On this occasion, Lao Dong Newspaper had an interview with Mr. Hoang Minh Cuong - Vice Chairman of Hai Phong City People's Committee, Deputy Head of the Standing Committee of the Organizing Committee of the Ceremony on related contents.
Please tell us how the process of the French colonialists withdrawing from Hai Phong, the city's complete liberation, took place?
- On May 13, 1955, it was entered in the history of the nation, witnessing the Hai Phong event as well as the whole North was completely liberated, terminating nearly 100 years of colonial government of the French colonialists.
At the end of the nineteenth century, the early twentieth century, Hai Phong was considered an industrial center, the "big port of Tonkin" - an important traffic unit on the international maritime route and was one of the cradles marking the birth of the working class and the Vietnamese workers' movement to fight against the French colonialists.
Right after the August Revolution in 1945, the French colonialists showed their willingness to use force to re-establish dominance over our country once again. Since mid-November 4, the fighting situation in Hai Phong has become extremely tense.
Unlike other localities in the North, right after the Geneva Agreement was signed, the Party Committee, the army and the people of Hai Phong further entered the new war - "300 days of liberation of the homeland". With a special strategic location, there are seaport systems, Cat Bi, Kien An and Do Son and Hai Phong airports selected as a 300 -day gathering place, before the French and henchmen to the south. This is a very difficult period, fiercely tough, the people of Hai Phong both suffered the devastation of the war, and continued to be more pressure due to the anti -destruction of all aspects of the enemy.
On May 13, 1955, the French army withdrew from Hai Phong was also the end of the process of fighting for the Geneve Agreement in the city. The last 300 days of the French colonialists were also 300 days of fierce but extremely vibrant struggle of the people of the city, demanding the enemy strictly implementing the Geneve Agreement and protecting the revolutionary results.
Hai Phong was cleared of hostile balls, the North was completely liberated. The port city was bustling when the train convoy carrying red flags with yellow stars and photos of Uncle Ho entered the Port. Factories, offices and ships simultaneously raised a long horn to celebrate the glorious historical day of the Port and the nation.
After 70 years of construction and development, Hai Phong is gradually affirming its role as the economic locomotive of the Northern coastal region, the largest seaport center in the North, and an important international trade gateway connecting with the world.
Please tell us, after 70 years of liberation, what outstanding achievements has Hai Phong City achieved to date?
- After 70 years of construction and development, it is also the period that witnessed and marked many great changes in the land, people, economy and society of the port city. From the difficulties faced, Hai Phong has now made a strong transformation, with many breakthrough policies, and made many outstanding marks in all fields. From an industrial city and traditional seaport, Hai Phong City has risen to become one of the major economic centers of Vietnam, a key growth pole in the Northern region.
In particular, for more than 5 years of implementing Resolution 45 of the Politburo, Hai Phong has achieved many outstanding results, always in the top group of the country in many ways. In 2024, the scale of Hai Phong economy rose to the 5th place in the country; The highest economic growth in 5 localities has the largest economic scale. Hai Phong is the only locality in the country to maintain a growth rate of 2 numbers in 10 consecutive years; Budget revenue ranked third in the country; Foreign investment FDI is ranked second in the country. The provincial competitiveness index (PCI) in 2024 of Hai Phong rose to rank 1/63 provinces and cities; Hai Phong also led the whole country in the administrative reform index (Par Index), the satisfaction index of the people for the service of the State administrative agency in 2024 (SIPAS) ...
The appearance of a green, smart, modern city, on par with the typical cities in Asia, is gradually being formed clearly. The per capita income was improved, in 2024 reached 9,486 USD/person, 20 times more than 2003-the year that the Politburo issued Resolution No. 32-NQ/TW on building and developing Hai Phong City in the period of industrialization and modernization of the country. After 16 years approved by the Prime Minister to establish the first economic zone of Hai Phong (Dinh Vu - Cat Hai Economic Zone), at the end of 2024, the city was approved to establish the second economic zone (coastal economic zone south of Hai Phong) with a scale of 20,000 ha. This will be a new growth motivation, developed in a green - smart - comprehensive model, raising Hai Phong to become the leading marine economic center. This is the affirmation of the only potential, position and geopolitical position in the North as well as the determination of Hai Phong City in the process of construction and development to become a dynamic and modern urban area, a gateway to trade in Vietnam with the world. The above achievements are the result of a consistent development strategy, foresight, drastic leadership, operating along with the spirit of consent, creativity and continuous rise of the entire Party Committee, government and people of Hai Phong City.
Please tell us, what is new and outstanding about the 2025 Phuong Red Flower Festival - Hai Phong compared to previous years?
- The city will solve the ceremony to receive the title of Hero City by the President awarded to the Party Committee, government and people of the city. For the first time, the city organized fireworks at the same time at 6 locations in the city, at each fireworks location, there was a modern LED sound and lighting screen for live broadcast for the celebration and art program on the evening of May 13, 2025 with the largest scale ever. The theme of this year's festival is "Hai Phong - 70 years of belief and aspiration to reach out". The art program "Hai Phong - 70 years of beliefs and aspirations" at the Flower Flower Festival - Hai Phong 2025 was held in the square in front of the Political - Administrative Center in the Northern Urban Area of Cam River, Thuy Nguyen City with a scale of 13,000 delegates as the highlight of the festival. The program will be broadcast live on VTV1 channel and VTV Go National Digital TV platform, continued on THP channel and some channels of localities and on digital platforms.
The art program of the night festival is staged with high artistic quality, many innovations, creativity in staging methods and performing arts language to build a youthful, modern, dynamic image of Hai Phong, promising to bring delegates, audiences and visitors impressions and deep feelings about the land of beautiful, interesting, rich in cultural identity and hospitable.
The scenario of the art program to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the liberation and opening of the Red Phoenix Flower Festival is carefully prepared, ensuring the accuracy of information and data; Focusing on the outstanding imprints of the city for the past 70 years, especially economic achievements, social security policies and the desire to rise to the city in the new era associated with the major development orientations for the city in the context of arranging administrative units under the direction of the Central. The songs in the art program meets the requirements, the content of the celebration and the identity, have been with the years and the subconscious of each Hai Phong people with the participation of famous artists and singers and more than 1,000 professional artists and actors of the theater, the city art troupe and the non -specialized school from schools in Hai Phong City.
In the excited atmosphere to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Hai Phong and the 2025 Flower Flower Festival 2025, looking back and affirming the outstanding achievements of the city is important. This is not only the pride of the Party Committee, authorities and people of the city, but also the motivation for Hai Phong to continue promoting the dynamic, creative, loyal and resilient tradition, affirming the role of the driving force for the country's development in the present and the future.
Sincerely thank you!
With outstanding feats and achievements, the Party Committee, the Army and the people of Hai Phong, Uncle Ho sent a letter of commendation (1966, 1967, 1969) for his achievements in shooting American aircraft, defeating the escalation of the American enemy; Was awarded the penalty shootout "Determined to defeat American invaders"; Awarded many noble medals by the Party and State. The noble medals that Hai Phong City received include: On April 29, 1967, President Ho Chi Minh signed a reward of the First -Class Independence Medal for the army and people of Hai Phong City for the achievement of shot down 12 aircraft of all kinds, capturing the enemy, including the 800th American aircraft shot down in the North on April 25, 1967.
In 1968, the Party, Government and President Ho Chi Minh awarded the Hai Phong military and people the First Class Resistance Medal and the First Class Military Exploit Medal. In 1985, the city was honored to receive the Gold Star Medal.
In particular, recently, on April 28, 2025, President Luong Cuong signed Decision No. 766/QD-CTN on conferring the title of "Heroic City" to the Party Committee, government and people of Hai Phong City for their outstanding and comprehensive achievements, making great contributions to the cause of building Socialism and defending the Fatherland.
