News from Vietnam
Fifty Five Years Ago
Insurrections in Hanoi, Hue and Saigon
August Revolution started in Hanoi
In the late night of August 18 and early morning of August 19, 1945, Hanoi and other
neighbouring provinces were filled with revolutionary atmosphere. Groups of people
organised by the Viet Minh front (the League for the Independence of Vietnam) from Ha
Dong, Bac Ninh and other areas, together with the people in the suburban localities,
advanced into the centre of Hanoi.
On the morning of August 19, all over the capital city, many people were seen coming
into the centre with red gold star flags in their hands. Groups of people including
armed guerrillas from all streets flew into the city Opera House Square to attend a
meeting organised by the City Viet Minh unit. The meeting started at about 10 a.m.
After a range of salute gun fires and the song Tien Quan Ca ('March to the Front'),
later adopted as the national anthem of Vietnam, a representative of the revolution
military committee read the appeal of the Viet Minh, calling people to launch the
uprising and form the government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
Right after that, under the leadership of the city's Party Committee, the
Revolutionary Committee and the Revolution Military Committee, the meeting turned into
an armed march. The people, led by armed guerrillas went to seize the Bac Bo Phu
(Residence du Tonkin), the security camp, the City Hall, Hoa Lo prison and the police
station.
In the afternoon, the revolutionary force had taken control of many important
positions of the Japanese backed puppet government. The people's government of the
city was formed which later ran the city, without causing any interruption to the city
's daily life.
On the same day as the revolution in Hanoi, in other provinces and localities such as
Thai Binh, Phuc Yen, Khanh Hoa, people also rose up to seize power. Earlier, on August
14, 1945, many villages and districts in Quang Ngai and Ha Tinh had seized power. Four
provinces of Bac Giang, Ha Tinh, Quang Nam and Hai Duong seized power on August 18,
the earliest in the whole country to seize power during the August revolution.
Uprising in Thua Thien-Hue
On August 23, 1945, the Uprising Committee of Thua Thien-Hue province decided to wage
an uprising to seize power.
In preparation for the uprising's victory, people from communes around Hue city, where
the revolutionary administration had been set up, were mobilised to join
demonstrations with people in the city under the leadership of Viet Minh (the League
for the Independence of Vietnam) while soldiers were persuaded to hand over their
weapons.
The Uprising Committee sent an ultimatum to ask King Bao Dai to abdicate and hand over
the power to people.
Early morning of August 23, Hue city was seen flooded with the red and golden star
flags. Over 150,000 people from the suburban areas and city held a demonstration and
seized the remaining offices of the puppet regime.
At the meeting to celebrate the victory of the uprising at the stadium of Hue city,
Viet Minh and the Uprising Committee declared to abolish the puppet regime and
introduced the revolutionary administration.
On the same day, King Bao Dai, the last king of the Nguyen dynasty, was officially
asked to give up his throne.
On the same day, uprisings in Haiphong, Hoa Binh, Gia Lai, Quang Binh, Binh Dinh and
Bac Lieu were completed with great victories.
Insurrection in Saigon
The insurrection in Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) ended in complete victory on August
25.
Although, it was far from the Central body, the Southern Party Committee directed good
preparations for the insurrection plan. From the night of August 24, nearly one
million people were mobilised for the insurrection in Saigon. At 6pm on August 24, the
Southern Party Committee and the Insurrection Committee issued an insurrection order.
By 10pm, important positions such as radio stations, the city mayor's residence,
treasury, power plant, water works, post office service, police station and other
important spots were seized by the armed people of the insurrection force.
The insurrection occurred quickly, winning a peaceful victory without conflict or
bloodshed.
About 6am on August 25, the red and yellow star flags fluttered in the Tho Ngu flag
tower and on the top of office buildings. The Southern People's Committee made its
appearance in a grand meeting with over one million people of Saigon-Cho Lon, My Tho,
Bien Hoa, Thu Dau Mot etc.
On the same day, the insurrection was also victorious in Cho Lon, Gia Dinh, Binh
Thuan, Long Xuyen, Vinh Long, Ba Ria, Thu Dau Mot, Tra Vinh, Ben Tre, Tay Ninh, Sa
Dec, Kon Tum, Lang Son, Phu Tho and Son La provinces.
