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Shaping the Nation’s Values: The Role of Youth, as Told by the General Secretary

25 March, 2025

On the occasion of the 94th anniversary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, Vietnam’s top leader, General Secretary To Lam, delivered a powerful message to the nation’s youth, acknowledging their crucial role in the country’s past, present, and future.

General Secretary To Lam emphasizes the importance of Vietnam’s youth during the National Youth Congress in December 2024. Photo: VGP

In his address, the General Secretary highlighted the youth’s rich history of contributing to Vietnam’s development. From fighting for independence and reunification to driving economic and social progress, young people have always been at the forefront, with many starting their leadership journeys at an early age.

Today, as Vietnam navigates the challenges and opportunities of the new era, General Secretary Lam underscored the youth’s pivotal role in building new industries, leading innovation, and shaping the nation’s future. He emphasized their responsibility in upholding national, cultural, family, and moral values.

Preserving National Cultural Identity:

With globalization presenting the risk of cultural dilution, the Party Chief expressed concern over the potential loss of Vietnam’s unique cultural values. He attributed this to the impact of transculturation, which can overshadow traditional values, and the allure of foreign cultural trends among young people.

Additionally, the rise of social media has contributed to a disconnect between youth and the nation’s cultural heritage. The General Secretary also raised alarms about increasing social vices and youth crime, underscoring the importance of strengthening the social moral foundation.

To address these concerns, he advocated for building a healthy, creative, and resilient youth generation to ensure the country’s sustainable development. This includes a focus on physical education and health improvement, as well as the establishment of a modern public health system.

General Secretary Lam emphasized that enhancing physical health boosts overall well-being and the stature of the Vietnamese people, setting the foundation for a confident and robust younger generation.

Furthermore, he stressed the need to fortify the national value system to safeguard and promote cultural identity in the face of globalization. This entails providing education on culture, ethics, and traditional values, ensuring that the youth develop a deep understanding of their roots.

“Intellectual and moral growth are essential for this generation to tackle the challenges of globalization,” Lam stated, emphasizing that promoting national cultural values is integral to Vietnam’s human development strategy.

He added, “We must harness the cultural industry, leveraging culture as an economic driver and a form of soft power, while simultaneously safeguarding the moral values of our youth.”

Hanoi’s youth engage in a dialogue with Chairman Tran Sy Thanh in October 2024, showcasing their active participation in shaping the city’s future. Photo: Thanh Hai/The Hanoi Times

Overcoming Challenges:

General Secretary Lam commended the youth’s unwavering dedication to the nation’s progress, acknowledging their pivotal role in historical resistance movements and nation-building. Their commitment has been exemplified through powerful slogans such as “Youth ready for three readiness” and “Women ready for three responsibilities.”

Despite these achievements, he noted challenges in creativity, labor productivity, and foreign language proficiency. Vietnam lags behind regional peers in these areas, with labor productivity significantly lower than that of Malaysia and Singapore.

Additionally, the health and well-being of young people are areas of concern, with average height and life expectancy metrics falling short of those in developed countries like Japan and South Korea. The rapid growth of the aging population further exacerbates these issues, posing a threat to the country’s sustainable development.

Empowering the Youth for the New Era:

To address these challenges, the General Secretary emphasized the importance of equipping youth with technological and scientific advancements. He stressed the need to prepare them to meet the high standards of the global labor market, fostering creativity, critical thinking, and technological mastery.

To succeed in a globalized environment, Vietnamese youth must also enhance their foreign language skills and excel in international communication. This requires significant investments in education, physical health, and cultural preservation, laying the groundwork for high-quality human resources by 2045.

General Secretary Lam encouraged Vietnam to learn from international experiences and adopt flexible development strategies. By doing so, the country can nurture a youth generation that is strong, exceptional, and deeply rooted in cultural identity.

This entails reforming educational policies to promote creativity, STEM skills, digital literacy, and modern technologies. Simultaneously, physical development should be prioritized through effective school sports programs, aiming to improve the overall health and stature of Vietnamese youth.

In conclusion, Party Chief Lam reaffirmed his confidence in the youth’s ability to shape Vietnam’s future. By preserving their cultural identity, nurturing their creative intellect, and maintaining their physical health, they will stand tall alongside their international peers, propelling the nation forward in this new era.

Vietnam’s journey towards becoming a developed nation by 2045 – the centennial of Independence Day – relies on the active participation of its youth in education, cultural preservation, and global integration, backed by continued support and investment from the Party and State.