On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Vietnam People's Army and the 35th anniversary of the National Defense Day, Vietnam Television (VTV) will present the artistic and political program titled The Historic Path. This event offers a unique opportunity for the people of Vietnam to reflect with pride on the glorious journey of an army born of the people and fighting for the people. The Vietnam People's Army is not only the force that protects the nation but also symbolizes the spirit of independence, self-reliance, and national unity.
The program will be held at the Vietnam Military History Museum.
Set design for the Historic Path program
80 years ago, on December 22, 1944, in accordance with the directive of the Party Central Committee and the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh, the Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Army was founded. It was the first main force of the Vietnam People's Army. Since its inception, the armed forces have always played a vital role in the nation’s struggle for independence. After 80 years of building, fighting, and growing, our army has truly earned its place as the heroic military force of a heroic nation. It is a political force, a steadfast and reliable force loyal to the Party, the State, and the people. It has fulfilled the roles of a fighting force, a labor force, and a productive force, earning the praise of President Ho Chi Minh: "Our army is loyal to the Party, filial to the people, ready to fight and sacrifice for the independence and freedom of the homeland and socialism. It accomplishes every mission, overcomes every difficulty, and defeats every enemy".
Commenting on the title of the program, journalist Lai Bac Hai Dang, Deputy Head of the Entertainment Programs Production Department at VTV, said: "When we read about the 80 years of the formation and development of the Vietnam People's Army, the image of roads immediately came to mind. These are the physical roads, like the trails, the jungle paths through which the first soldiers marched through in Tran Hung Dao Forest, the Ho Chi Minh Trail, sea routes, and even tunnels. And there is also an invisible road—the ideological road, the road of love within every soldier of Uncle Ho’s Army. We decided to use the image of a road as the central concept of the program, reflecting this theme throughout its duration".
The program will be divided into three main parts: The Path to Independence, The Path to National Reunification, and The Path to a New Era. The production team aims to spread the message that love for people, love for family, and love for the country have been the spiritual strength of the soldiers of the Vietnam People's Army for the past 80 years. Additionally, the project conveys another important message— every Vietnamese citizen holds a special love for the soldiers of Uncle Ho’s army.
Alongside the historical stories and encounters with witnesses, a major highlight of the program will be the grand, meticulously crafted artistic performances. Using a variety of art forms including live-action, song and dance, the artists will recreate monumental, heroic moments from the 80-year journey of the Vietnam People's Army. This will include the legendary Ho Chi Minh Trail, where soldiers, youth volunteers, and militias persevered with resilience, holding strategic positions, maintaining transportation routes, and ensuring uninterrupted logistics with the determination that “even if the entire Truong Son Range is burned, the country must be unified”. There will also be performances about the secret sea routes of the anonymous ships and the selfless solidarity between the people and the soldiers at the dockside. Hundreds of artists, performers, and soldiers will participate in these sections, showcasing the military’s spirit through military artistic talent.
The Historic Path program is scheduled to air live at 8:10 PM on December 21, 2024, on VTV1, directly from the Vietnam Military History Museum.
