A bright future for the nation is built through the contributions of every young person today

Distinguished leaders and former leaders of the Party, the State and the Vietnam Fatherland Front,

Dear delegates and distinguished guests,

Dear Youth Union officials, union members, young people, teenagers and children,

Today, amid the joyful, confident and energetic atmosphere of young people across the country, I am delighted to attend the 13th National Congress of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union — an important political event and a major gathering of Vietnamese youth.

On behalf of the Party and State leadership, I would like to extend my warm greetings, sincere regards and best wishes to all delegates, generations of Youth Union officials, and all Vietnamese youth, teenagers and children.

Dear comrades,

Over the past 95 years of building, learning, working, fighting, dedicating and growing, under the leadership of the Party and beloved President Hồ Chí Minh, the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union has continuously developed, proving itself worthy of being the Party’s trusted reserve force, the socialist school for young people, the revolutionary vanguard force, and the close companion of Vietnamese youth.

The glorious history of the Youth Union is intertwined with the heroic history of the nation. Every stage of the country’s development bears the deep imprint of generations of young people who placed the Fatherland above all else, transformed patriotism into determination and action, into aspirations for advancement, and into practical contributions to serving the people and building and developing the nation.

During the past term, Youth Union activities and the children and teenagers’ movements have seen many innovations, becoming more practical, modern and closer to young people. Education on revolutionary ideals, morality, lifestyle, historical traditions and national culture has been implemented in diverse ways, with greater attention paid to the digital space and the spread of positive values.

Youth volunteer movements, youth creativity initiatives and youth campaigns to safeguard the Fatherland have continued to focus on grassroots areas, border regions, islands, industrial zones, residential communities and disadvantaged areas. Support programmes for young people have increasingly addressed practical needs. The work of building the Youth Union, expanding the united front for gathering young people, caring for teenagers and children, and introducing outstanding union members to the Party has achieved many noteworthy results.

On behalf of the Party and State leadership, I warmly commend, acknowledge and congratulate the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and young people nationwide for their valuable achievements and contributions during the past term.

Dear comrades,

Alongside these achievements, we must also frankly acknowledge limitations and shortcomings. In some places, education on revolutionary ideals has been slow to innovate and has not truly reached the thoughts, concerns and aspirations of young people. The gathering of young people outside traditional sectors, especially young workers, freelance workers, employees in non-state enterprises and young people on digital platforms, remains challenging.

Some movements remain widespread in form but lack depth, with insufficiently clear outcomes. The quality of Youth Union officials, digital capabilities, policy advisory capacity, dialogue skills and the ability to organise youth action are uneven.

These shortcomings require the Youth Union to undertake stronger, more decisive and more substantive reforms. Reform is needed to enhance political steadfastness and methods of action, to better fulfil the Party’s requirements, to become closer to young people and grassroots communities, and to operate more effectively — thereby deserving the trust of the Party, the State, the people and young generations themselves.

Dear comrades,

This Congress takes place at a time when the country is entering a new development era. After nearly a century under the Party’s leadership and 40 years of renewal, Vietnam’s position, potential, strength and international prestige have continued to rise. At the same time, the goals ahead are higher, and the requirements for rapid and sustainable development are more urgent.

Science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, green economy and digital economy are opening up major opportunities, while also posing challenges in employment, skills, cultural identity, cybersecurity and national self-reliance.

In this context, young people are not only inheriting the revolutionary cause of the Party and the nation but are also directly participating in shaping the future.

A bright future for the nation is built through the contributions of every young person today: those with pure ideals, solid knowledge, strong discipline, deep compassion; those who dare to think, dare to act, dare to innovate, dare to take responsibility and dare to dedicate themselves to the Fatherland and the people.

After this Congress, the actions of young people nationwide must undergo clear transformation: stronger in their ideals, more self-reliant in learning and work, more pioneering in creativity, more determined in their aspiration to contribute, and more proactive in mastering their own future and that of the country.

I basically agree with the orientations, goals, tasks and solutions outlined in the draft Political Report submitted to the Congress, and I would like to emphasise several issues for the Congress to discuss and unify in implementation.

First, deepen education on revolutionary ideals, nurturing patriotism, political steadfastness, morality, lifestyle and aspirations for contribution among young people.

Educating young people about ideals is not merely about conveying resolutions or organising political activities, nor can it stop at slogans. The important thing is to help young people understand correctly, believe deeply and act voluntarily: understand the value of independence and freedom; understand the path of national independence associated with socialism; understand why the Party’s leadership is the decisive factor behind the victories of the Vietnamese revolution; and understand that patriotism today begins with living responsibly, studying seriously, working creatively, obeying the law, preserving dignity and serving the people.

The Youth Union must educate through sound reasoning, convincing facts, relatable examples, sincere dialogue and practical training environments.

In cyberspace, the Youth Union must be present strongly, intelligently and humanely; listen to young people, speak about what they need and communicate in ways they understand; spread positive values, protect the Party’s ideological foundation and fight against harmful information, fake news, materialistic lifestyles, deviations and indifference.

Every Youth Union official must be a source of inspiration; every Youth Union branch must be a foundation of trust; every union member must be an active nucleus in the community.

Second, build a generation of Vietnamese youth committed to lifelong learning, mastery of science and technology, pioneering innovation, digital transformation and international integration.

In the new era, knowledge, technology, data, innovation and human quality determine national competitiveness. Investing in young people means investing in the country’s long-term competitiveness.

A nation seeking rapid, sustainable, self-reliant development and successful integration must have a generation of young people with professional expertise, strong skills, cultural awareness, resilience and social responsibility.

Young people cannot study merely to obtain degrees; they must study to become better individuals, to work, innovate, master their lives and serve the Fatherland.

Every young person needs to develop habits of self-learning, improve foreign language skills, cultivate digital skills, professional skills, critical thinking, cooperation abilities and adaptability to rapid changes in society and the labour market.

The Youth Union must strongly encourage the spirit of “Vietnamese youth mastering the future through knowledge, resilience and creativity”; create an environment for young people to conduct scientific research, pursue innovative entrepreneurship, apply artificial intelligence, develop green economy, digital economy and circular economy.

It must connect young people with schools, research institutes, businesses, experts, markets and Vietnamese intellectuals around the world.

The goal is to help young people transform dreams into capabilities, capabilities into products, and products into value for the nation.

Third, strongly innovate revolutionary action movements towards practicality, depth, concrete outcomes and clear social impact.

Youth movements must closely follow national priorities, people’s needs and the legitimate aspirations of young people.

Youth movements must not only create enthusiasm but also create value; not merely attract large participation but generate measurable results; not only take place at a certain moment but leave behind models, experience, capabilities and a trained workforce.

Each movement must clearly answer: Whom does it serve? What problem does it solve? What product does it create? What model does it leave behind? Which officials does it identify and develop? Which outstanding union members does it nurture for the Party?

Youth volunteer activities must focus on difficult and new tasks, grassroots needs, community digital transformation, new rural development, civilised urban areas, environmental protection, disaster prevention, social welfare, and support for border and island areas.

Youth creativity must be linked to improving labour productivity, administrative reform, scientific and technological development and solving practical challenges.

Youth initiatives to safeguard the Fatherland must contribute to protecting sovereignty, cybersecurity, cultural security and human security, while maintaining social order and safety from the grassroots level.

Fourth, provide more practical support for young people in learning, employment, entrepreneurship and comprehensive development.

Young people today have great aspirations but also face concrete pressures: what to study, what career to pursue, where to build their future, how to compete, how to maintain values and how to live meaningfully in a rapidly changing world.

Therefore, the Youth Union must truly become a close and trusted companion — understanding young people, listening to them, speaking their language and working with them to find solutions to their practical concerns.

The Youth Union needs to improve career guidance, skills training, employment support, entrepreneurship assistance, housing, cultural life, and young people’s physical and mental well-being.

Greater attention must be paid to young workers, rural youth, demobilised soldiers, ethnic minority youth, religious youth, disadvantaged youth, youth with disabilities, rehabilitated young people and Vietnamese youth abroad.

No legitimate dreams of young people should be left behind because of a lack of information, opportunities, support or confidence.

Supporting young people means opening pathways, providing encouragement, building trust, assigning responsibilities and creating an environment where they can confidently mature.

Fifth, build a strong Youth Union that truly serves as the Party’s trusted reserve force and a training environment for young officials in the political system.

Building the Youth Union contributes to building the Party among young people.

The Youth Union organisation must be strong politically, ideologically, ethically, organisationally and in action; it must stay close to young people, understand them, trust them, assign responsibilities and guide them to maturity.

Youth Union officials in the new era must have firm political convictions, pure ethics, strong public mobilisation skills, organisational capacity, digital competence, policy advisory skills, dialogue ability and the capacity to address emerging issues among young people.

Each Youth Union official must be an example of learning, innovation, dedication and action — avoiding bureaucratisation, distancing from grassroots communities, and focusing not only on organising events but also on mobilising young people into meaningful action.

The Youth Union must improve the quality of members, branch activities and grassroots organisations. Activities should avoid formalism, while increasing dialogue, training and practical work.

The introduction of outstanding union members to the Party must focus on quality, based on political commitment, morality, ability to act, reputation among young people and practical achievements.

The Youth Union must truly become an environment for discovering, nurturing, challenging and providing high-quality young personnel for the Party, State, Fatherland Front and the political system.

Dear Congress,

For the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union to successfully fulfil its mission in the new period, I propose that Party committees, Party organisations, authorities, the Fatherland Front, ministries, sectors and localities continue to provide leadership, guidance, coordination and favourable conditions for Youth Union work and youth movements.

Youth affairs are the responsibility of the Party, the State, the entire political system, families, schools and society — not solely the responsibility of the Youth Union.

Party committees at all levels should provide leadership, orientation, assignments, inspection and evaluation based on substantive results.

Authorities at all levels should concretise policies on education, employment, housing, entrepreneurship, cultural and sports facilities, mental health and creative environments for young people.

The Fatherland Front and socio-political organisations should closely coordinate with the Youth Union in gathering, educating, caring for and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of young people.

Dear young union members and youth,

The country needs a new spirit from young people: thinking more broadly, learning faster, working better, living more beautifully, acting more responsibly and contributing more.

The Party, State and people place deep trust in Vietnam’s younger generation. That trust must be demonstrated through concrete actions.

I hope every Vietnamese young person nurtures great ambitions but begins with everyday actions: studying seriously, working creatively, living honestly, with discipline, compassion and responsibility; taking pride in the nation, loving fellow citizens, respecting the law, defending justice and dedicating themselves to common causes.

Every Vietnamese young person entering the world should represent a beautiful image of the country: confident in knowledge, dignified in character, rich in culture, responsible to the Fatherland and friendly with international friends.

Every young person should ask themselves: What have I done to deserve my beloved Fatherland? What have I contributed to making my family, hometown, workplace, school and community better? What have I prepared so that I do not fall behind the times? And how should I live, learn, work and contribute so that when looking back on my youth, I can be proud that I lived a worthy life?

With the glorious tradition of the Youth Union, the courage, intelligence, aspirations and creativity of Vietnamese youth, along with the leadership of the Party and State and the support of the entire society, I firmly believe that the Resolution of the 13th National Congress of the Youth Union will soon become reality.

Youth Union work and youth movements will develop in a more practical, stronger and more creative manner, making worthy contributions to the cause of building and defending socialist Vietnam.

I wish leaders and former leaders of the Party, State and Vietnam Fatherland Front, as well as all delegates, good health and happiness.

I wish Vietnamese youth and union members always preserve the flame of revolutionary ideals, patriotism, confidence, aspiration for contribution and responsibility towards the Fatherland and the people; continuously strive, dedicate themselves and innovate, contributing to writing new glorious chapters in the history of Vietnamese youth and the nation.

I wish the Congress great success.

Thank you very much.

*The headline was created by The People's Deputies Newspaper.