Since its establishment, the Communist
Party of Viet Nam has held 10 Congresses. Each Congress is considered an
important historical milestone in recognising the Vietnamese revolution’s
victories, achievements and lessons.

Here is an introduction to each Congress as summarised by Vietnam News Agency.

A
conference to unite Communist organisations in Viet Nam, presided over by Nguyen
Ai Quoc, took place from February 3-7, 1930 in Kowloon, Hong Kong (China).

This was
an event of historical significance as the Congress establishing the Communist
Party of Viet Nam.

The
conference passed the Party’s Brief Political Platform, Brief Policy and Brief
Statutes and outlined guidelines for national liberation and the advance towards
socialism.

The
first plenum of the Party Central Committee, which was held in Hong Kong from
October 14-31, 1930, decided to rename the Communist Party of Viet Nam the
Communist Party of Indochina and adopted the political programme and important
resolutions on urgent tasks to mobilise particular groups of the masses. The
meeting elected the official Party Central Committee with Tran Phu being the
General Secretary.

First
National Party Congress: consolidating and developing forces to lead the whole
nation to fight imperialism and wars.

Immediately after its establishment, the Party led the movement for national
liberation to initial victories, with the Soviet-Nghe Tinh movement (1930-1931)
being the peak.

Following these victories, the French colonialists suppressed the patriotism
movement. Party General Secretary Tran Phu and many other communists were
arrested.

Following the direction of the Communist International, the Overseas Directing
Bureau (Overseas Bureau) of the Communist Party of Indochina was established in
early 1934 with Le Hong Phong as the secretary. The bureau played a leading role
and restructured the Party Central Committee.

The
first National Party Congress took place in Macau, China, from March 27-31,
1935, with the participation of 13 delegates from domestic Party committees as
well as overseas Party organisations. The Congress was presided over by Ha Huy
Tap.

It
reviewed the restoration of the Party organisation and the people’s movement,
and mentioned three key tasks: consolidating and developing the Party,
intensifying mass mobilisation and increasing public awareness of the
anti-imperialism and anti-war cause.

The
Congress elected the 13-member Party Central Committee. Leader Nguyen Ai Quoc
was nominated the Party representative to the Communist International. Le Hong
Phong was elected as Party General Secretary.

The
first National Party Congress was an important historical event, marking the
fundamental victory of the struggle to preserve and restore the organisational
system of the Party from the central to grassroots levels.

A
meeting of the Party Central Committee was held in Shanghai, China, in July 1936
to identify the Party’s new guidelines on revolutionary strategy and tactics in
Indochina. The meeting elected Ha Huy Tap as the General Secretary.

In March
1938, the Party Central Committee met and decided to expand the Indochina
Democratic United Front. At the meeting, Nguyen Van Cu was elected to the Party
Central Committee’s Standing Board and then the General Secretary.

The
Party Central Committee meeting chaired by Cu in November 1939 decided to adjust
the strategic directions of the Indochinese revolution making them suitable for
the new situation. After that time, the revolutionary movement saw huge support
throughout the country, leading the way for the General Uprising.

A
brief introduction of past National Party Congresses

Second
National Party Congress: the Party leads the whole nation in resistance and
nation building

Right
after the victorious August Revolution, the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam was
founded. Our country and Government had to face life-threatening challenges: the
armed forces of Jiang Jie Shi overflowed northern Viet Nam together with
reactionary parties; and supported by British forces, the French armies returned
to occupy the South, aiming to quell the first, young state of workers and
peasants in South-east Asia.

At the
same time, the country had to cope with three difficulties, outside and inside
enemies as well as the negative impacts from 80 years of suffering from severe
oppression and exploitation by feudalism and colonialism with the hardest
consequence coming from the famine in 1945 that killed more than 2 million
people.

Amid the
precarious situation, the Party Central Committee, the Government and President
Ho Chi Minh focused on leading a resistance movement, cleverly eliminating
enemies and preparing conditions and forces for a long-lasting resistance war.

President Ho Chi Minh launched a campaign against hunger, illiteracy, and
invaders and he encouraged all the people to increase production; organised the
General Election; elected the first National Assembly; established the
Government; and promulgated the 1946 Constitution.

To
defend peace and national independence, we were patient for negotiations with
the French colonialists. However, the colonialists determined to reconquer our
country. They provoked incidents in Lang Son, Hai Phong and then in Ha Noi. The
more concessions we made, the more seriously the French colonialists encroached
upon our rights, forcing the nation to fight.

On
December 19, President Ho Chi Minh called for a national resistance saying with
determination: “We would rather endure and sacrifice than lose independence and
be slaves.”

In order
to further develop guidelines for resistance and nation building, the Party
Central Committee decided to summon the second National Party Congress.

The
congress took place in Chiem Hoa District’s Vinh Quang Commune in the northern
province of Tuyen Quang from February 11-19, 1951, with the participation of 158
official delegates and 53 alternate delegates, who represented more than 760,000
Party members. The congress was also attended by delegates from the Communist
Parties of China and Thailand.

The
congress passed a resolution deciding that the Party would go public and renamed
it “the Viet Nam Workers’ Party” and approved the Party’s Political Platform and
its new Political Platform Declaration and Statutes.

The
congress elected the Party Central Committee that consisted of 19 official
members and 10 alternate members. Ho Chi Minh was elected as the President of
the Party Central Committee and Truong Chinh was re-elected as the General
Secretary.

The
second National Party Congress was an event of great significance, marking a new
step-forward for the Party and prepared for a successful resistance war against
the French colonialists.

The
third National Party Congress: Building socialism in the north and struggling
for liberation in the South.

The
resistance war against French colonialists ended successfully. The Party
directed the people in the northern region to restore the economy and build
socialism along with strengthening the armed forces to defend the North and give
assistance to the South.

Southern
people continued to cope with US invaders, who established a dictatorial regime
with a plot to turn southern Viet Nam into a neo-colonial state and an
imperialistic military base for the US, and to partition the country.

With Law
10/59, the nepotistic regime of Ngo Dinh Diem dragged the guillotine across the
South and brutally massacred patriots.

While
the revolution in southern Viet Nam was facing various difficulties, Le Duan in
his capacity as a member of the Party Politburo and Secretary of the Nam Bo
(Southern region)’s Party Committee wrote The Path of Revolution in the South,
which says:

“There
is no other path for the people of the South but the path of revolution.”

The
resolution of the 15th Party Central Committee conference (January 1959) clearly
defined guidelines of the revolution in the South, which combined political
struggle with armed struggle alongside boosting the resistance movement of the
people in the southern region.

The
resolution created a considerable breakthrough for the revolutionary cause of
the people
nationwide, helping perfect the Party’s guidelines for the
resistance war against US aggressors and national salvation.

From
that point, the resistance movement of the people in the southern region spread
out, particularly the “general uprising” for destroying the enemy’s grip and
seizing power.

The
development of the northern and southern regions’ revolution resulted in
positive changes for the entire nation. The Party held the third National
Congress from September 5-10, 1960 which was attended by 525 official delegates
and 51 alternate delegates who represented more than 500,000 Party members.

Addressing the congress’s opening ceremony, President Ho Chi Minh said: “This
congress is the congress for building socialism in the North and struggling for
peace and national reunification.”

The
congress elected a Central Committee that consisted of 47 official members and
31 alternate members. President Ho Chi Minh was re-elected as the Party’s
President (he held the position until he passed away in September 1969); and Le
Duan was elected as First Secretary of the Party Central Committee.

With the
Party’s sound revolutionary guidelines, coupled with great sacrifice of the
heroic Vietnamese people, the nation’s revolution gained great victories.

The
fourth National Party Congress: a summary of the resistance war against the US
imperialists for national salvation and advancing the nation toward socialism

By the
1975 Spring General Offensive and Uprising with the Ho Chi Minh historical
campaign at its peak, under the leadership of the Party, the Vietnamese people
achieved a great victory by completely liberating the South and reuniting the
nation. Viet Nam’s revolution progressed into a new stage. For the first time,
in a peaceful, independent and unified country, people from all regions were
eager to join in the general election, electing a common National Assembly for
the entire nation.

In an
exciting and reliable atmosphere, the fourth National Party Congress was held in
Ha Noi from December 14-20, 1976. As many as 1,008 delegates representing more
than 1.55 million Party members
nationwide, and 29 international delegations attended the
congress.

The
congress provided a summation of the people’s anti-US resistance war for
national salvation, put forth major lessons that covered a wide range of
diverse, abundant and profound content, and affirmed the entire nation’s
revolutionary path toward socialism. Guidelines and policies throughout this
period focused on implementing national reconciliation policies; healing the
wounds from the war; gradually restoring and developing the economy, society,
culture and education sectors; building a socialist infrastructure; intensifying
national defence, maintaining political security and social order; and
strengthening the Party to enhance the Party’s leadership and capacity during
the new period. The congress dedicated itself to developing an industrial
infrastructure for the period of transition to socialism.

The
congress renamed the Viet Nam Workers’ Party to the Communist Party of Viet Nam
and adopted the Party’s new Statutes. The congress changed the post of First
Secretary to the General Secretary and elected a Central Committee, consisting
of 101 official and 32 alternate members. The Political Bureau was comprised of
14 official and three alternate members. Le Duan was elected General Secretary.

The
fourth National Party Congress was of important significance: it was the first
congress after the nation was liberated and reunified, and it commenced the
process of constructing a socialist society.

The
fifth National Party Congress: All for the socialist motherland and the people’s
happiness.

During
the years between the fourth and the fifth National Party Congress, the
Vietnamese revolution shifted to a new stage and the reunified nation began the
construction and protection of socialist Viet Nam. In the light of the fourth
National Party Congress’s Resolution, the entire Party, people and army spared
no efforts to restore, reform and develop the economy.

The
Resolution adopted at the sixth meeting of the Party Central Committee (fourth
tenure) a plan for the development of the agriculture, forestry, fishery and
consumer goods sectors. Instruction 10, which was issued by the Party Central
Committee’s Secretariat in October 1981, regarding the products-based payments
for groups and labourers in agricultural co-operatives initially created
momentum in production.

The
fifth National Party Congress convened in Ha Noi from March 27-31, 1982. A total
of 1,033 delegates representing more than 1.72 million Party members from across
the country, and 47 international delegations attended the congress.

The
congress heard a Political Report from the Party Central Committee and many
other important reports. The congress pointed out objective and subjective
reasons that explained the existing difficulties and weaknesses. On that basis,
the congress outlined major socio-economic directions, tasks and targets for the
1981-85 period, and set out two strategic tasks: building socialism and firmly
protecting socialist Viet Nam.

The
congress ratified the Party’s Statutes (revised) and elected a Central
Committee, which included 116 official and 36 alternate members; Le Duan was
re-elected General Secretary by the Central Committee.

After
the congress, the economic situation, especially the market and price situation,
continued to worsen and people’s salaries kept falling. The 8th meeting of the
Party Central Committee discussed and decided to make one-step reform on price,
salary, finance and currency to abolish red tape by shifting to a
socialist-oriented economic model that would help step up production and
business.

On July
10, 1986, General Secretary Le Duan passed away. The Party Central Committee
convened an extraordinary meeting on July 14 and re-elected Truong Chinh to the
post of General Secretary.

The
sixth National Party Congress: Comprehensively renewing the nation for the
victory of socialism.

In
implementing the Resolutions of the Fourth and Fifth National Party Congresses
and the resolutions of the Party Central Committee of those tenures, Viet Nam
made great efforts to overcome difficulties and fulfilled a raft of important
targets. Though socialist reform made a
progressive step, the country faced a lot of socio-economic
challenges. A number of mistakes were made in the restructuring of the national
economy, especially in investments and capital construction during the years
from 1976 to 1980, leaving heavy consequences.

The
nation’s real situation posed big challenges to the Party, which required
renewal of leading methodology and ways of thinking. The Sixth National Party
Congress took place in Ha Noi from December 15-18, 1986. Attending the congress
were 1,129 delegates, who represented almost 1.9 million Party members, and 32
foreign delegations.

On the
basis of correct analysis and evaluation of the country’s situation, the Sixth
National Party Congress outlined a renewal policy. The congress passed a
comprehensive strategy that focused on renewing economic policy and maintaining
political stability, considering them as pre-conditions to ensure the success of
the renewal process.

The
congress drew up four major lessons. First, in all of its activities, the Party
must thoroughly grasp the idea “taking the people as the root”, and build and
promote the working peoples’ right to mastery. The Party must pay due attention
to strengthening its links with the people. All policies of the Party must
originate from the working people’s interests.

Second,
the Party must always proceed from reality and act in line with objective rules.

Third,
it is a must to combine the nation’s strengths with the era’s strengths amid new
global trends.

Fourth,
the Party’s development must be placed on par with the political task of leading
the people to further implement the socialist revolution.

There is
an urgent need to develop the Party’s combativeness, leading capacity and
organisational ability in practical conditions. The principle of centralised
democracy must be maintained in Party activities as well as in leading
socio-economic development.

The
congress decided to supplement and revise a number of specific points in the
Party’s Statutes to make them comply with the new situation. The congress
elected a Central Committee for its Sixth tenure, consisting of 124 official and
49 alternate members. Nguyen Van Linh was elected General Secretary.

The
Seventh National Party Congress: Guiding the country in rising above challenges
towards stability and development in a dynamic and solid manner.

Implementing the Sixth National Party Congress Resolution, the national renewal
process recorded significant progress.

These
included political stability and positive changes in the national economy, with
remarkable progress being made in realising the goals of three economic
programmes.

A
market-driven multi-sectoral commodity economy began to take shape under
the State’s management.

Social
democracy was increasingly promoted, the people began to see stablilised living
conditions, national defence and security was maintained and international
relations expanded.

However,
weaknesses and difficulties still remained in the national economy, while a
number of pressing socio-economic problems were not resolved.

In
addition, the world situation underwent a number of upheavals, particularly in
the Soviet Union and other socialist countries in Eastern Europe.

The
seventh National Party Congress was convened in Ha Noi from June 24 to 27, 1991,
and was attended by 1,176 delegates representing 2.1 million Party members
nationwide, and many international guests.

The
Congress examined the implementation of the Sixth National Party Congress
Resolutions and summed up the experiences drawn from the renewal process
implementation.

It
concluded that a socialist orientation must be firmly maintained during the
process of renewal, which had to be conducted in a comprehensive, compatible and
thorough manner. It also said the development of the multi-sectoral commodity
economy must be coupled with the enhancement of
the State’s management over socio-economic affairs.

The
Congress affirmed Ho Chi Minh’s Thoughts and Marxism-Leninism as the ideological
foundation and lodestar for the Party’s activities. It said Ho Chi Minh’s
Thoughts were the creative application of Marxism-Leninism in Viet Nam’s
situation.

The Congress elected a
146-member Party Central Committee and Do Muoi was elected General Secretary.
(to be continued)

VietNamNet/Viet
Nam News