Leaders of many countries have held phone talks and sent congratulatory messages to Vietnamese counterparts on the occasion of the country’s 76th anniversary of the National Day (September 2).

Flag raising at Ba Dinh Square, Hanoi on September 2. Photo: Ngoc Tu/ The Hanoi Times

Congratulations came from Brunei, Cambodia, China, Cuba, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Germany, Singapore, Russia, Thailand, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), and the US.

Their messages convey congratulations on Vietnam’s decades-long development, the Doi Moi (renewal) journey and Covid-19 response strategy, and wish to enhance the relations with Vietnam.

The foreign leaders include Sultan of Brunei Haji Hasanal Bolkiah, King of Cambodia Norodom Sihamoni and Prime Minister Hun Sen; China’s President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang; Cuba’s Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel and PM Manuel Marrero Cruz; DPRK’s Kim Jong-un and Premier Kim Tok-hun; Indonesian President Joko Widodo; Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith and PM Phankham Viphavanh; King of Malaysia Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah Ibni Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Musta’in Billah; German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier; Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and PM Mikhail Mishustin; President of Singapore Halimah Yacob; King of Thailand Maha Vajiralongorn and PM Prayut Chan-o-cha;

On this occasion, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed that Germany expects to strengthen the reliable relations with Vietnam even when the Covid-19 pandemic spreads worldwide.

On this occasion, other high-ranking officials have also extended their greetings to Vietnam. Among those includes Antony J. Blinken, US Secretary of State.

In the message, he expressed his concerns about the difficult times that Vietnam, like many other countries, is facing. He affirmed the US's support for Vietnam in the fight against Covid-19 through vaccine donations and the launch of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s Regional Office for Southeast Asia in Hanoi that provides a new platform to strengthen health security cooperation with Vietnam and the entire Indo-Pacific region.

Blinken described the US-Vietnam relationship “progressed to new heights in 2021” with a series of events namely Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s speech at the Leaders’ Climate Summit, the visits of Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of Defense Austin to Vietnam.

Vietnam’s National Day marks Vietnam's declaration of independence from French colonialists on September 2, 1945. It is the national holiday of Vietnam.

This is a very patriotic holiday with the national flag of Vietnam displayed everywhere and large posters of Ho Chi Minh adorning city walls.

If employees work on National Day, they receive an increase of up to 400% of their normal wages. While employees who work night shifts should be paid at least 30% higher than normal.

Google Doodle marks Vietnam's National Day with fluttering flag.