In attendance was Mr. Vo Van Thuong, Member of the Political Bureau, President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; former central and local leaders, leaders of Can Tho city along with 10,000 delegates including central, provincial, and city guests, international friends and people within and outside the city.

At its 4th session, the 11th National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam passed Resolution No. 22 on adjusting the administrative boundaries of some provinces, including splitting Can Tho Province into Can Tho City under the Central Government and Hau Giang Province. Accordingly, on January 1st, 2004, Can Tho City was officially established and began operations. Over the past 20 years of construction and development, the Party committee, government, military, and people of Can Tho City have promoted their revolutionary tradition, united as one, and tirelessly strived to build an increasingly civilized, modern city worthy of its role as the hub of the Mekong Delta region.

The ceremony aims to encourage and motivate the emulation movement for labor and production, and strongly promote the proactive, creative spirit and self-reliance of the Party committee, government, military, and people of Can Tho City. It also aims to promote and introduce the images, people, and culture of Can Tho City to the people nationwide and foreign visitors.

President Vo Van Thuong of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam delivered a speech.

In his speech at the ceremony, President Vo Van Thuong of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam emphasized that over the past 20 years, the Party committee and people of Can Tho have always upheld the revolutionary tradition of unity, self-reliance, and creativity in seizing opportunities and overcoming difficulties and challenges to achieve important and comprehensive achievements...making positive contributions to the common development of the Mekong Delta region and the whole country.

Along with socio-economic development, cultural and social fields have seen many advances. Party building and the political system have undergone many innovations, strengthening the leadership capacity and combat strength of the city Party committee to meet the requirements of new situations. The President said that the great achievements the city has attained over the past 20 years affirm the correctness of the Party and State's policies on developing Can Tho city, and the tireless efforts of all levels, sectors, and people.

To build Can Tho into a central city of the region, with ecology, civilization and modernity reflecting the unique identity of the Mekong Delta region, the President expressed high agreement with the orientations and tasks set out by the city Party committee, and proposed that all Party sector, organizations, cadres and people of Can Tho deeply understand the role, position and importance of Can Tho for socio-economic development, national defense and security of both the Mekong Delta region and the whole country; effectively implement the Party and State's policies regarding the Mekong Delta region and the city, especially Resolution No. 59 of the 12th Party Central Committee on developing and building Can Tho city by 2030 with a vision to 2045; the Resolution of the 14th Congress of the city Party committee; and fully utilize the potential and advantages of the city, its role as the regional hub and gateway to the lower Mekong region; together with promoting the revolutionary tradition and cultural heritage of the people of this riverine city.

In addition, he emphasized focusing on accelerating socio-economic development and improving people's living standards. Strongly applying advanced science and technology, green technology, clean technology, regenerative technology, digital economy, green economy, circular economy...to create new productive capacity and higher value-added goods and services with domestic and international competitiveness; truly becoming the regional center for trade, tourism, logistics, processed industry, high-tech agricultural application, advanced education and training, specialized healthcare, science and technology, culture and sports; an urban growth pole of the Mekong Delta region and the whole country, contributing to connecting Vietnam with other countries in the Mekong Subregion. Continuing administrative reform with appropriate mechanisms and policies to mobilize resources both within and outside the country for city development. Focusing on improving education quality, science and technology, and healthcare to cultivate high-quality human resources for the city and region. Paying more attention to preserving and promoting the valuable cultural traditions of ethnic groups, building a new lifestyle; protecting, caring for, and improving people's health. Effectively implementing social welfare policies, caring for policy beneficiary families, people with meritorious services, and disadvantaged groups in society; comprehensively improving people's living standards and striving to eliminate poverty.

Placing importance on natural resource management, environmental protection, taking the initiative to have concrete and practical solutions, suitable from planning, building economic and social infrastructure, facilities serving people's lives, changing production methods to suit climate change... Focusing on building a team of capable and qualified cadres. Improving the quality and efficiency of mass mobilization work, the activities of the Fatherland Front, political and social organizations, better meeting the requirements of tasks in the new situation.

With the important position of the city in the Mekong Delta region, President Vo Van Thuong noted that Can Tho city must continuously strengthen national defense and security, maintain political and social order and safety; build defense zones, the whole people's defense posture, linked to the people's security posture, a solid "people's heart" posture. Closely combine economic development with national defense. Focus on effectively addressing complex security issues from the grassroots level, not allowing the formation of "hot spots", and ensuring a safe and stable environment to attract investment and socio-economic development.

Upholding the tradition of the heroic city, along with the great achievements achieved after 20 years of establishment, President Vo Van Thuong believes that the Can Tho Municipal Party Committee and Can Tho people will continue to achieve greater results; Continuously strive to build and develop Can Tho city into an ecological, civilized, modern city with a distinct Mekong Delta cultural identity; worthy to be the growth center and core city of the Mekong Delta region; so that everyone always remembers "Can Tho has white rice and clear water - Whoever goes there does not want to return", Can Tho is for the whole region, the whole country - The whole region, the whole country is for Can Tho.

Leading the parade is the Protocol Group with images of the Party flag, National flag, President Ho Chi Minh's portrait, affirming the leadership role of the Party and Uncle Ho and the united spirit of the entire nation on the path of building and developing the whole country in general and Can Tho city in particular.

The parade of the city's armed forces group demonstrates the will to continuously study, train and improve in all aspects, meet all task requirements in the new situation with the training motto: "Overcoming the sun, defeating the rain, enthusiastically training", "Completing all tasks, overcoming all difficulties, defeating all enemies".

Welcoming the People's Self-Defense Force of wards, communes, and towns of Can Tho city marching into the podium.

The parade formation of the Can Tho City Public Security Force. Over the past 20 years, the Public Security Force has always accompanied the people in the process of building and developing Can Tho City. Officers and soldiers of the city have strived to improve political resolve, professional skills, and expertise to meet work requirements in the period of renewal and international integration.

The parade of the Can Tho City Women's Union. With over 195,000 members, over the past 20 years, women of all walks of life in the city have made important contributions in all fields of social life.

The anniversary celebration was organized solemnly, combining ceremonies, parades, and special artistic programs, with a comprehensive and typically cultural, spiritual, and volitional nature of the people of Can Tho over the 20-year course of building and developing.

The special artistic program "Huong Sac Tay Do" (Fragrance and Beauty of Tay Do) at the anniversary celebration.

The program was elaborately staged, with diverse performance genres (songs, classical songs, sketches, mashups, folk songs...), on a grand scale.

The program uses a modern sound and light equipment system and projection technology (drone lights; mapping...), with the participation of many artists.

The program combines musical performances and fashion shows with a special fireworks display.