President Ho Chi Minh's affection for Vietnam's Naval Forces
WVR - Throughout his revolutionary career, President Ho Chi Minh visited and worked with the naval forces three times. Each visit left a mark, showcasing his profound concern and strategic direction for the development of the Navy in the mission of safeguarding the sacred sovereignty of the nation's seas and islands.
Latest
 |
| President Ho Chi Minh with Nguyen Luong Bang on Naval Ship 524 on March 31, 1959, during his first visit to the Naval Forces. (Photo provided by the Naval Forces) |
On the morning of May 19, on the occasion of the 136th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birth (May 19, 1890 - May 19, 2026), at the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Room, the Command of Naval Region 5 (Phu Quoc Special Zone, An Giang Province), a delegation from the Naval Forces led by Vice Admiral Nguyen An Phong, Secretary of the Party Committee, and Political Commissar of the Navy, organized a ceremony to offer incense in memory of President Ho Chi Minh.
In a solemn atmosphere, the delegation respectfully offered flowers and incense, expressing their boundless respect and gratitude for the immense contributions of President Ho Chi Minh – the genius leader of the Vietnamese revolution, a national liberation hero, a world cultural figure, and the beloved Father of the Vietnamese People's Armed Forces, while reminiscing about the special affection he had for the Naval Forces.
Throughout his revolutionary career, President Ho Chi Minh visited and worked with the naval forces three times. Each visit left a mark, showcasing his profound concern and strategic direction for the development of the Navy in the mission of safeguarding the sacred sovereignty of the nation's seas and islands.
 |
| Vice Admiral Nguyen An Phong, Secretary of the Party Committee, Political Commissar of the Navy, offering incense in memory of President Ho Chi Minh. (Photo provided by the Naval Forces) |
Three visits to the Naval Forces
Two months after the Coastal Defense Department was transformed into the Naval Department, on March 30 and 31, 1959, President Ho Chi Minh made his first visit to the Naval Forces at the Naval Training School and several islands in Quang Ninh and Hai Phong. During the visit, he kindly inquired about and showed concern for each officer and soldier. He “shared sticky rice and fried meat brought from Hanoi with comrades on duty on the ship”; he “poured water and distributed candies to each officer and soldier”; “Knowing that the troops on the island lacked fresh water and reading materials, he instructed the accompanying Logistics Department officer to ensure that the comrades could bathe twice a week with fresh water and promised to send a radio to the officers and soldiers on the island.”
Alongside his concern, he also kindly advised, reminded, and entrusted significant responsibilities to the Navy: “Sailors must love the sea, and having ships, they must diligently study the techniques to use the ships well and fight skillfully”; “officers and soldiers must strive to overcome difficulties, endure hardships, be at ease with their duties, actively study military, political, and cultural subjects, and increase production to improve living conditions.” Notably, after visiting the working areas, rest houses, kitchens, and training grounds of the Naval Training School, and speaking with the teachers and students, he advised: “You must continuously strive to improve yourself and quickly develop the navy.”
 |
| President Ho Chi Minh and Chinese Naval officers visiting Hai Phong port during a visit to the Naval Department on March 15, 1961. (Photo provided by the Naval Forces) |
On March 16, 1961, President Ho Chi Minh visited Ha Long Bay and a naval unit. Speaking with naval officers and soldiers, he advised: “Our coastline holds a very important position. Therefore, the Navy's mission is both heavy and glorious in the short and long term. You must know how to fight in ways that suit our people's conditions, the terrain of our coastline, and the weapons we have. Our Navy must learn modern combat experiences but must not forget the traditional ways our ancestors fought invaders.”
His teachings reflected a broad vision of the strategic role of the seas and islands in national defense, especially when the country was still divided. By emphasizing that combat methods must suit our people’s conditions, terrain, and weapons, he clearly demonstrated a flexible military mindset, closely aligned with reality, using the weak to defeat the strong, and the small to defeat the large, as espoused by our Party and President Ho Chi Minh. At the same time, he reminded naval officers and soldiers to learn modern combat experiences but not forget the heroic tradition of fighting foreign invaders of our ancestors. This is a harmonious combination of modernity and tradition, innovation and identity, laying the foundation for the sustainable development of the Vietnam People's Navy in the journey of protecting the sacred sovereignty of the nation's seas and islands.
The third time President Ho Chi Minh visited the naval forces was on November 13, 1962. He visited Group 135 on Van Hoa Island, Quang Ninh (now Squadron 135, Brigade 170, Naval Region 1). Here, he told naval officers and soldiers about the famous general Tran Khanh Du of the Tran Dynasty, who used tactics to capture the supply fleet of the Yuan army invading our country, and advised: “As naval soldiers, you must love the islands as your home, diligently transform and build them into lands that are rich, beautiful, beneficial for you, and beneficial for the country.” His teachings inspired patriotism and love for the homeland among the soldiers, fostering the spirit of preserving the seas and islands as if they were their own homes.
 |
| President Ho Chi Minh visiting Group 135 Navy - Van Hoa Island on November 13, 1962. This was his third visit to the Naval Forces. (Photo provided by the Naval Forces) |
The Vietnam People's Navy remembers President Ho's teachings
Remembering President Ho's teachings, over 71 years of building, fighting, and growing, generations of naval officers and soldiers have bravely overcome all difficulties and hardships, achieving many outstanding victories, some of which have entered national history as legendary pages.
 |
| Submarine sailors actively study and follow President Ho's teachings. (Photo provided by the Naval Forces) |
During the heroic and indomitable resistance war against the United States to save the nation, the Naval Forces closely coordinated with other forces, bravely fighting to drive away the destroyer Maddox and the strategic air raids of the United States, achieving victory in the first battle on August 2 and 5, 1964; together with the people and military of the North, defeating two escalated wars of destruction by the US Air Force and Navy; being the first and core force in clearing thousands of naval mines and magnetic bombs in the northern rivers and seas; creatively developing unique and daring water commando tactics, fighting within enemy lines in the Cua Viet - Dong Ha battlefield and developing unique transportation methods, creating the legendary sea route named after President Ho, supporting the southern battlefield; closely coordinating with other forces to attack and liberate island chains, seaports, and swiftly, boldly, and unexpectedly attacking to liberate the Spratly Islands, contributing to the great and complete victory of the nation; excellently fulfilling international duties in Cambodia and assisting the Lao army.
In the mission of building and protecting the sovereignty of the nation's seas and islands, facing numerous challenges and harsh conditions, especially amid extremely complex developments at sea, naval officers and soldiers have always stood firm in the face of waves and winds, keeping a firm grasp of the situation, promptly advising and proposing to the Party, State, Central Military Commission, and Ministry of Defense to handle situations timely and effectively, ensuring the right policies, avoiding unexpected surprises, and firmly protecting the sovereignty of the nation's seas and islands.
 |
| Naval officers and soldiers always hold their weapons firmly and steer steadily to protect the sovereignty of the nation's seas and islands. (Photo provided by the Naval Forces) |
Effectively implementing the program "Vietnam Navy as a Support for Fishermen to Reach Out to Sea" and the activity "Navy Sponsoring Fishermen's Children"; combining mass mobilization work with propaganda, encouraging fishermen not to engage in illegal fishing; actively participating in disaster prevention and mitigation, search and rescue, protecting the lives and property of the people... Through this, strengthening the solidarity between the military and the people, contributing to consolidating and enhancing the all-people national defense posture, the "people's heart posture" at sea, linking sustainable marine economic development with firmly protecting the sovereignty of the nation's seas and islands.
 |
| Training for health to protect the nation. (Photo provided by the Naval Forces) |
As the country enters a new era, the era of national resurgence; the mission of building and protecting the nation still faces many difficulties and challenges. Following President Ho's teachings, "In the past, we only had the night and the forest. Today, we have the day, the sky, and the sea. Our coastline is long and beautiful, we must know how to preserve it," before his spirit, naval officers and soldiers pledge to always be absolutely loyal to the Party, the nation, and the people; steadfast in Marxism-Leninism, Ho Chi Minh's thought, the goals and ideals of the Party; strive to study, train, and cultivate in all aspects; focus on building strong and comprehensive agencies and units, exemplary clean and strong party organizations, contributing to building a "refined, compact, strong" Navy, revolutionary, regular, elite, modern, excellently fulfilling the tasks assigned by the Party, State, and people, worthy of the trust and love of the Party and beloved President Ho Chi Minh; achieving many victories, accomplishments, and new heights, continuing to write the glorious history of the Army and the three-time Heroic People's Armed Forces Navy.
