President Hồ Chí Minh read the Declaration of Independence of Vietnam at Ba Đình square on September 2, 1945, proclaiming the foundation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. Source: Vietnam Institute of Social Sciences Information

The first democratic revolutionary government of the Democratic In the first session of the Government held on September 3, 1945, President Hồ Chí Minh pointed out the urgent tasks that the Government of Vietnam had to cope with at that time, that was to eliminate “famine, illiteracy and foreign invaders”. Source: Collected

The first democratic revolutionary government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in 1945. Source: Vietnam Institute of Social Sciences Information

President Hồ Chí Minh attended the opening ceremony of the “Famine elimination Day” at Hanoi Opera House, the even was also attended by General Gallagher, the highest ranking representative of the Allies in Hanoi, October 11, 1945. Source: Collected

Cứu Quốc News, No. 102, published on November 27, 1945: A way to relieve famine. Source: National Library of Vietnam

The “Famine elimination” force on Lương Văn Can street, 1945. Source: Hanoi Museum

American General Gallagher, made a donation to the famine relief, 1945. Source: Hanoi Museum

A crash class of “illiteracy elimination” for soldiers and militiamen was held on the training ground in an interval. Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hồn Nước News, No. 11 published on November 14, 1945: Classes for normal people and the task of eliminating illiteracy. Source: National Library of Vietnam

A class of “illiteracy elimination” for people in Hanoi. Source: Vietnam News Agency

As seen in the photo, French soldiers paraded on Tràng Tiền street on March 18, 1946. Source: Collected

The delegates of Republic of China and France in Hanoi. Source: Collected

A unit of National Defense Army paraded in front of Hà Nội Flag tower, September 1945. Source: Collected

Comrade Võ Nguyên Giáp, General Philippe Leclerc and Jean Sainteny (white suit) attended the memorial ceremony for the soldiers who had laid down their lives in Indochina, June 17, 1946. Source: Collected

Chiang’s army and French army reached an agreement that allowed the French to go to North Vietnam to disarm the Japanese army under the China-France treaty on February 28, 1946. Source: Collected

To avoid a simultaneous confrontation with many enemies, President Hồ Chí Minh signed a Preliminary Agreement with Sainteny, the representative of the French Government, on March 6, 1946, which contributed to the rapid expulsion of 200,000 Chiang soldiers from Vietnam. Source: Vietnam Institute of Social Sciences Information

Prime Minister, Georges Bidault, received President Hồ Chí Minh while he was on his official visit to France to discuss future relations between France and Indochina, on July 2, 1946. Source: Collected

President Hồ Chí Minh and Jean Sainteny - Commissioner of the French Republic in North and Northern of Central Region of Vietnam were in Hạ Long Bay, April 23, 1946. Source: Collected

At the Paris Conference, President Hồ Chí Minh, on behalf of the Government and people of Vietnam, presented his standpoints and heartfelt aspiration for the independence and peace of Vietnam, 1946. Source: Vietnam Institute of Social Sciences Information

President Hồ Chí Minh and Minister of the Colonies Marius Moutet signed the “Provisional Agreement September 14, 1946”. Source: Vietnam Institute of Social Sciences Information

President Hồ Chí Minh and Minister of Colonies Marius Moutet shook hands informally after signing the Provisional Agreement. Source: Collected

As soon as President Hồ Chí Minh arrived in Hải Phòng, he met peoples journalists and answered their questions about his visit to France and his attendance at the Fontainebleau Conference. Source: National Archives Center No.3

The last efforts to protect the fragile peace of the nation failed since the French colonialists broke their promises. War broke out. On the night of December 19, 1946, responding to President Hồ Chí Minh’s “ Appeal for National Uprising “, soldiers and people in Hanoi together with the whole country rose up. Láng Fortress fired first shots, signaling the outbreak of a long-term resistance. In an unequal struggle with the enemy, Hanoi front became a typification of a people’s war. Each house and each street was used as a battlefield or a trench. Every inhabitant, whether it was a 9-year-old boy or a gray-haired old man, a musician, a farmer, a petty bourgeois intellectual or a worker with blue shirt and cloth shoes, etc... combined their efforts with the soldiers of The Capital Regiment and militiamen to contain the enemy so that the Party Central Committee and the Government could make a covered retreat to the war zone. All those normal people stood side by side in the spirit of “Fighting to death for national independence “, which wrote the epic song Hanoi - 60 days of fire and sword.

“The attitude of France in Indochina is clear. France intends to restore sovereignty in Indochina”. (General De Gaulle)

Cứu Quốc News No. 412 on November 21, 1946: The French army caused a big conflict in Hải Phòng from 9 a.m to 9 p.m on November 20, and a clear intention of an invasion. Source: National Library of Vietnam

Cứu Quốc News No. 440, published on December 19, 1946: Another ultimatum of French army sent to Hanoi. Source: National Library of Vietnam

President Hồ Chí Minh’s the Appeal for National Uprising, December 19, 1946. Source: Vietnam Institute of Social Sciences Information

Nguyễn Văn Dương’s house in Vạn Phúc - Hà Đông, where President Hồ Chí Minh wrote the Appeal for National Uprising, 1946. Source: Vietnam Institute of Social Sciences Information

Láng Fortress where the first shot was fired signaling the outbreak of the national uprising on the night of December 19, 1946. Source: Vietnam Institute of Social Sciences Information

Vietnamese soldiers dug trenches in the Tonkin palace in the early days of the resistance war. Source: Vietnam Institute of Social Sciences Information

Soldiers and militiamen of the Capital were studying to arrange fortifications on Nhật Tân dike. Photo: Nguyễn Bá Khoản Source: Vietnam Institute of Social Sciences Information

Capital residents gathered on Hàng Đào street reading wall-news. Photo: Nguyễn Bá Khoản Source: Vietnam Institute of Social Sciences Information

Militiamen and guerillas were laying anti-tank mines. Photo: Nguyễn Bá Khoản Source: Vietnam Institute of Social Sciences Information

The soldiers of the National Defense force fought hard to protect houses and land plots in the Capital during the early days of the resistance war. Source: Contact Board of the Capital Regiment

Militia forces fought on the Hanoi front. Source: Contact Board of the Capital Regiment

National Defense soldiers and workers dug large holes through the wall of the Match factory to prepare for battle. Photo: Nguyễn Bá Khoản Source: Vietnam Institute of Social Sciences Information

Barbwire barriers were set up on many streets of Hanoi to block the French colonialists’ way. Source: Contact Board of the Capital Regiment

A group of soldiers opened fire at enemies who were from the other side in Hàng Chiếu street. Photo: Nguyễn Bá Khoản Source: Vietnam Institute of Social Sciences Information

French soldiers were besieged and trapped on the Hanoi front. Source: Collected

French forces fought in the quarter of Hanoi. Source: Collected

A suicide squad discussed using tripod-bombs to attack enemies’ military vehicles on Hoàng Mai - Tương Mai - Giáp Nhị front. Photo: Nguyễn Bá Khoản Source: Vietnam Institute of Social Sciences Information

A Happy New Year letter from President Hồ Chí Minh to the Capital Regiment. Source: Hanoi Museum

Vietnamese soldiers were listening to President Hồ Chí Minh’s Happy New Year letter read aloud, 1947. Source: Vietnam Institute of Social Sciences Information

The soldiers of Suicide forces moved the machine guns obtained from the enemy at the Hàng Đậu intersection to battle station. Photo: Nguyễn Bá Khoản Source: Vietnam Institute of Social Sciences Information

Ban chỉ huy Trung đoàn Thủ đô đang nghiên cứu bản đồ các khu phố để đánh giặc trong Liên khu I, Hà Nội. Tác giả: Nguyễn Bá Khoản Nguồn: Viện Thông tin Khoa học Xã hội Việt Nam

Tanks and military vehicles of the French army used in the battles in Hanoi. Source: Collected

Musician - suicide soldier Lương Ngọc Trác, Trang Công Lũy and Phạm Đình Luận, two of the youngest soldiers of National Defense force. Source: Contact Board of the Capital Regiment

As seen from left to right, in the front row were the youngest soldiers of the National Defense force: Phạm Đình Luận (9 years old), Phùng Đệ (13 years old), Trang Công Lũy (10 years old); In the second row were Võ Quân Sơn, Trần Đức Thảo and Lê Thùy. Source: Contact Board of the Capital Regiment

The youngest soldiers of National Defense force and comrade Đỗ Đình Sửu, an officer of Political Committee of the Capital Regiment. Source: Contact Board of the Capital Regiment

Ruined structures of Hàng Đồng street during the 60 days of fighting. Source: Hanoi Museum

The ruined structures of Hanoi during 60 days of fire and smoke. Source: Hanoi Museum

Ruined structures of Bát Sứ street during the 60 days of fire and smoke. Source: Hanoi Museum

Barbwire barriers were set up on many streets of Hanoi to block the French colonialists’ way. Source: Contact Board of the Capital Regiment

Militiawomen of Hoàng Diệu citadel took part in the resistance war against the French, Hanoi. Source: Contact Board of the Capital Regiment

Mr. Trần Văn Tôn, Commander of Suicide Company, laid down his life on the roof of a 3-storey house on Huế street after a bomb raid on a French armory. Photo: Nguyễn Bá Khoản Source: Vietnam Institute of Social Sciences Information

A unit of the Capital Regiment in Hanoi. Source: Contact Board of the Capital Regiment

A group of Self-defense soldiers of Hanoi station monitored enemy aircrafts, 1946 - 1947. Photo: Nguyễn Bá Khoản Source: Vietnam Institute of Social Sciences Information

Barbwire barriers were set up on the T-junction of Tạ Hiện and Cầu Gỗ streets. Source: Contact Board of the Capital Regiment

Two sisters, Nguyễn Thị Nhung and Nguyễn Thị Thục, suicide soldiers, distributed New Year’s gifts of local people to the Capital soldiers in 1947. Source: Vietnam Institute of Social Sciences Information

Farmers supplied food for soldiers who fought on Voi Phục front. Photo: Nguyễn Bá Khoản Source: Vietnam Institute of Social Sciences Information

A meeting held by the The Command Board of the Capital Regiment at Hàng Bạc street, January 13, 1947. Source: Contact Board of the Capital Regiment

The image of “resplendent glory and eternal oaths” in the song “Hanoi people” shows a picture of of heroism in which Hanoi men and women swore to protect the Capital even if they died. They went through many losses, sufferings and nostalgia for Hanoi during the years of “Blood and Fire”. They had to leave the place, familiar streets, where they were born and raised and turned their pain into strength, nostalgia into will, hatred and heroic fighting spirit to be able to realize the oath they swore before. 8 years after leaving the capital, in October 1954, the soldiers from the Việt Bắc war zone returned to take over the Capital. “Armies after armies walked like waves”; they were greeted by forest of red flags with yellow stars, flowers, cheers and thunderous clappings of the people in the Capital. When they came back, they cried just like when they left but then they cried out of happiness on “the victory day”.

On the early morning of February 18, 1947, local people helped the last soldiers of the Capital Regiment to cross the Red River safely on their boats. Source: Contact Board of the Capital Regiment

After two months of fighting, the Capital Regiment got out of the enemy’s besiegement successfully on February 17, 1947. Source: Vietnam Institute of Social Sciences Information

Platoon 2, Battalion 102 (Đông Thành area). Source: Contact Board of the Capital Regiment

Ward guards protected the Sword and Seal being carried out of the inner city. Photo: Nguyễn Bá Khoản Source: Vietnam Institute of Social Sciences Information

Comrade Võ Nguyên Giáp met soldiers of the Capital Regiment in Thượng Hội. Source: Contact Board of the Capital Regiment

Local people helped Capital Regiment to cross the Red river on their boats. Source: Contact Board of the Capital Regiment

Soldiers of the Capital Regiment withdrew from Hanoi. Source: Contact Board of the Capital Regiment

French officers watched their soldiers withdrawing from Hanoi through Long Biên bridge, October 9, 1954. Source: Vietnam News Agency

A unit of the Vietnamese People’s Army was guarding Long Biên bridge. Behind were French officers completing hand-over procedures before withdrawing from Hanoi, October 9, 1954. Source: Vietnam News Agency

Young soldiers were welcomed by people standing along Đinh Tiên Hoàng street, October 10, 1954. Photo: Thân Trọng Ninh Source: Vietnam News Agency

People stood along Đinh Tiên Hoàng street welcoming back the forces returning to take over the Capital, October 10, 1954. Photo by Thân Trọng Ninh Source: Vietnam News Agency

Doctor Trần Duy Hưng, Vice Chairman of Politico-Military Administrative Committee waved to the people on the liberation day of the Capital, October 10, 1954. Source: Vietnam News Agency

The flag-raising ceremony at Cột Cờ stadium, October 10, 1954. Ahead stood infantry forces including the Capital Regiment (Brigade 308), the Regiment 57 (Brigade 304); Behind were the mechanized and artillery forces standing in straight lines. Source: Vietnam News Agency

Major General Vương Thừa Vũ (right) and Doctor Trần Duy Hưng (left) conducted the flag-raising ceremony at Cột Cờ stadium, October 10, 1954. Source: Vietnam News Agency