Communist Review - Every single triumph of Vietnam’s revolution has derived from the Communist Party of Vietnam’s application of the Marxism and Leninism, a revolutionary and scientific theory, in a consistent and creative manner into the reality. It is the theory’s scientific, revolutionary, and humanity nature, plus with the suitability for the actual situation in Vietnam that lays the foundation for the creativity and consistency with the unwavering objective of striving for national independence, freedom and people’s happiness.

1- Since its establishment, the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) has been consistent that Marxism-Leninism is the basis of ideology and guidelines for its revolutionary actions. Later, this principle was reaffirmed in the 1991 National Building Platform in transitional period toward socialism, which was supplemented and further developed in 2011, along with recent National Party Congress documents. At the same time, the Party requires the whole Party and each cadres and party members to “be steadfast in Marxism-Leninism, Ho Chi Minh's thought, creative application and development in accordance with the reality in Vietnam”.

Over the past ninety years, since the Communist Party of Vietnam came into existence, under the its leadership, the revolutionary cause of Vietnamese people has achieved great victories with historic and contemporary significance, transforming the lives of individuals and the destiny of the entire nation. It has been proven in historical reality that these victories have their roots in the CPV’s consistency with and creative application of the revolutionary and scientific doctrine of Marxism-Leninism into actual revolution of the country in particular periods. In other words, each and every victory of the Vietnamese revolution over the last ninety years have stemmed from the continuous sharpening of the insight into and the mastering of the scientific and revolutionary nature of the Marxism-Leninism, steadfastness and creative application for an unwavering objectiveness of striving for independence, freedom and happiness of the people. This consistency and creativity are achieved on the basis of scientific and revolutionary characteristics, humanity, suitability in the conditions of Vietnam and the era in compliance with the revolutionary principles and stance of Marxism-Leninism.

The Communist Party of Vietnam has a dialectical perception that being consistent and creative in applying Marxism-Leninism are two sides of the same coin; consistency does not refer to stereotyping nor rote repetition, but must be based on constant creativity in accordance with space and time. On the other hand, creativity must get its origin in the consistency with fundamental principles, otherwise the mistakes of dogmatism, mindless repetition or opportunism, revisionism is likely to occur. Consistency and creativity in applying Marxism-Leninism features dialectical relation in the application of universal laws to specific and special conditions. Consistency with central principles is totally different from dogmatic, mechanical and metaphysical insistence; likewise, creativity must stand side by side with basic principles, namely the preservation of revolutionary and scientific nature, the suitability, the practicality, the dialectic creativity for successful revolution, which is in complete contrast to revisionism or deviation.

In essence, Marxism is an evolution doctrine, continuously applied, supplemented, and developed in accordance with reality. As Friedrich Engels put it "Our argument is the theory of development, rather than a dogma that must be learnt by heart and replicated mechanically" (1). Later, Engels was once more time quoted by V.I. Lenin as saying "Our doctrine (Engels and his fellow) - is not a dogma but a guideline for action" and once we ignore this, "we will turn Marxism to be superficial, monstrous, dead, inevitably losing its living soul and  undermining its fundamental theoretical basis - that is, dialectic”(2). Lenin also pointed out: “As Marxism is not a dead dogma, a completely finalized, ready-made, intact doctrine but a vivid guideline for action, it is not unlikely to reflect the remarkable changes in social living conditions” (3). Therefore, it must always be applied creatively to develop. Only applied with consistency and creativity does Marxism-Leninism stand as scientific, revolutionary, pioneering, guiding theory, which secures an ultimate triumph for modern revolution. For that reason, during its ninety-year journey, the Communist Party of Vietnam always applies Marxism-Leninism in a consistent and creative manner for the shake of national independence, freedom and people’s happiness.

2- The first thing to enter our heads and cross the minds of progressive peace – loving people around the world in the ninety-year journey for independence, freedom and happiness is that the  Communist Party of Vietnam always insisted on Marxism-Leninism. The reason for that determination lies, first of all, in leader Nguyen Ai Quoc - President Ho Chi Minh and the Communist Party of Vietnam came to realize that Marxism - Leninism is a scientific and revolutionary theoretical system, summarized and drawn from the entire process of mobilization of human history and social reality in the period of capitalism expansion, inheriting mankind’s system of ideological values and scientific achievements of the utmost importance. Marxism - Leninism provides the Party with a scientific and revolutionary worldview, universal rules for the evolution of nature, society and human mindset. In particular, regarding social aspect, Marxism-Leninism has pointed out the evolutionary law in human history and the inevitable path to communism - a highly developed form of human society - in which people are free, happy in adequate conditions to develop in an all-inclusive manner.

Nguyen Ai Quoc believed in Marxism-Leninism, as he said, “How moving, excited, clear-minded, and hopeful I was upon access to Lenin’s thesis. So happy I was that I almost burst into tears. Sitting alone in my room, I spoke aloud as if I stood in front of a large crowd: “My suffering fellows, this is what is needed for us, this is the way to free us!". From then on, I became a devoted follower of Lenin and the Third International” (4).

It came as an extreme joy and happiness for Nguyen Ai Quoc to find out solutions to lifting the country out of enslavement, oppression and exploitation placed by colonialists, feudalism in Marxism - Leninism - the proletarian revolution. Then he sat among the founders of the Communist Party of France, becoming the first Vietnamese communist. Later, as the State President and President of Vietnam Labor Party, Ho Chi Minh asserted: "For us, revolutionaries and Vietnamese people, Leninism is not only the miraculous "handbook", a guide, but also the sun that illuminates our path to ultimate victory, towards socialism and communism"(5). And when responded the question as to the role of Lenin and Leninism for you of raised by the reporter of L'Humanité (France) – Sarle, July 15, 1969, Ho Chi Minh further reaffirmed: "My comrade, you know what, we have a legend about the "handbook" in which people find out solutions when stuck in difficulties. Leninism almost resembles that magical manual. At first, it was the patriotism that made me trust in Lenin. Then, step by step, I came to a conclusion that only socialism and communism would liberate the oppressed peoples and the working class worldwide” (6).

Right after its birth (in 1930), our Party identified Marxism – Leninism as “theoretical basis”, with the goal of national liberation achieved by proletariat revolution. Having paid attention to disseminating, force building and training, the Communist Party of Vietnam launched a general uprising to seize the government and established a worker-peasant state throughout Vietnam as soon as opportunities arose. The great victory of the August Revolution in 1945 was attributed to many factors, of which the most important and decisive one was the Party's correct, wise and clever leadership; the application and development of Marxism-Leninism in our country's specific conditions in a proper, independent, autonomous and creative way. This demonstrated how a proletariat revolution was staged for national liberation in a colonial country with old-fashioned agriculture.  In the first year after the August Revolution, in face of hostility, foreign aggression, rampant famine, ignorance, plus with maiden government and the like, our revolution was put in a critical situation, Party leadership was once again manifested  in its consistency with  Marxism – Leninism, promoting the collective strength of the masses, building the great unity bloc of the people, the art of people's war, and the cleverness of enemy classification and option to keep conducting the national democratic revolution. The resistance war against the French colonist reinvasion launched by Vietnamese people was compared to the battle of “grasshoppers against elephants”. Nonetheless, the consistency with all-people, prolonged and comprehensive war under the leadership of the Party in par with the legacy of Marxism-Leninism resulted in the glorious victory as reflected in To Huu’s poem extraction “Nine-year resistance war ended up with Dien Bien Victory/ As a historical golden chapter and glorious accomplishments”.

 American Imperialists carried out an evil plot to invade our country separating it into two. Once again, the aspiration for independence, freedom and happiness for individuals and the country as a whole was satisfied by the principle of continuous revolution for national liberation and socialism at the same time. It was   Marxism-Leninism that guided Vietnamese people to continue their journey of the proletarian revolution with the sympathy and support from progressive international community. The victory of the resistance war against American imperialists stemmed from many factors, of which the most decisive one was the right and creative leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam characterized by the consistency with Marxism-Leninism and the full utilization of Vietnam’s unique war art.

An independent and united country pursuing the path to socialism is the will and aspiration of the whole nation. The building of a state of the people, by the people and for the people rests with basic principles of Marxism-Leninism. However, our prolonged maintenance of centralization, bureaucracy and subsidies in the encirclement, embargo, and opposition of hostile forces led to a serious economic crisis nationwide. The reality once again required the Communist Party of Vietnam to be creative, to mobilize to the utmost intellect and strength of each and every citizen, to make use of the cooperation for mutual benefits in international economic development with the motto “Renovation without changes in nature”. Developing a socialist-oriented market economy was centered with the goal of "Rich people, strong country, democracy, justice and civilization". This was an appropriate step in the transition to socialism that Marxist-Leninism had pointed out.

With the collapse of socialist regime in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, hostile forces intensified their insurgency against the Communist Party of Vietnam, the socialist regime, denial and distortion of Marxism-Leninism. In the years renovation, great achievements of historical significance in all aspects were accompanied by new emerging issues and contradictions arising associated with theoretical work that have not been studied deeply and thoroughly enough to clarify the nature of many problems, to explain them in a scientific and convincing way; a host of issues were still left unanswered without conclusions led to obstacles in cognition and thought; there was lack of harmony between utterance and deed, utterance and thought exacerbated by unpredictable changes in the world situation.  All combined were responsible for the oscillation of ideology, socialist ideals, and the path to socialism in Vietnam,  or even the denial of  the role of Marxism – Leninism among a part of cadres and party members with insufficient practice and poor political stance.

Against this backdrop, once again, the Communist Party of Vietnam leant on the objective, scientific viewpoint to apply and develop Marxism-Leninism in new conditions. Continuing to be steadfast in Marxism-Leninism, the Communist Party of Vietnam has stepped up the in-depth renovation process, associated with the development of a socialist-oriented market economy, international integration, ceaseless improvement of people’s material and spiritual life.

In order for the country to develop sustainably, in the Party congresses, especially in recent sessions, the Communist Party of Vietnam has identified economic development as the center,   Party building as a key and culture enrichment as a spiritual foundation of the society. The development with three pillars: Economy, Party building and culture enrichment is a unified viewpoint of Marxist - Leninist principles on the proletariat revolution that the Party continues to apply in a consistent manner.

3- The Communist Party of Vietnam’s creative application of Marxism-Leninism to domestic revolution may be attributed to the three following reasons: First, Marxism – Leninism itself is an open, innovative theoretical system rather than a door-closed one as acknowledged by is founders. Second, it is necessary to supplement oriental elements and Vietnamese characteristics to match local situations as pointed out by Nguyen Ai Quoc - Ho Chi Minh. Third, life practices as well as revolutionary practices are characterized constant evolution which is superiority. Some of the points of Marxism-Leninism have been outdated and need to be supplemented and applied creatively.

Having undertaken in-depth study on Marxism, Ho Chi Minh noted: “Revisiting Marxism on its historical basis, strengthening it with Oriental ethnography” (7), in order to enable that argument to fit and respond to the evolution of revolutionary practices in specific circumstances and conditions. Staying consistent with that view, during the ninety-year leadership of the revolution, besides the steadfastness in Marxism-Leninism, President Ho Chi Minh and the Communist Party of Vietnam are constantly innovating to solve problems arising in revolutionary practices, contributing to the great victories of the Vietnamese revolution, and at the same time  contributing to the improvement of Marxism-Leninism in the following main issues:

That is the creative application of the reasoning about proletarian revolution of Marxism-Leninism to the national liberation revolution in Vietnam. Witnessing capitalism under conditions of free competition, K. Marx claimed that proletariat revolution would take place and end in victory in advanced capitalist countries. By his lifetime when capitalism had entered the period of imperialism, V.I. Lenin affirmed that the proletariat revolution could break out and succeed in some countries, even a single country of imperialism (a link in the chain). Understanding his people, the circumstances of his country, under the conditions of the era, Ho Chi Minh creatively stated that there is no other way than the revolution of the proletariat to save the country and free the people. Ho Chi Minh and our Party placed the revolution to liberate the Vietnamese people in the orbit of the world proletariat revolution, but determined that, in many specific conditions, the colonial revolution could succeed before that in dominant country. Clearly, Ho Chi Minh and the Communist Party have created and clearly defined the independence of the colonial revolution compared to the national revolution and the revolutionary party of the colonial country must be in a more proactive position, bearing greater national and international responsibility than before. It is the Party's strategic creation of the path of the Vietnamese revolution.

It is the theoretical creativity in the birth of a Communist Party in a backward agricultural country. Generalizing the formation of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh stated in the Common Political Consciousness (1953): The Party combines Vietnam Revolutionary movement with Marxism-Leninism. In 1960, he wrote: Marxism-Leninism combined with the worker movement and the patriotic movement led to the founding of the Party in early 1930. While affirming the general rule of the birth of proletariat party, he highly appreciated the patriotic movement of Vietnam, considering it an important factor along with two other factors that was mentioned in Marxism-Leninism as sufficient conditions for the establishment of the Communist Party of Vietnam. The thesis has just been consistent with Marxism-Leninism about the birth of the Communist Party (Communist Party = Marxist-Leninism + Worker Movement), and, at the same time has been created to suit the situation of a semi-feudal colonized country. Half feudal country with a patriotic tradition but a small number of workers. Moreover, Nguyen Ai Quoc also lobbied for the Communist Party of Vietnam to get the status of an independent division of the Communist International without having to undergo the period of French Communist Party like most other communist organizations in former French colonies in Africa.

That creativity is right and well-fitted with Vietnamese revolution, having an immense significance not only to the Vietnam revolution process, but also to international community, especially countries with similar circumstances.

It is the creative application of the theory of the relentless revolution of Marxism-Leninism to set the direction of the Vietnamese revolution. It was identified in the 1930 Party Platform that bourgeois civil right revolution and land revolution come first followed by communist society. Thus, the Party determined to carry out two duties at the same time: Toppling French invaders, feudal lords, henchmen, bringing land for farmers in an outdated agricultural territory, colony, but soon followed up socialism, i.e. entered the first stage of the communist socio-economic form.

It is the creative application of the ideological worker-peasant alliance of Marxism-Leninism into Vietnamese revolution. There is a lesson of failure due to ill performance the worker-peasant alliance of the Paris Commune, so since 1927,  the works of Revolution Path of Ho Chi Minh and in the 1930 Platform of the Party all affirm: worker-peasant union  is the root of the revolution, while the intellectuals, the students are friends of the revolution. Our revolution in the 90-year journey owes its every single victory to the creativity of the Communist Party of Vietnam in implementing the worker-farmer-intellectual alliance, a decisive factor.

It is the creative application of the theory of the opportunities and revolutionary situation of Marxism-Leninism into the historical turning points and breakthrough of the Vietnamese revolution. Marxism-Leninism only devises the general principle of the revolutionary situation, at the time when: The ruling class no longer dominates as before, the ruled class can no longer withstand the domination as before, the middle class was on the side of the ruled class, then in Vietnam, when Japan surrendered allies (August 15, 1945), on August 16, 1945, the National Congress agreed on the decision of the total uprising of the Indochinese Communist Party, set up the Committee for National Liberation and sent a letter urging fellows across the country: “it is time for us to determine the destiny of Vietnam.  My fellows, standing up with your inner strength to liberate yourself”. “In this favorable condition, no matter how much sacrifice we have to make, even to burn the Truong Son mountain range, we must resolutely struggle for national independence”

It is the creative application of Marxist-Leninist viewpoint on the people's popular role to the ninety-year revolution of national liberation in Vietnam under the Party's banner. Marxism-Leninism asserted that the masses were the creators of history, the force generating material and spiritual values, and the powerful force of social revolutions; the masses have never been as active in the role of new social order creators as in the revolutionary period; Thanks to the strength of the masses, the revolutionary period features a broader, richer, more self-conscious, more planned, more systematic, more systematic, braver and clearer creativity. Ho Chi Minh and the Communist Party of Vietnam have depth perception that the masses are the creators, the peasants are the creators. But the masses not only produce material wealth for society, they are also creators. "Three drills" in 15 years (1930 - 1945) culminated in the successful uprising - the August Revolution of 1945 - represented the great power of the masses. Overcoming the critical situation the first year after the August Revolution. Vietnam then waged a full, universal resistance war for nine years, defeated the old-styled colonialists; Great victory in the spring of 1975, ending 21 years of fighting against neo-colonialism which is the most violent and powerful in human history. And, the significant achievements of the 34-year renewal process are the great creative results of the people who made history under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam. President Ho Chi Minh and the Communist Party of Vietnam dialectically recognize that Marxism-Leninism and creativity are two sides of the same coin. Being consistent with the right principles, innovative to be well-matched with the reality for further efficiency. Consistency with and creativity in of Marxism-Leninism is the root of all victories of the Vietnamese revolution in its 90-year journey under the banner of the Communist Party of Vietnam for the shake of independence of the Fatherland, freedom and  people's happiness./.

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(1) K. Mark and F. Angels: Full episode, National politics Publisher, Hanoi, 1999, Episode. 36, p .796

(2), (3) V.I. Lenin: Complete episode, Progress Publisher, Moscow 1980, Episode. 20, p. 99

(4), (5) Ho Chi Minh: Complete episode, National Politics Truth Publisher, Hanoi, 2011, Episode 12, p. 562, 563

(6) Ho Chi Minh: Complete episode, sdd, Episode. 15, p. 588

(7) Ho Chi Minh: Complete episode, Publishing House. National Politics Truth, Episode. 1, p. 510

Source: Communist Review No. 933 (1-2020)