From Ho Chi Minh City nurturing the dream of raising the level of Vietnamese medicinal herbs
Leaving his hometown of An Giang to study in Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Trung (born in 2003, Typical Young Citizen of Ho Chi Minh City in 2024) has the opportunity to access a modern university environment and conduct in-depth research. For Trung, the greatest value the city brings is connections and meetings with inspiring people.
One of the people who had a great influence on Mr. Trung is Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Minh Triet - Vice Rector of the University of Science, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City.
Mr. Nguyen Quoc Trung said that although not in the same field of expertise, he helped him form the thinking of a scientist: multi-dimensionally looking at problems, overcoming personal limits and boldly trying new things.
If An Giang homeland nurtured in me curiosity and initial dreams, then Ho Chi Minh City has given me dedicated teachers and a solid launching pad to venture deeper into the path of research," Mr. Trung shared.
Mr. Trung's motivation to research medicinal herbs began from witnessing his parents using chemical drugs for a long time and experiencing side effects. Learning more deeply, he realized that Vietnam has a rich source of medicinal herbs, but many types are still mainly exported raw, with low value.
From there, he wants to apply modern science to exploit the value of Vietnamese medicinal plants, creating safe products suitable for people. On the research journey, despite many difficulties, Mr. Trung received the companionship of teachers, schools and youth talent support programs in Ho Chi Minh City to realize his ideas.
Mr. Trung believes that Ho Chi Minh City's policies of valuing and supporting talents have created an incubation environment, helping young researchers have more motivation and confidence to reach out to the world.
Currently studying abroad, he focuses on researching nanomaterials applied in biomedicine, with the desire to bring advanced technology combined with local medicinal resources in the future, contributing to the development of biotechnology, medicine and improving the ability to be self-sufficient in health care materials.
Bringing the essence of Vietnamese martial arts from the world arena to schools
Besides researching medicinal herbs, the spirit of dedication of young people is also shown through preserving and spreading Vietnamese martial arts, inspiring about bravery, discipline and responsibility to the community.
Coming to Vovinam by chance, Mr. Nguyen Tu Cuong (born in 1999, Typical Young Citizen of Ho Chi Minh City in 2025) gradually became attached to the national martial art in all 3 roles: Athlete, coach and teacher. From the initial training sessions, his passion urged him to try his hand at tournaments. The more he practiced, the more he realized that Vovinam not only helps improve fitness but also cultivates discipline, bravery and self-control ability.
In the professional arena, he has won 2 World Gold Medals in 2023 and 2025, the Asian Gold Medal in 2024 and the SEA Games 32 Silver Medal. These achievements mark a persistent journey with Vovinam, a martial art that has become an important part of his work and life.
Sharing about the choice of standing in class and directly training students even though they are still competing at the top level, Mr. Cuong said that this is both a predestined relationship and the desire to pass on the experiences received from teachers and coaches to the next generation.
Learning martial arts is first of all learning how to be human, knowing how to treat people and live morally, worthy of being a Vovinam martial artist. Strength does not mean using strength to be better than others, but knowing how to control oneself, respect everyone, be disciplined and willing to help others," he said.
For the young teacher, achievements are not only measured by the number of medals students win. If after the training process, a student becomes confident, responsible and progresses every day, that is already a great happiness.
Ho Chi Minh City has given Mr. Nguyen Tu Cuong a professional environment to train and compete in the national team jersey, and at the same time, do teaching and coaching work. On that journey, he received support from the sports sector, schools, localities, teachers and teammates.
Mr. Nguyen Tu Cuong said that patriotism does not necessarily have to start from great things. Young people can show responsibility by studying, working seriously, living a useful life and contributing with their own abilities.
For me, each person doing their part well and contributing to the community is also a way to express love for the city and the country," Mr. Cuong shared.
