During his lifetime, President Ho Chi Minh always placed complete faith in youth. He affirmed "Youth is the master of the future of the country".
In the sacred Testament left for the entire Party, the entire people and the entire army, Uncle Ho continued to pay special attention to the young generation. He affirmed that Vietnamese union members and youth in general are a good force, full of enthusiasm, ready to volunteer, not afraid of difficulties, and ambitious. The Party needs to care about educating revolutionary morality, training young people to become successors to the cause of building socialism, both "red" and "specialized".
To this day, that reminder still retains its value, concretized by today's young generation with practical contributions in many fields, from culture, art, sports, scientific research to community activities.
Spreading kindness from personal contributions
On the first day of the new year 2026, the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union organized a ceremony to commend outstanding young citizens of Ho Chi Minh City in 2025, honoring 12 faces representing the spirit of dedication, creativity and dedication of the city's youth. Each individual, although contributing in different fields, aims to spread kindness through specific, persistent actions and towards the community.
As one of the honored faces, Le Nguyen Bao Ngoc - Miss World Vietnam 2024, Miss Intercontinental 2022 - said that the title of Typical Young Citizen is not only a personal honor, but also a recognition for the collective of people who have accompanied her on the journey of community activities.
According to Bao Ngoc, in the current context, the social role of young people needs to be closely linked to the goal of green and sustainable development. Each young person has their own strengths and fields to contribute to, but the most important thing is to be aware of their responsibility to the city and the country, thereby choosing actions that suit their own abilities.
From that thought, Bao Ngoc founded and runs the youth organization for sustainable development Gen Zero, with the desire to encourage young people to pay more attention to environmental issues, climate change and emission reduction. According to her, using personal images to spread positive values is not only the responsibility of influential young people, but also a way to inspire and call on the community to act for the common good.
The biggest responsibility of young people today is proactiveness. When each person is aware of their role, constantly improving themselves and acting from the smallest things, then that process has created positive values for society" - Bao Ngoc shared.
Through Gen Zero programs, typically the Student Action Forum for Climate, many young people are equipped with knowledge about climate policy, sustainable development orientation, thereby applying it to life, career and daily consumption choices.
Persistent kindness in scientific research
In another field, Dr. Mai Ngoc Xuan Dat - Researcher at the Institute of Advanced Materials Technology, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City also chose for himself the path of spreading kindness through science and innovation.
According to Dr. Xuan Dat, the title of Typical Young Citizen is a recognition of the persistent efforts in research, and also reminds oneself of the social responsibility of scientists. For him, research projects should not only stop at academic value, but need to aim for the ability to apply and solve practical problems of the community.
His main research direction focuses on developing biodegradable drug-inducing materials, applied in cancer treatment. The goal of the research is to bring drugs to the right location for treatment, reduce side effects, improve the effectiveness of pharmaceuticals and contribute to reducing the burden on patients.
From the perspective of a young scientist, Dr. Xuan Dat believes that kind action in science is first and foremost expressed in concern for people. That is the responsibility to train the next generation, wholeheartedly guide students, help them form research capacity and professional ethics. Besides, scientific integrity - honesty in each research result is a core manifestation of kindness.
Sharing about the difficulties in the research process, he frankly said that scientists often face limitations in funding, equipment and pressure to implement topics. However, perseverance, persistence and the spirit of not giving up are factors that help overcome barriers. He advises young people who are just starting their research path to proactively seek opportunities at universities, research institutes, and laboratories to gradually accumulate experience and resources.
Sending to the young generation, Dr. Xuan Dat emphasized: "Be confident but not arrogant, persevere with passion and always put the goal of serving the community first". For him, the motto of living simply but consistently is that no matter what position you are in, you are always a kind and persistent person for the values you have chosen.
According to Mr. Vo Van Minh, Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council, the title of Typical Young Citizen of Ho Chi Minh City is not only an honor but also a starting point for a long-term journey of dedication, associated with the city's development. Each young citizen continues to embark on difficult and new fields, requiring intelligence and bravery, proactively proposing initiatives and solutions to serve urban management, digital transformation, sustainable development and international integration.
Mr. Vo Van Minh proposed that Youth Union organizations at all levels continue to innovate activities, lead and accompany youth, build a class of young citizens with ideals, knowledge, digital skills and high sense of responsibility to society. Mr. Minh deeply believes that each union member and youth of Ho Chi Minh City will continue to nurture the flame of patriotism, solidarity, pioneering spirit, creative aspiration and integration bravery, turning ideals into specific actions, turning aspirations to contribute into practical values for the community and society.
