​During his lifetime, the image of the beloved South was always deeply imprinted in the heart of President Ho Chi Minh, with the unwavering belief that "The North – the South, reunite as one family." Our people still remember Uncle's teachings on September 26, 1945, when French colonialists, hiding behind British troops, launched an attack on the South in an attempt to dominate our country once again. The people of the South bravely took up arms to fight against the invading forces. He said, “It is better to die free than to live in slavery… People on the front lines are never alone because you have a whole united populace supporting you. The final victory will surely belong to us.”

On September 2, 1945, at Ba Dinh Square, Hanoi, President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence, founding the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, opening a new era for the nation's history (Documentary photo).

The French colonists deliberately waged war, wanting to separate the South from Vietnam, going against the wishes of our people: Vietnam is one, the Vietnamese people are one, the North and South reunite as one family is not only a desire but has become the will and determination of the entire Vietnamese nation. This sacred truth is clearly expressed in the letter President Ho Chi Minh sent to the Southern compatriots before he visited France as a distinguished guest: "The South is the blood of Vietnam's blood, the flesh of Vietnam's flesh, the Southern compatriots are the people of Vietnam. Rivers may run dry, mountains may erode, but this truth shall never change." The 1946 Constitution - the fundamental law of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam affirmed in Article 2, Chapter 1, "The territory of Vietnam is a unified entity. The Central, the South, and the North cannot be divided."

The resistance against French colonialism spread nationwide. The call for "Nationwide Resistance" done by President Ho Chi Minh and the strength of national unity under the leadership of the Party and Government led the nine-year "national construction resistance" against French colonialism to victory. However, after the historic victory at Dien Bien Phu and the Geneva Agreement, the North was completely liberated. The South, "going before and coming after," still had to continue the struggle against imperialists and their puppet forces. The beloved South was always in the heart of President Ho Chi Minh and in the hearts and minds of the people of the North.

For the beloved South, for the day when North and South are unified, the Party led the people of the North to strive to build socialism, so that the North could become a great rear, providing manpower and resources to the Southern front. Every achievement of the people in the South had the support of "spirit and strength" from the people in the North. Conversely, every accomplishment in studying, labor production, and fighting by the people in the North had contributions from the people in the South

The image of President Ho Chi Minh at the Stilt House (Documentary photo)

Regarding the fraternal feelings between the North and the South, President Ho Chi Minh said, “My heart and that of 17 million compatriots in the North always beat in unison with the hearts of our compatriots in the South… not a single hour or minute goes by without remembering our dear brothers and sisters in the South who are bravely fighting against the US - Diem regimes forces to save the nation.” In every letter, in every speech, in the annual reminders during the Spring, he always dedicates a part to encourage the North to strive for patriotic emulation, to build socialism in order to support the South in its struggle for national reunification.

The pain of the country being divided has deeply troubled the heart of President Ho Chi Minh and every patriotic Vietnamese people. That pain has ignited the flame of unity in struggle, amplifying our nation's strength in the fight for an independent and unified Vietnam. The whole country has firm faith in the South, the solid foundation of the Fatherland. The people of the South also always have unwavering confidence in the beloved North and in Uncle Ho. The belief in the future reunification of the country is nurtured by Uncle Ho with the will and determination of the entire nation: “The war may last 5 years, 10 years, 20 years, or even longer… Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom. When victory comes, our people will build our country more beautifully and splendidly.”

The struggle for the complete liberation of the South was still ahead. Despite his declining health, he still wished to visit the South before our troops launched the third phase of the general offensive. In a letter to Comrade Le Duan on March 10, 1968, he expressed his desire to visit and encourage the people in the South. Due to his health condition and the ongoing intense phase of the war, the Politburo persuaded him to postpone this trip.

On September 2, 1969, President Ho Chi Minh passed away, carrying with him a longing and a belief in certain victory: "Advance, soldiers, compatriots and people of the"North and South will meet in a happier spring". He has gone far, but his belief and the directive "As long as there is one invader on our land, we must continue to fight to sweep them away" remain. The will of President Ho Chi Minh and the desire for North-South reunion have propelled the entire nation into the final battle with faith in victory. The protracted struggle lasting 30 years against French colonialism and American imperialism ended with the general uprising in the Spring of 1975. The South was completely liberated, and North and South were reunited as one. Fifty years have passed since the historic victory of Spring 1975, and the unified Vietnam is rising and integrating with international friends. A peaceful, unified, democratic, and prosperous Vietnam, which is increasingly renewing itself, has affirmed its position on the international stage. Although there are still many challenges and difficulties ahead amid the peaceful developments and geopolitical conflicts worldwide, we have sufficient scientific basis and practical experience to confidently believe that under the light of Ho Chi Minh's ideology, we reunite as one to build our country "more dignified and more beautiful," in accordance with the wishes of President Ho Chi Minh.