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Since its establishment, the Vanguard Youth quickly grew in Saigon and spread to the provinces and cities of the South, contributing to the success of the August Revolution in Saigon and the South. Accordingly, on August 24, 1945, slogans arose throughout Saigon: “Bao Dai abdicates”, “The government belongs to the Viet Minh”, “Long live Vietnam’s independence”. The hammer and sickle flag fluttered on the roof of Dr. Pham Ngoc Thach’s house at 272 Chasseloup-Laubat (now Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street). At exactly 6:00 p.m., the Southern Uprising Committee officially issued the order to revolt.
At 8 p.m. the same day, the insurgent troops deployed their forces with determination to successfully complete their assigned tasks. The Vanguard Youth Assault Teams, consisting of thousands of elite armed members, attacked and captured important facilities in the city such as the Treasury, the Light Factory, the Water Factory, the Post Office, the Governor’s Palace of Cochinchina, the bridgeheads to Saigon, the police stations, the Fire Department, the Public Security Department, etc. While the assault teams occupied the offices, armed youth and workers on trucks with flags drove throughout the city to encourage the people to join the uprising. At 1 a.m. on August 25, 1945, the entire government was in the hands of the revolution.
Touched, proud
Remembering the first Independence Day, Ms. Hoang Thi Thanh (91 years old, currently residing in Ward 5, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City) was only 12 years old at that time but was excited to follow the crowd from all over the street towards Notre Dame Cathedral to listen to Uncle Ho read the Declaration of Independence. As they walked, everyone shouted: “Long live Vietnam’s independence! Long live President Ho Chi Minh!”.
“I grew up in the center of Saigon so I remember that day clearly, I was so proud to witness this great historical event of the nation” – Ms. Thanh recalled with emotion and pride. Later, Ms. Thanh followed the revolution, leaving her family to go to the war zone. Every time the National Day was celebrated, Ms. Thanh was moved and proud when she heard Uncle Ho’s voice on the radio with his heroic declarations of national independence and sovereignty.
Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Chin (75 years old, 40 years of Party membership, residing in Nguyen Cu Trinh ward, District 1) did not witness the historic moment of the nation on September 2, 1945, but every time this occasion comes, he always feels an indescribable emotion and pride.
As a person who directly participated in the resistance war against the US, going through the fierce war days, Mr. Chin understands more and more the value of the two words “independence” and “freedom”. To have the independence and freedom like today, many generations of fathers and grandfathers sacrificed. “Every time on the occasion of National Day September 2, the love for the homeland, the country, the national pride in every Vietnamese people increases” – Mr. Chin shared.