Arousing pride, self-reliance, and self-strengthening
Throughout the 97 years of construction and development, the Vietnam Trade Union has affirmed its role, position, functions, tasks and great contributions to the revolutionary cause of the Party and the nation.
Over the past decades, from an economy facing countless difficulties, Vietnam has gradually risen, strongly integrated internationally, achieved many great achievements in socio-economic development, improving people's lives, consolidating national defense and security, and affirming its position in the international arena.
Behind the impressive growth figures or key national-scale projects is the persistent and silent dedication of millions of Vietnamese people. In particular, in the workforce, many bright examples have emerged, contributing to arousing pride, self-reliance, self-strengthening, and the spirit of innovation and creativity.
From that source of patriotic emulation, since 2004, the program "Glory of Vietnam" directed by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, organized by Lao Dong Newspaper, has become a rendezvous point for the patriotic emulation movement, where persistent contributions, valuable initiatives and actions for the community are recognized and spread.
The 22nd program in 2026 honors 13 collectives and individuals. Each face, each unit is a slice of the country's journey of transformation in many fields.
The common point of the individuals honored is the spirit of dedication, innovation and responsibility to the community. That is Labor Hero Tran Manh Bao who spent more than 40 years building ThaiBinh Seed into a leading enterprise in the seed industry, contributing to improving agricultural productivity and strengthening national food security. Or Labor Hero Pham Thi Thu Hong is a typical image of a brave businesswoman. She brings Safoco's vermicelli, noodles, and rice paper products to the international market, while maintaining a practical care policy for workers. Success is therefore measured not only by revenue but also by a stable and humane working environment.
At the program, you can see persistent examples such as Engineer - Labor Hero Vu Huu Le (Chairman of Hong Ha Mechanical and Construction Co., Ltd., Lao Cai province). Born in 1935 into a poor family in Phu Tho, growing up with hard rice fields, he sowed in himself the aspiration to create machinery to help workers reduce hardship. At the age of 19, he studied bridge and road construction and in 1963 was sent to the Soviet Union to study mechanical engineering, graduating with honors with a red diploma. After returning to the country, he spent 18 years working as Director of the Mechanical Factory of Lao Cai province, managing nearly 600 engineers and workers. Worried about the scene of farmers having to work manually while imported machinery is too expensive, at the age of 45, he decided to retire early to open his own path. Starting from collecting scrap iron, he diligently researched and has now owned 7 patents and more than 200 certificates of merit from the Central to local levels. His products are not aimed at sophistication or pure profit, but originate from the actual needs of the people. That is the special value of creativity: Science is only truly meaningful when it enters life, helping workers work lighter and have better incomes.
Cultivating patriotic emulation spirit
If individuals are flames of creativity, the collectives honored show the strength of the organization, discipline and common aspirations.
Doan Thi Diem Primary School (Hanoi) can be mentioned, building an integrated and humane learning environment, winning nearly 1,000 international awards. These results not only show the quality of training but also show the ability to discover, nurture potential and create conditions for Vietnamese students to confidently integrate.
In defense and security protection, Factory Z111 - General Department of National Defense Industry has researched and successfully manufactured 29 types of modern weapons and exported millions of high-quality mechanical details. This result affirms the ability to master technology, production autonomy and increasingly high position of Vietnam's defense industry.
In the field of caring for workers and implementing emulation movements launched by the Trade Union organization, Vietnam National Textile and Garment Group is a typical example. From 2023 to now, the total care expenses in the entire Trade Union system of the Group have reached more than 201 billion VND; over 600,000 union members have benefited from welfare programs with an amount of over 30 billion VND.
One of the solutions to improve the effectiveness of comprehensive care activities for workers in the new situation implemented by the Vietnam Textile and Garment Trade Union is to shift thinking from short-term care to sustainable care.
Accordingly, care activities should not only stop at subsidies and gifts but also aim at major, long-term policies such as improving income, improving working conditions, applying social security policies such as housing support, childcare costs, health care; training, improving qualifications and skills; supporting job conversion...
The greatest value of the program "Vietnam Glory" lies not only in the titles awarded, but in the spread after the honoring ceremony. Each individual and collective is a story of responsibility, creativity, bravery and perseverance.
They show that the country's achievements are not only created by major strategies, but also from each initiative in the factory, surgery, policy decisions, lectures, technology products and community jobs.
The examples honored also remind that glory is not the end point. It is both recognition and motivation to continue to contribute. From ordinary but extraordinary people, "Vietnamese Glory" continues to arouse belief, foster patriotic emulation spirit and fuel the aspiration to build a strong, prosperous, civilized, and happy Vietnam.
The program "Glory of Vietnam 2026" will be held at 8:30 am on July 28, 2026 at the Army Radio and Television Center, Hanoi City. This is a meaningful activity to celebrate the 97th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam Trade Union (July 28, 1929 - July 28, 2026).
