique identity of "Self-reliance, overcoming difficulties, enduring hardships, being ingenious and creative, fighting tenaciously, and winning gloriously."
On behalf of the Party and State leaders, praising the maturity and great contributions of the armed forces of Military Region 5 to the revolutionary cause, the cause of building and defending the Fatherland, the cause of building and developing the Vietnam People's Army, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh pointed out that our country is entering a new era of development, in addition to opportunities and advantages, it also faces many difficulties and challenges; many new issues arise for the task of building and defending the Fatherland.
Must be proactive and sensitive in new contexts and situations
The current context poses more difficult and burdensome tasks for the Army, including Military Region 5. The Prime Minister requested that the armed forces of Military Region 5 continue to focus on and improve the quality of strategic staff work on military and defense, and implement the "4 no's" defense policy.
Reminding that “when there is peace, we must think about when there is war,” the Prime Minister requested Military Region 5 to be proactive, sensitive, grasp and closely forecast the situation, assess the impact on the area; propose measures and respond, handle situations flexibly and effectively, early, from afar, from the grassroots, not to be passive or surprised; effectively implement guidelines, strategies, and laws on military and national defense; actively participate in planning mechanisms, policies, and laws on military and national defense.
Emphasizing that Military Region 5 must be the core in implementing the all-people national defense policy, the Prime Minister requested to build a solid all-people national defense posture and people's security posture associated with a solid people's hearts posture, absolutely not allowing hostile forces to lure and incite the people; build solid military zone and defense zones at all levels; closely coordinate with local Party committees and authorities to promote socio-economic development, combined with strengthening national defense and security; perform well civil defense tasks, effectively respond to non-traditional security challenges, and truly be a reliable support for the people in all difficult and unfortunate circumstances.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh directed Military Region 5 to focus on improving the overall quality and strength of the combat army. In particular, improving the quality of training, exercises, combat readiness, and coordination of forces, especially with the People's Public Security force, in firmly protecting the airspace, sea, border, inland, cyberspace, maintaining security and order; making breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation and digital transformation; promoting modernization and mastering weapons and equipment; improving combat capacity, being ready to respond to modern forms of war, methods, high technology and non-traditional forms of war.
Instructing Military Region 5 to build a strong armed force in politics, ideology and organization, the Prime Minister emphasized the need to build a clean, strong, exemplary and representative Party Committee of Military Region 5; improve the leadership capacity and fighting strength of the Party organization and Party members; maintain solidarity and unity in the Party Committee and armed forces of the Military Region; build a contingent of cadres with mettle, knowledge and comprehensive capacity; have policies to discover, attract and use talented people with good expertise, techniques and technology, to meet the requirements of protecting the Fatherland in the new era.
Military Region 5 must continue to focus on and perform well the functions of the working army and the production labor army. In particular, improve the efficiency of the activities of defense economic groups and military 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; work to repay gratitude, collect martyrs' remains; promote the effectiveness of mass mobilization models, strengthen the close relationship between the military and the people; actively participate in economic, cultural and social development, especially in remote, border, island, revolutionary base areas and ethnic minority areas.
Along with that, more effectively carry out defense diplomacy with the Lao and Cambodian armies, contributing to maintaining a peaceful, friendly, stable, cooperative and developing environment at the border.
Emphasizing that the 80-year history of building and growing the armed forces of Military Region 5 is an immortal epic of patriotism; a crystallization of the will for independence and the aspiration for freedom and happiness, the Prime Minister affirmed that it is a source of invaluable spiritual strength, a sacred pride and a noble responsibility for today's and tomorrow's generations to follow in the footsteps of their fathers and brothers, building a revolutionary, disciplined, elite, modern Military Region 5 force, a core force in the strategic area of the Fatherland, worthy of the title "Uncle Ho's soldiers" in the new era.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expects and believes that the armed forces of Military Region 5 will continue to promote their glorious tradition, strive to achieve many feats and achievements, make greater contributions to the cause of building and defending the socialist Fatherland, forever worthy of the trust and love of the Party, State and people, and continue to write the glorious history of the Vietnam People's Army - the heroic army of the heroic Vietnamese nation "complete any mission, overcome any difficulty, defeat any enemy"./.
Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/thu-tuong-quan-khu-5-hay-viet-tiep-trang-su-ve-vang-cua-quan-doi-va-dan-toc-post1070791.vnp
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