The sixth part of the lyrics was also originally "Thề phanh thây uống máu quân thù"[3][4] ("We swear to tear apart the enemy and drink their blood"), expressing his anger at the colonialists for letting two million Vietnamese people perish in the 1945 famine.
After many suggestions, Văn Cao changed it to "Vì nhân dân chiến đấu không ngừng" ("For the people let's struggle until the end").
", which had the same meaning but a slightly different tone, which Văn Cao commented,"With a song that requires solemnity, 'nước non' seemed too weak while being sung with 'núi sông' would be more reasonable.
Vũ Quý was very happy at his work, and "Tiến Quân Ca" was published in the papers in November 1944 with lithographs by Văn Cao.
[5] On 17 August, 1945, the song was sung for the first time at a rally of civil servants in Hanoi by a Ph.D under the flag of the Việt Minh, and "robbed the loudspeakers".
[5] On 17 August, 1945, Hồ Chí Minh approved "Tiến Quân Ca" to be officially recognized as the anthem of the newly established Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
On 2 September, 1945, a parade was performed on the day of the Declaration of independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam at Ba Đình Square by the Liberation Army band commanded by Đinh Ngọc Liên.
Đoàn quân Việt Nam đi, sao vàng phấp phới Dắt giống nòi quê hương qua nơi lầm than Cùng chung sức phấn đấu xây đời mới, Đứng đều lên gông xích ta đập tan.
Soldiers of Vietnam, we go forward, with the heart to save the nation Our hurried steps are sounding on the long and arduous road Our flag, red with the blood of victory, bears the spirit of our country, the distant rumbling of the guns mingles with our marching song.
Soldiers of Vietnam, we go forward, the gold star of our flag in the wind Leading our people, our native land, out of misery and suffering Let us join our efforts in the fight for the building of a new life.
Chorus In 2010, Nghiêm Thúy Băng, the wife of late musician Văn Cao, addressed a letter to the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam proposing to donate the work "Tiến quân ca" into public domain.
[12][13][14][15] However, in 2015, the family of Văn Cao, registered the song with the Vietnam Center for Protection of Music Copyright, demanding royalties for all public performances except in certain situations like schools and "important state ceremonies".
On 25 August 2015, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism sent an official letter to the music copyright agency to stop collecting royalties on "Tiến Quân Ca".
[26] The copyright claims met with huge backlash from the author's family, the government, and other opinions who considered national anthem should be free for all.