That immortal saying has become the ideal of life and the guiding principle for generations of Vietnamese youth in all periods.
In 2024, commemorating the 110th anniversary of the birth of comrade Ly Tu Trong (October 20, 1914 - October 20, 2024) - the first communist youth union member, we remember even more this patriotic, courageous, idealistic and passionate young man.
According to the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, being born into a family with a rich tradition of patriotism, along with the historical, cultural and revolutionary traditions of Ha Tinh, contributed to fostering in the young man a love for his homeland and country; understanding the suffering and injustice of the working class under the oppression and exploitation of the colonial and feudal governments, hating the invaders and their lackeys, fostered the will and spirit of learning and striving to find a way to save the country of comrade Ly Tu Trong.
During his time studying at Tu Dang Primary School, Ly Tu Trong showed himself to be a hard-working, studious teenager, wishing to grow up and contribute to his homeland and country.
The turning point in Ly Tu Trong's life was being selected to study in Guangzhou and being brought into the "Young Pioneers of Vietnam" group by comrade Nguyen Ai Quoc.
Here, Ly Tu Trong was guided by comrades in the General Department and understood why it was necessary to make a revolution to fight against the French colonialists, why it was necessary to establish an Association; what communism was. During his time studying at Zhongshan University, Guangzhou, Ly Tu Trong was fluent in Chinese and was appointed as a liaison for the General Department of the Vietnam Revolutionary Youth Association in Guangzhou.
Being intelligent, active and resourceful, Ly Tu Trong actively contributed to the communication between the Central Committee of the Vietnam Revolutionary Youth Association and the friendly party and Vietnamese revolutionary cadres operating in China, and at the same time organized the transfer of Party letters and documents back to the country.
Ly Tu Trong's shot to save comrade Phan Boi, the propaganda officer of the Regional Party Committee, who was giving a speech in public, shook Saigon. The French colonialists did not think that a 17-year-old young man would dare to risk his life to shoot and kill spy LeGrand right in front of the public.
During his last days in the guillotine cell, Ly Tu Trong remained optimistic and believed in the victory of the revolution. The French colonialists did not dare to execute Ly Tu Trong publicly. Taking advantage of the dawn of November 21, 1931, they cowardly set up a guillotine in the main prison of Saigon to kill him in silence.
Ly Tu Trong's indomitable revolutionary spirit terrified the enemy and contributed to strongly encouraging the revolutionary movement throughout the country at that time. Although Ly Tu Trong's life was short, his revolutionary spirit became a shining example for generations of young people to follow.
The spirit and will of young man Ly Tu Trong has become a shining, sacred, and noble symbol in the hearts of generations of youth union members.
His immortal saying "The path of youth is only the revolutionary path, there can be no other path..." became the ideal of life and the guiding principle for generations of Vietnamese youth.
The 110th anniversary of the birth of comrade Ly Tu Trong is also an opportunity for Vietnamese youth to arouse pride in their homeland and country, and strengthen their belief in the revolutionary path chosen by the Party, Uncle Ho and previous generations of youth.
