National Day (Vietnam)

National Day (Vietnamese: Ngày Quốc Khánh) is a national holiday in Vietnam observed on 2 September, commemorating President Hồ Chí Minh reading the Declarations of independence of Vietnam at Ba Đình Square in Hanoi on 2 September 1945. It is the country's National Day.[1]

National Day
Ngày Quốc Khánh
President Ho Chi Minh's reading the Declaration of independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam at Ba Đình Square, September 2nd, 1945
President Ho Chi Minh's reading the Declaration of independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam at Ba Đình Square, September 2nd, 1945
Official nameNgày Quốc khánh
Observed byVietnam
TypeNational
SignificanceDeclaring Vietnamese Independence from French Colonization
Date2 September
Next time2 September 2024 (2024-09-02)
Frequencyannual

History

During World War II, the Japanese occupied Vietnam and allowed the French to remain and exert some influence. At the war's end in August 1945, a power vacuum was created in Vietnam. Capitalizing on this, the Việt Minh launched the "August Revolution" across the country to seize government offices. Emperor Bảo Đại abdicated on 25 August 1945, ending the Nguyễn dynasty. On 2 September 1945, at Ba Đình Square, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, leader of the Viet Minh, declared Vietnam's independence under the new name of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRVN) in a speech that invoked the United States Declaration of Independence and the French Revolution's Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen.[2]

Establishment

Leading up to, and then following, the end of the Vietnam War, the Communist Party of Vietnam (thereafter the government of a united Vietnam) established a unified list of national holidays. These new holidays were to include the International Labour Day on 1 May, the anniversary of the August Revolution on 19 August, Viet Nam's National Day on 2 September, and Ho Chi Minh's birthday on 19 May.[3] The lunar new year, Tết Nguyên Đán and the mid-autumn moon, Tết Trung Thu, continued to be observed as traditionally. In 1985, the PAVN lead the 40th National Day Parade in Hanoi in its biggest parade in history.[4]

The list of full public holidays in Vietnam has been revised since 2007 but National Day, 2 September, remains a full public and bank holiday.[5][6] By 2019, the holiday was lengthened by one day by adding one day immediately before or after 2 September.[7]

References
  1. Lonely Planet Southeast Asia 2010 Page 927 "National Day 2 September; commemorates the proclamation of the Declaration of Independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam by Ho Chi Minh in 1954"
  2. A brief chronology of Vietnam's history Anh Thư Hà, Hò̂ng Đức Trà̂n – 2000 "On September 2, 1954, President Hổ Chí Minh made public the Declaration of Independence at Ba Đình Square (Hanoi), thus founding the Democratic Republic of Vietnam with Hanoi as its capital."
  3. Shaun Kingsley Malarney Ritual and revolution in Viet Nam 1993 "To realize this goal, the Party created a series of new national holidays in which villagers would come together and celebrate the great achievements of the people, the nation and socialism. These new holidays were to include May Day, the anniversary of the August Revolution on the 19th of August, Viet Nam's National Day on 2 September, and Ho Chi Minn's birthday on the 19th of May. Two traditional Vietnamese celebrations of the lunar New Year (Tet Nguyen Dan) and the mid-autumn celebration for children (Tet Trung Thu) were also to remain as national holidays."
  4. "National Independence Day in Vietnam through the years". 2 September 2020.
  5. Vietnam – Page 107 Nick Ray, Peter Dragicevich, Regis St. Louis – 2007 "Vietnam's National Day (2 September) Celebrated with a rally and fireworks at Ba Dinh Sq, in front of Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum."
  6. Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos Jock O'Tailan, Claire Boobbyer, John Colet – 2006 "Following Ho's declaration, 2 September became Vietnam's National Day. Coincidentally, 2 September was also the date on which Ho died in 1969, although his death was not officially announced until 3 September in order not to mar ..."
  7. Hương Quỳnh (20 November 2019). "Bổ sung 1 ngày nghỉ lễ dịp Quốc khánh 2/9" [Supplementing one day of 2 September holiday]. Vietnamnet (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 6 May 2021.
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