A ceremony was held in the northern province of Cao Bang on December 15 to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) and announce Tran Hung Dao forest as special national relic site.

The ceremony saw the attendance of President Truong Tan Sang.

Addressing the event, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Huynh Ngoc Son recalled the history of Vietnam People’s Army, while underlining Cao Bang’s great contributions to the country’s revolution in the past and construction and development at present.

On December 22, 1944, the VPA’s predecessor – the Vietnam Armed Propaganda Unit for National Liberation was founded in Tran Hung Dao forest in Tam Kim commune, Nguyen Binh district, Cao Bang province. Of the first 34 soldiers of the Vietnam Armed Propaganda Unit for National Liberation at that time, 25 were from ethnic minorities in Cao Bang, he said.

On this occasion, Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Bac Son handed over a certificate recognising Tran Hung Dao forest as the special national relic site to Cao Bang authorities.

An art performance was held to mark the event was held.-VNA