(VOVworld) – The victory of the 1975 Spring General Offensive and Uprising, which culminated in the historic HCM campaign, put an end to Vietnam’s resistance war against US imperialists. It marked an important period in Vietnam’s history against foreign invaders. My Dung reports:

The victory in 1975 ended not only 21 years of national resistance against US imperialists but also 117 years of colonialism in Vietnam. It opened a new era of independence and reunification towards socialism in Vietnam.

Victory of the desire for national independence and reunification

The 1975 spring victory embodied the strength of people’s warfare, the sacrifice of southerners, and the immense support of people in northern Vietnam for the southern front. Major General Tran Ngoc Tho, Vice President of the Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin, said: “The southern battlefield was much fiercer than others. Vietnamese soldiers and people armed with rudimentary weapons fought against an imperialist army.”

With one victory after another, Vietnamese soldiers quickly moved to liberate Saigon by the end of April, 1975. At 11:30 on April 30, 1975, the victory flag was raised on the roof of Independence Palace, marking the end of 21 years of Vietnam’s resistance against US imperialists. Doctor Nguyen Manh Ha, Director of the Institute of Party History, said: “Our predecessors used to say ‘War for a lasting peace’. We are a peace-loving nation but often have had to fight for peace and national reunification. War goes along with losses and sacrifices. We accepted huge losses during the war against US imperialists in return for independence and peace.”

Victory of national unity

Unity was one of the important factors in the victory of the resistance war for national independence. Associate Professor Tran Ngoc Long, former deputy director of the Military History Institute of Vietnam, said: “Vietnam had economic and military disadvantages but we had the strength of unity. United we fought one battle after another and eventually conducted a general offensive to defeat US imperialists and forces of the Saigon regime to reunify the country.”

Associate Professor Nguyen Trong Phuc, former director of the Institute of Party History, said there are many valuable lessons drawn from the war: “The biggest lesson is patriotism and national unity in addition to the leadership of the Party. We should also mention the strength of unity and the support of progressive people around the world for our struggle for national independence.”