Dear readers,

The historic victory in the August Revolution that our people, under the leadership of the Indochinese Communist Party (now the Communist Party of Vietnam), achieved on August 19, 1945, crushed the domination of the then colonialists, fascists, and feudalists, thus opening an era of independence and freedom, with a milestone marked by President Ho Chi Minh announcing the Declaration of Independence before a rally of tens of thousands of people in Hanoi on September 2, 1945, officially giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam); the first workers’ and peasants’ State in Southeast Asia.

Our country’s National Day, September 2, was established in such an extremely important historical context, and has now celebrated its 80th anniversary.

Over the past 80 years, our people, under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, experienced four wars for national independence, liberation, and reunification, and the defense of the Fatherland that in total lasted more than four decades, full of hardships and sacrifice, while also fulfilling their international duty in Laos and Cambodia to help the revolutionary forces in these two neighboring countries, also for decades. Besides wartime, Vietnam also suffered from an economic embargo which lasted nearly 20 years. However, our people overcame all difficulties and hardships as consequences of war and embargo, successfully proceeding with socio-economic development.

Looking back over the past 80 years, we can see that the achievements recorded by our nation, under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, are truly great, despite having experienced so many losses, with the sacrifices of millions of people. As a result, our people not only gained independence, freedom, and national reunification, but also obtained great achievements in socio-economic development, turning Vietnam from a country with no name on the world map into one that has established diplomatic relations with more than 190 countries and territories across five continents, including 13 comprehensive strategic partners and ten strategic partners, and has been viewed as a trusted and responsible member of the international community. Furthermore, with a GDP of $476.3 billion as of the end of 2024, Vietnam was ranked as the 34th-largest economy in the world, and with total import-export turnover of nearly $800 billion recorded in the same year, it entered the Top 20 economies in the world in terms of foreign trade.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of an exhibition of national achievements celebrating the 80th anniversary of the National Day (September 2, 1945 - 2025), with the theme “80-Year Journey of Independence - Freedom - Happiness”, that was kicked off in Hanoi on August 28, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the event is a special highlight, honoring Vietnam’s glorious history while fostering patriotism, national pride, and aspirations for progress, affirming the country’s strength and position on its path of “Doi Moi” (Economic Renewal), international integration, and development.

In this edition, we therefore present a special issue in celebration of the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day, with the Cover Story focusing on the great achievements recorded by Vietnam over the past 80 years, especially its socio-economic results since the Doi Moi process was initiated by the Communist Party of Vietnam at its 6th National Congress in 1986, highlighting effective contributions made by policymakers, experts, scientists, and the business community, including foreign enterprises, and the entire people as a whole, to these great achievements, which provide a firm foundation for Vietnam to enter the “New era - The era of the nation’s rise” initiated by Party General Secretary To Lam.