Over 90% of Vietnamese people were illiterate when the August Revolution happened in 1945. Nonetheless, people made every effort to memorise the names and faces of the candidates in the general election. People would ask each other to write down and check the names before voting.
"The election took place under universal suffrage. Every Vietnamese citizen had the right to vote regardless of ethnicity, religion or gender. The election was remarkable at that time, even when compared to some European countries where women were still discriminated against", the historian Duong Trung Quoc, said.
"Bac Lieu was the last province to hold election so didn’t experience much in the way of disruption. However, many people from Saigon to Vĩnh Long were killed while protecting the election", Ngo Thi Hue, Former Deputy of the first National Assembly, said.
The first general election enjoyed the participation of thousands of candidates. Among which, 333 candidates were chosen by Vietnamese citizens to be the first deputies of the National Assembly.
The first general election still proves its significance after 70 years. Vietnamese citizens continue to exercise their right to vote. These votes will select the candidates elected to facilitate the development of the country.
