Attending the event were Party Central Committee General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, former Party General Secretaries Le Kha Phieu, and Nong Duc Manh, Party Politburo member and State President Truong Tan Sang, former Politburo members and Presidents Le Duc Anh, Tran Duc Luong, and Nguyen Minh Triet, member of the Party Politburo and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, former Politburo member and Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, former Politburo member and Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Van An, member of the Party Politburo and Chairman of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Nguyen Thien Nhan, and Party Politburo member and Secretary of Hanoi Party Committee Pham Quang Nghi. Also present were leaders, former leaders of the Party, the State and the Viet Nam Fatherland Front, leaders of departments, ministries, agencies and organizations at central level, Ha Noi, provinces and cities in the country.

Attending the ceremony were high-level delegation of Laos headed by Mr. Bounnhang Vorachit, member of the Political Bureau, and permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat, Vice President of the People's Democratic Republic, and high-level delegation of Cambodia led by Ms. Men Sam An, member of the Standing Committee of the People's Party of Cambodia, Deputy Prime Minister of the Royal Government of Cambodia, diplomatic corps, international guests and representatives of international organizations in Viet Nam.

Revolutionary veterans, Viet Nam heroic mothers, heroes and heroines of the People's Armed Forces, labor heroes, scholars, intellectuals, representatives of families who have made great merit to the revolution, generals and military officers, representatives of people of all strata in Ha Noi, overseas Vietnamese, and Vietnamese and foreign media also attended the events.

In his speech, President Truong Tan Sang affirmed that 70 years ago on 2 September, 1945, in Ba Dinh Square of Ha Noi, on behalf of the interim government, President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence giving birth of the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam, the first people’s democratic state in Southeast Asia, now the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam. This important event is a brilliant milestone in the glorious history of building and defending the country of Viet Nam.

The August Revolution is an epochal event of profound international significance, a source of encouragement for colonial, oppressed and exploited peoples in the world to rise up and struggle for national independence, democracy and social progress. After reviewing the past 70 years from the August 1945 Revolution to the complete liberation, reunification and the advancement to the stage of the country, President Truong Tan Sang emphasized that during those 70 years, implementing the sacred commitment made at event to declare independence “The entire people of Viet Nam are determined to use all the spirit and force, life and wealth to maintain freedom and independence,” the Vietnamese people devoted much energy, wisdom, and laid down their lives to maintain their achievements and implement the lofty goals of the August Revolution.

From an impoverished and backward country, Viet Nam has grown up, come out of the socio-economic crisis, passed the poverty line and less development status to become a middle-income country; people's lives have been improved; the socio-political life has been stabilized; national independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity have been maintained; external relations have been expanded; and its prestige and position in the international arena have been heightened. The country’s increasing aggregated strength has generated new stature and position for continued development with good prospects. The great achievements of the people of Viet Nam over the past 70 years have been highly appreciated and admired by the world people and international friends, becoming a valuable asset of the people of Viet Nam in the cause industrialization, modernization and international integration.

In a sacred atmosphere of pride, President Truong Tan Sang said: “We respectfully turn out hearts to President Ho Chi Minh, the genius leader, a hero of national liberation and a man of culture of the world who devoted his life to the people and the country and led our Party, our people to make glorious victories, glorifying our nation, our mountains and rivers. His thought and cause are an invaluable asset, a torch shining the way for our nation to firmly march to the future. We forever bear in mind our gratitude to the great merit of millions of heroes and heroines, and martyrs who courageously sacrificed themselves for national independence, freedom, sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity, socialism, and lofty international obligations. We expressed deep gratitude to veteran revolutionaries, heroic mothers, war invalids and sick soldiers, and families who have rendered great merit to the country and people throughout the country for their brave fighting, sacrifice and great contribution to the glorious revolutionary cause of our nation. We are forever grateful and express deep gratitude to fraternal peoples, progressive forces and friends all over the world for their valuable assistance to our struggle for national liberation, and reunification in the past as well as in the current national construction and defense.”

The President stressed: “Today, Viet Nam is facing opportunities, while also coping with many difficulties and challenges. Celebrating the August Revolution and National Day, the entire Party, people and army vow to unite as one, strive forward, take advantage of opportunities, overcome challenges, dedicate and devote our might and main, strengthen our will, maintain revolutionary achievements, continue to implement the lofty goals of the August Revolution and Independence Oath engraved in the heart of every Vietnamese and successfully implement the two strategic tasks of building and protecting the country.”

Following President Truong Tan Sang’s speech came the military parade, march and art performance under the theme: “Viet Nam’s aspiration for peace”, expressing the tradition of “drinking water, remember the source” and the aspiration of the people of Viet Nam to strive forward. The parade passed through many streets of Ha Noi. People of Ha Noi and other provinces lined the street to welcome the parade.