On the evening of July 23, the General Department of Political Affairs held the 2026 political-artistic program entitled “A Promise to Mom” at Hanoi-based Military Broadcasting Center.
Delegates attend the political-artistic program.
The event, broadcast live on Vietnam National Defense television channel and digital platforms, was part of a wide range of activities in commemoration of the 79th anniversary of the Wounded Soldiers and Martyrs’ Day (July 27, 1947 - 2026).
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense General Phan Van Giang, Chief of the General Department of Political Affairs General Nguyen Trong Nghia, and Chief of the General Staff and Deputy Minister of National Defense General Nguyen Tan Cuong attended the program.
Rooted in Vietnam's tradition of “Remembering the source when drinking water,” the program centered on the enduring image of a heroic Vietnamese mother quietly waiting beside an oil lamp for her son who never returned. It framed the story of the nation's long journey to fulfill the unfinished responsibilities left by war.
The program traced the decades-long wait of mothers and families of fallen soldiers, alongside the unwavering efforts of those who continue searching former battlefields for missing comrades. Under the leadership of the Party and the State, with the participation of the entire political system, particularly the Vietnam People’s Army, scientists and the whole society, Vietnam has continued its mission to locate, collect, and identify the remains of fallen soldiers.
Through reports, live conversations with real-life guests, and emotionally artistic performances, the program portrayed the journey of bringing the nation's outstanding people back to their families, hometowns, and identities. It also highlighted the significance of the ongoing 500-day campaign, a special peacetime mission demonstrating the determination and responsibility of the entire political system in searching for, collecting and identifying the remains of fallen soldiers whose identities remain unknown.
Artistic performances during the program.
Performers included artists from the Military Song and Dance Theater, the Military University of Culture and Arts, and distinguished singers and performers from both military and civilian artistic circles.
More than a tribute to those who sacrificed their lives for the nation's independence and freedom, the program reaffirmed Vietnam's enduring tradition of gratitude and the responsibility of today's generations toward history and those who sacrificed their lives for the nation’s independence.
The program conveyed a message that some have returned home while others are still on the journey back. Yet they all have become an inseparable part of Vietnam today.
Translated by THU LAN
VNQD