That was the theme of the cultural exchange program commemorating Vietnamese Women's Day on October 20th, organized by the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in collaboration with HASTEC Company and Hanoi Radio and Television Station on October 18th, 2012.Attending the exchange night were Ms. Ngo Thi Minh - Vice Chair of the National Assembly's Committee on Culture, Education, Youth, and Children; Mr. Pham Tat Thang - Standing Member of the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Education; Mr. Nguyen Hoang Long - Deputy Head of the Propaganda Department of the Hanoi City Party Committee; Ms. Le Thi Phuong Thao - Vice President of the Vietnam Former Youth Volunteers Association; and Mr. Vo Van Can - Vice President of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Youth Volunteers Association. Representing Vietnam National University, Hanoi were Prof. Dr. Mai Trong Nhuan - Director of Vietnam National University, Hanoi; Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Duc - Vice Director of Vietnam National University, Hanoi; and Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Khanh - Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi. In his opening remarks, Professor Nguyen Van Khanh mentioned the heroic sacrifices of many female Youth Volunteers who have become legends in the revolutionary history of the nation, such as: the ten female Youth Volunteers at Dong Loc Crossroads (Ha Tinh), the 13 girls at Truong Bon (Nghe An), the girls at Hang Tam Co (Quang Binh), at Goi Station (Nam Dinh), at Do Len, Ham Rong Bridge (Thanh Hoa)... Throughout the two wars of resistance against foreign invaders, especially the war against the US to save the country, the Youth Volunteer force sacrificed their strength, youth, and even their blood to ensure the smooth operation of strategic routes to bring troops, weapons, and food supplies to the Southern battlefield. After the reunification of the country, the Youth Volunteers, with the spirit of "going wherever the country needs them, doing whatever the country needs," continued to write new chapters in history on the labor and production fronts, with pioneering campaigns in socio-economic development, culture, and education... "You are shining symbols, a source of pride not only for generations of Vietnamese youth but also for our entire nation in the cause of building and protecting the Party and fighting for national reunification." The Rector also affirmed that the cultural performance and exchange with former Youth Volunteers is an activity with profound humanitarian significance, aiming to express gratitude for the contributions and sacrifices of generations of Youth Volunteers, thereby arousing national pride and the ideal of contributing to the country and the community among the younger generation.
During the cultural evening, the audience had the opportunity to hear many once-famous songs that have become "unforgettable anthems" in Vietnamese revolutionary music, performed by singers from the Hanoi City Youth Volunteer Corps' cultural troupe. These included "Joyful Road Opening" (Do Nhuan), "Greetings, My Girl from Lam Hong" (Anh Duong), "The Country" (Pham Minh Tuan), "The Girl of the La River" (Doan Nho), "The Road-Opening Girl" (Xuan Giao), "Come Back Here to the Railway" (Luu Cau), "Heroic Vietnamese Mother" (An Thuyen)... The voices, rising from the hearts and souls of these former Youth Volunteers who had experienced the war, evoked powerful emotions and revived the heroic atmosphere of the time when the entire nation bravely rose up amidst the flames of war. In that overall spirit, the most beautiful and vivid images emerge: young female volunteers, with their optimistic, cheerful, and hardworking spirit, ready to sacrifice themselves amidst bombs and bullets to open roads and ensure smooth traffic flow on treacherous routes; or the image of heroic Vietnamese mothers who toiled their whole lives, wiping away tears and suppressing their personal sorrows to send their sons to the front lines…
The highlight of the program was the Q&A session with the guests: Ms. Ngo Thi Minh - Vice Chair of the National Assembly's Committee on Culture, Education, Youth, and Children; Professor Dr. Nguyen Huu Duc - Vice Director of Vietnam National University, Hanoi; Mr. Le Trung Son - Chairman of the Association of Former Youth Volunteers of Thanh Hoa Province; and Mr. Le Trong Thang - Director of HASTEC. The guests shared many memories of the Youth Volunteers during the war and expressed their desire for the State and social organizations to implement more practical policies, initiatives, and activities to encourage and support former Youth Volunteers. In addition, a meaningful message was sent to the younger generation: cherish and worthily continue the traditions of the previous generation; unleash your youthful energy, dynamism, and creativity to build the country and write a new chapter in the history of Vietnamese youth today.
