To Lam Highlights Hanoi’s Strengths at 70th Liberation Anniversary Celebration
Hanoi, The Gulf Observer – In a significant celebration marking the 70th anniversary of Hanoi’s Liberation Day on October 10, 1954, Party General Secretary and State President To Lam emphasized the capital city’s potential to leverage its historical and contemporary strengths for regional and national growth.
Reflecting on the past seven decades, President Lam stated, “We continue to uphold our pride and appreciation towards our victories and achievements, and profoundly understand the invaluable worth of national freedom, independence, people’s happiness, and peace and development.” He noted that Hanoi’s liberation from French colonial rule stands as a testament to national solidarity and the aspiration for peace, serving as a milestone in both the city’s and Vietnam’s development journey.
Today, Hanoi functions as the nation’s political and administrative center, a hub of culture, science, education, and economic activity, and ranks among the largest capital cities in the world. The city’s economy has seen steady growth, with a reported GDP of US$54 billion in 2023. Hanoi’s gross regional domestic product (GRDP) continues to exceed the national average, and its state budget revenue has consistently met or surpassed targets.
As of 2023, the average income per capita in Hanoi stands at $6,348, with a remarkable reduction in the poverty rate to 0.03 percent across 11 of the city’s 30 districts. The capital also boasts a high human development index and is home to quality educational institutions, making it an attractive destination for foreign tourists and investors, while maintaining extensive international connections.
Over the past 70 years, Hanoi has received multiple accolades from the Party and the State, including the Gold Star Order, the Order of Hồ Chí Minh, and the First-Class Independence Order, along with titles such as “Heroic Capital” and “Hero of the People’s Armed Forces.” It is also the only city in the Asia-Pacific recognized as a “City for Peace” by UNESCO and was the first Southeast Asian capital to join the UN agency’s Creative Cities Network in 2019.
In his address, President Lam urged the people of Hanoi to mobilize resources, particularly from the community, to foster rapid and sustainable development that would generate positive effects throughout the Red River Delta, northern economic region, and the entire nation. He emphasized the importance of enhancing global connections, competitiveness, and living standards to achieve development comparable to other major capitals worldwide.
For the city’s management, Lam called for a strong, united, and transparent political system with a modern and democratic administration that embraces proactivity and innovation. He expressed confidence that under the Party’s leadership and the nation’s spirit of self-reliance, Hanoi could emerge as a global model of a socialist capital city, steering the country into a new era of growth.
Attending the ceremony as a historical witness to Hanoi’s Liberation Day, former platoon leader of the Capital Regiment, Nguyễn Thụ, expressed pride in the city’s and the nation’s remarkable transformation over the last seven decades. He encouraged today’s youth to honor the sacrifices of previous generations by striving to protect their homeland’s independence and sovereignty.
On behalf of Hanoi’s younger generation, Hanoi Law University student Nguyễn Chi Phương pledged to uphold the heroic traditions and principles of the city and nation through continuous efforts in education and contribution to Vietnam’s development, aiming to position the country alongside the great powers of the world.
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