Inspiring the desire to contribute among the young generation of Vietnam in the new era of national development.

Keywords: Vietnamese youth generation; dedication, aspirations; new era of development
1. The role and position of youth in history
The history of the Vietnamese nation is an epic of nation-building and national defense by generations, in which the younger generation has always played a pioneering role, being the core force, especially since the Party's leadership and rule. Youth is the spring of society, the future of the country. Deeply aware of the great role and position of youth, from its inception, the Party has paid special attention to youth work, considering it an important part of Party building and the revolutionary cause. In the process of leading the revolution, the Party has always assessed the role of youth as extremely important: “That role is important because it is the driving force of the entire people. Youth is the progressive force in all sectors and fields to promote the Party's policies. Youth are the masters of the future; for the Party, the younger generation is a reserve of Party members and cadres.”1 From an early stage, the Party established revolutionary youth organizations, the precursors of today's Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, to gather, unite, educate, and unleash the strength of young people. Throughout various historical periods, under different names such as the Indochinese Communist Youth Union, the National Salvation Youth Union, and the Vietnam Labor Youth Union, the Youth Union has always been a reliable reserve force of the Party, a socialist school for youth, and a place for training and nurturing successors to the glorious revolutionary cause of the Party and the nation. Under the leadership of the Party, the Youth Union has continuously grown and developed in both scale and quality, truly becoming a political nucleus and core in the revolutionary movements of young people.
Along with building up the armed forces and organizations, the Party has always placed top priority on the education and training of young people. The Party consistently focuses on educating young people about revolutionary ideals, Marxism-Leninism, Ho Chi Minh Thought, the Party's guidelines and policies, and the State's laws and regulations. Through patriotic emulation movements and practical activities, the Party has trained young people in labor, study, and combat, helping them enhance their political acumen, moral character, and professional skills to meet the demands of each stage of the revolution. The Party always creates a favorable environment for young people to develop their talents and creativity, and contribute to the cause of building and defending the Fatherland.
During the resistance wars against French colonialism and the United States for national liberation, youth demonstrated their pioneering and leading role on all fronts. From patriotic student movements deep within enemy territory to youth volunteer teams opening roads and transporting ammunition on fierce battlefields, Vietnamese youth did not shy away from sacrifice and hardship, "determined to die for the Fatherland." Figures like Ly Tu Trong, Vo Thi Sau, Nguyen Van Troi, and Dang Thuy Tram have become immortal symbols of the revolutionary heroism of Vietnamese youth. President Ho Chi Minh affirmed: "Youth are the masters of the future of the country. Indeed, the prosperity or decline, strength or weakness of the country largely depends on the youth. If youth want to be worthy masters of the future, they must, in the present, cultivate their spirit and strength, and do work to prepare for that future." History has proven that, at any stage, young people have always been the backbone of the nation, a crucial force determining the destiny and future of the people.
During the period of reform, under the leadership of the Party and the guiding light of Ho Chi Minh's ideology, Vietnamese youth have upheld the glorious traditions of the nation, demonstrating initiative, volunteerism, and creativity, achieving many important accomplishments in all fields. In their studies, many young people have strived to overcome difficulties, achieving high results and mastering modern science and technology. In labor and production, youth are the leading force in applying technological advancements, improving productivity, quality, and efficiency. Movements such as "Youth Volunteers," "Creative Youth," and "Youth Vanguard in Defending the Fatherland" have attracted a large number of young people, creating a strong ripple effect in society and contributing positively to the reform, construction, and defense of the country. Youth are increasingly affirming their role as the core and vanguard force in the comprehensive reform, industrialization, modernization, and international integration of the country.
Despite the achievements, a segment of today's youth still exhibits shortcomings. These include a fading of ideals, a decline in faith, a pragmatic lifestyle, and a lack of responsibility towards themselves, their families, and society. Some young people are easily influenced by harmful and toxic information on the internet, exhibiting deviant morals and lifestyles, and violating the law. The educational level, professional skills, and expertise of a portion of young people are still limited, failing to meet the demands of the labor market and international integration. In some areas, efforts to unite and mobilize youth remain superficial and lack depth. These shortcomings require the attention and involvement of the entire political system and society to build a generation of Vietnamese youth who are both morally upright and professionally competent.
2. To inspire a desire to contribute in the younger generation in the new era of national development.
During the period of comprehensive reform, industrialization, modernization, and deep international integration, the Party has set the overall goal of building a socialist Vietnam that is prosperous, strong, democratic, just, and civilized; and the goal of becoming a developed, high-income country by 2045. The aspiration to build a powerful and prosperous Vietnam, standing shoulder to shoulder with the world's leading nations, is not only the wish of the Party and the State, but also the burning desire of the entire nation, including the younger generation. To turn that aspiration into reality requires extraordinary efforts, a spirit of innovation and creativity, and the determination of the entire political system and society. In this context, youth – a large and highly potential force with immense creativity – is identified as a crucial driving force in realizing this great aspiration. To unite and mobilize young people, the Party has implemented numerous orientations and solutions. The 13th National Congress of the Party (2021) on youth work emphasized: “Strengthening education on revolutionary ideals, ethics, and cultural lifestyles; enhancing patriotism and national pride; nurturing aspirations and aspirations for advancement; upholding a sense of responsibility towards the country and society; building an environment and conditions for learning, working, recreation, and training to promote healthy, comprehensive, and harmonious development in intellect, physical health, and aesthetic values ​​for the younger generation. Creating motivation for youth to be proactive in learning, working, creating, starting businesses, mastering modern scientific and technological knowledge, and playing a role in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland.”3 These are the important guiding principles for youth work in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland, with the following basic contents:
Firstly, it is crucial to strengthen education in revolutionary ideals, ethics, and lifestyle, fostering patriotism, national pride, and nurturing aspirations and ambitions for advancement. This is a top priority and has a decisive impact on shaping the personality and political character of young people. Emphasis should be placed on innovating the content and methods of education to suit the psychology, age, and developmental trends of youth in the digital age.
Secondly, we must uphold a sense of responsibility towards the country and society. We must educate young people to be clearly aware of their responsibility towards the development of the country and the community. We must encourage young people to actively participate in social activities and patriotic emulation movements, demonstrating their civic responsibility.
Thirdly, we must build an environment and conditions for learning and working that fosters comprehensive and harmonious development of intellect, physical health, and aesthetic values. We must create all favorable conditions for young people to study, conduct scientific research, access new knowledge, improve their health, develop their talents, and perfect their character. We must prioritize investment in facilities and equipment to support the learning, recreation, and healthy entertainment of young people.
Fourth, create conditions for young people to be proactive in learning, working, starting businesses, mastering modern scientific and technological knowledge, and promoting their position and role in the cause of building and protecting the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Awaken the pioneering, volunteer, and creative spirit of young people. Develop mechanisms and policies to support young people in starting businesses, establishing careers, and developing the economy. Trust them with tasks and create opportunities for them to contribute, grow, and make contributions to the common cause.
3. The younger generation is linked to the destiny of the nation in the new era of development.
The destiny of the nation and the future of the younger generation are organically and inseparably linked. A strong and prosperous nation will create the best environment and conditions for the younger generation to develop their talents and realize their dreams and aspirations. Conversely, a younger generation with ideals, morality, intellect, health, dynamism, and creativity will be a valuable resource and a powerful driving force for the rapid and sustainable development of the country. Therefore, caring for, nurturing, educating, and promoting the role of youth is the responsibility of the entire Party, the entire people, the entire army, and the entire political system. Investing in youth is investing in the future of the nation. To strongly inspire the desire to contribute in the younger generation and contribute to the successful achievement of national development goals in the new development phase, it is necessary to focus on implementing the following groups of solutions:
Firstly, diversify the content, methods, and forms of political and ideological education, moral education, and lifestyle education, and inspire a desire for contribution among young people. Educational content should be closely aligned with reality, updated with new issues and trends of the times. Educational methods and forms should be flexible, creative, engaging, and appropriate to the psychological characteristics and interests of young people. Strengthen dialogue and listen to the thoughts and aspirations of young people.
Secondly, we must continue to innovate in propaganda work, raising awareness and responsibility among young people regarding important national events. Propaganda work needs to be proactive, timely, and guide public opinion, helping young people to correctly understand the country's situation, the opportunities and challenges it presents. We must promote the role of press agencies, media outlets, and social networks in disseminating information and educating young people.
Thirdly, effectively organize revolutionary action movements within the Youth Union and Youth Association to inspire a desire for contribution among young people. These movements should be practical, meaningful, and focused on addressing pressing social issues, creating an environment for young people to train, contribute, and grow. Emphasis should be placed on identifying, nurturing, and replicating exemplary young people in various fields.
Fourth, organize counseling and life skills education activities for young people. Equip young people with the necessary knowledge and skills so that they can confidently integrate and adapt to the rapid changes of modern society. Focus on communication skills, teamwork, problem-solving, critical thinking, and information technology skills...
Fifth, promote information technology and digital transformation in revolutionary ideal education and inspire a desire for dedication among young people. Maximize the advantages of information technology and social media to innovate and improve the effectiveness of education and propaganda. Develop attractive digital media products that suit the tastes of young people. Strengthen the fight against false and hostile viewpoints in cyberspace.
Inspiring the desire to contribute in every young person is not only the responsibility of the Party, the State, and youth organizations, but also the awareness and efforts of each Vietnamese youth themselves. Let us nurture great ambitions, live beautifully and usefully, spread positive values, connect the strength of youth, and join hands to contribute to the building and protection of the Fatherland. To have a bright future, a prosperous and happy country, every Vietnamese youth needs to deeply understand their role, position, and responsibility as the future masters of the nation. Therefore, young people need to constantly strive to cultivate virtue and talent, study hard, and always be pioneers in all actions and fields. The future of the nation and the desire to contribute are the guiding lights that lead the young generation of Vietnam forward, writing the next golden pages of the nation's history in the new era.

Submission date: May 30, 2025; Review date: June 30, 2025; Publication approval date: July 18, 2025
1. Party documents on youth work, Youth Publishing House, Hanoi, 2007, Vol. 2, p. 212.
2. Ho Chi Minh Complete Works, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2011, Vol. 5, p. 216.
3. Communist Party of Vietnam: Documents of the 13th National Congress, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi 2021, Vol. I, pp. 168-169.
​Article published in the Journal of Party History:Inspiring the desire to contribute among the young generation of Vietnam in the new era of national development.