When did Ho Chi Minh Campaign end? What are the perspectives on constructing the general educational curriculum for lower secondary education in the subject of History and Geography in Vietnam?

When did Ho Chi Minh Campaign end?

The Ho Chi Minh Campaign ended at 11:30 AM on April 30, 1975, when Lieutenant Bui Quang Than, the Commander of Tank Company 4, planted the revolutionary flag on the roof of the Independence Palace. This forced the President of the Saigon government, Duong Van Minh, to declare unconditional surrender, marking the complete victory of the Ho Chi Minh Campaign and officially ending the war in Vietnam.

* Brief summary of the Ho Chi Minh Campaign:

The Ho Chi Minh Campaign was the final military campaign of the people's army of Vietnam in the resistance against the United States. It took place from April 26 to April 30, 1975, aimed at liberating Saigon and reunifying the country.

(1) Context:

- Prior to the campaign, major campaigns such as Tay Nguyen, Hue - Da Nang had dealt a severe blow to the Saigon military, causing significant weakening of the Southern government.

- The Politburo decided to launch the final campaign to liberate Saigon, named the Ho Chi Minh Campaign, to demonstrate the determination to win and to honor President Ho Chi Minh.

(2) Main developments:

- Preparatory phase: From late March 1975, military forces were mobilized around Saigon.

- Attack: On April 26, the Liberation army launched the campaign with the coordination of five military wings advancing into Saigon from various directions.

- Conclusion: On the morning of April 30, military wings simultaneously advanced into the city center. By 11:30 AM, the flag of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam waved over the Independence Palace, marking a complete victory.

(3) Significance:

- Ended 21 years of war, reunifying the country.

- Marked a major victory in the history of the national liberation struggle.

- Opened a new era of building and developing the country under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

When did Ho Chi Minh Campaign end? What are the perspectives on constructing the general educational curriculum for lower secondary education in the subject of History and Geography in Vietnam?​ (Image from the Internet)

What are the perspectives on constructing the general educational curriculum for lower secondary education in the subject of History and Geography in Vietnam?

Based on section II of the Curriculum for History and Geography education issued with Circular 32/2018/TT-BGDDT on perspectives on constructing the general educational curriculum for lower secondary education in the subject of History and Geography in Vietnam:

The History and Geography program at the lower secondary education level adheres to the regulations in the Overall Curriculum, while emphasizing several perspectives:

- The program aims to shape and develop scientific thinking in students, viewing the world as an integrated whole through both spatial and temporal dimensions based on fundamental knowledge, tools for learning and research in history, geography; thereby forming and developing both specific and general capabilities, especially the ability to apply knowledge and skills in practice and creativity.

- The program inherits and promotes the strengths of History and Geography in the current general education curriculum and absorbs the foreign education program development experiences of advanced countries worldwide. The subject content ensures students are equipped with comprehensive, foundational, and scientific general knowledge; suitable to students' psychological, physiological characteristics, and level of understanding, taking into account teaching conditions in Vietnamese schools.

- Historical education content is designed in a chronological sequence from prehistoric times through ancient, medieval, modern to contemporary times; in each period, there is an integration of world history, regional history, and Vietnamese history. The geography education content follows a path from general geography to regional geography and Vietnamese geography. Emphasize selecting topics, connecting knowledge, and skills to form and develop competencies in students, while respecting the scientific nature of history and geography.

- The program emphasizes applying positive educational methods, emphasizing the use of diverse teaching aids, diversify teaching forms, and evaluating educational outcomes to form and develop qualities and competencies in students.

- The program ensures continuity with the History and Geography programs at the elementary school level and the History and Geography programs at the high school level; maintaining consistency and close connections among grades, levels, subjects, and educational activities of the general education program.

- The program is flexible, allowing adaptation depending on local conditions, student subjects (students in difficult areas, students needing special support, etc.).

What are the objectives of the History and Geography program in lower secondary education in Vietnam?

According to section III of the Curriculum for History and Geography education issued with Circular 32/2018/TT-BGDDT, the objectives of the History and Geography program in lower secondary education are:

- History and Geography at the lower secondary education level contribute, along with other subjects and educational activities, to the formation and development of students' essential qualities and general capabilities.

- History and Geography at the lower secondary education level form, develop in students the capacity for historical and geographical understanding based on fundamental, selective knowledge of world, national, and local history and geography; natural, socio-economic, and cultural processes occurring in space and time; the interaction between human society and the natural environment; helping students use scientific tools of history and geography to learn and apply in practice;

- Together with other subjects and educational activities, contribute to forming and developing essential qualities and general competencies in students, especially love for homeland, country, pride in national traditions, respect for the diversity of world history and human culture, arousing in students the desire to explore the world around them, applying what they have learned to reality.