Commemorating the 60th Traditional Day of Factory Z121

On the morning of September 7, Factory Z121 held a Ceremony to Commemorate its 60th Traditional Day (September 7, 1966 – September 7, 2026) and to receive the First-Class Fatherland Protection Order.

Authorized by the State President, Senior Lieutenant General Pham Hoai Nam—Deputy Minister of National Defense—presents the First-Class Fatherland Protection Order to Factory Z121.

Attending the ceremony was General Pham Van Tra, former Member of the Politburo and former Minister of National Defense. Also present were members of the Party Central Committee: Senior Lieutenant General Pham Hoai Nam, Deputy Minister of National Defense; Senior Lieutenant General Do Xuan Tung, Deputy Chief of the General Political Department of the Vietnam People’s Army; and Major General Tran Van Bac, Commander of Military Region 2.

Representing Phu Tho province were Mr. Bui Van Quang, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Provincial Party Committee; Major General Nguyen Minh Tuan, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and Director of the Provincial Police; and Mr. Nguyen Khac Hieu, Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee.

Senior Lieutenant General Do Xuan Tung, Deputy Chief of the General Political Department of the Vietnam People’s Army, and Major General Tran Van Bac, Commander of Military Region 2, along with delegates attending the ceremony.

Sixty years ago, on September 7, 1966, the Party Committee and the leadership of the General Logistics Department signed the decision to establish the Ignition System Workshop, the predecessor of today’s Factory Z121. Its role was to research and manufacture pyrotechnic and ignition products, which are considered the “heart of weapons.” In early 1970, the Factory relocated its production base to Phu Ho commune, Phu Tho town (now Phong Chau ward, Phu Tho province).

Senior Lieutenant General Pham Hoai Nam, Deputy Minister of National Defense, speaks at the ceremony.

Through 60 years of construction and development, Factory Z121 has become one of the core units of the General Department of Defense Industry. From 2006 to the present, the Factory has focused on investing in modern equipment and production lines, making breakthroughs in science, technology, and digital transformation, while simultaneously executing defense tasks and commercial production.

Hundreds of scientific and technological projects and research topics have been studied and applied to production, bringing home noble awards, including the Ho Chi Minh Prize and the State Prize for Science and Technology.

Production and business operations have grown strongly, with revenue reaching over 4.3 trillion VND in 2025 and projected to reach 5.266 trillion VND in 2026. Over the past 5 years, average revenue value grew by 28% per year, while average income increased by over 20% per year.

Alongside advanced, modern defense products of strategic significance, the Factory’s commercial products—especially Z121 fireworks—not only meet domestic demand but are also exported to international markets such as the United States, Japan, and France.

Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Bui Van Quang, Director of the Provincial Police Nguyen Minh Tuan, and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Khac Hieu present flowers to congratulate the Factory.

For its contributions to national construction and defense, Factory Z121 has twice been honored with the title Hero of the People’s Armed Forces, alongside numerous noble awards from the Central Government and the Ministry of National Defense.

At the ceremony, authorized by the State President, Deputy Minister of National Defense Senior Lieutenant General Pham Hoai Nam presented the First-Class Fatherland Protection Order to Factory Z121. Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Bui Van Quang, Director of the Provincial Police Nguyen Minh Tuan, and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Khac Hieu presented flowers to congratulate the Factory.

Leaders of the General Department of Defense Industry present a commemorative gift to congratulate the Factory.

Recognizing the achievements Factory Z121 has attained over its 60-year journey of construction and development, Deputy Minister of National Defense Pham Hoai Nam emphasized: Faced with the requirements of building a modern military, the Factory needs to continue promoting the tradition of a unit twice awarded Hero of the People’s Armed Forces, being proactive and creative in enhancing research capacity and mastering technology to satisfy the manufacturing requirements for ignition and pyrotechnic products serving national defense.

Deputy Minister Pham Hoai Nam requested the Factory to organize efficient, safe, and lawful production and business operations; continuously improve quality, maintain the brand reputation of Z121 fireworks, expand markets, boost cooperation and exports, and invest in developing production facilities in the Southern region.

Along with this, the Factory must accelerate digital transformation and automation, build smart manufacturing facilities, apply science, technology, artificial intelligence, and modern management methods to improve productivity, quality, and efficiency, while ensuring absolute safety in production. Special attention must be paid to building a team of highly qualified cadres, engineers, and workers, and constructing a clean, strong Party organization and a comprehensively strong Factory.

Delegates take a commemorative photo with the leaders of Factory Z121.

Le Hoang