On the 81st anniversary of the successful August Revolution and National Day on September 2, Điện Biên Newspaper and Radio - Television recorded the reflections of young people in lecture halls, along borderlands, in military ranks, and on entrepreneurial journeys. Each possesses a distinct choice and way of contributing, yet all share pride, gratitude, and the aspiration to translate love for the homeland and nation into practical actions.

Major Nguyễn Tuấn Vũ, Deputy Political Officer, Secretary of the Hồ Chí Minh Communist Youth Union, the Tây Trang International Border Gate Border Post

Safeguarding tranquility through concrete deeds

For border guards like us, the value of peace manifests in very ordinary scenes: peaceful villages; residents working and producing with peace of mind; and trucks laden with goods crossing the border gate. The Tây Trang International Border Gate Border Post is tasked with managing and defending 28.102 km of the Việt Nam - Laos national border line, with 11 landmarks and 4 marker posts, while overseeing the border commune of Sam Mứn. Our duty is to maintain border sovereignty and security, building a peaceful, friendly, cooperative, and mutually developing border zone. From early 2026 to date, youths of the unit joined efforts to repair and build 2 houses, and assisted 2 poor households in constructing new homes valued at VND 320 million; donated 200 kg of rice; and provided free health check-ups and medications to nearly 200 residents and students, thereby solidifying an increasingly robust all-people border defense posture. Youths of the Tây Trang International Border Gate Border Post constantly uphold high resolve, striving to excel in every assigned mission. That is also how today’s younger generation carries forward the responsibility to defend every inch of land and every sacred value of peace that our forebears traded with their blood and bones.

Nguyễn Mỹ Linh, Director of Hương Linh Co., Ltd., Tủa Chùa commune (Top 100 Outstanding Young Entrepreneurs in 2026)

Building a career from native agricultural produce

To me, peace is felt through familiar things: people working with ease of mind, and youths having opportunities to study, start businesses, and realize their dreams. Born and raised in the highland commune of Tủa Chùa, I understand that gratitude toward previous generations must be demonstrated through the drive to advance and concrete values created for the homeland. I chose to attach myself to ancient Shan Tuyết tea trees, progressively elevating the quality and value of local products. In a peaceful nation, businesses have opportunities to connect with domestic markets and reach toward international markets, thereby generating jobs and livelihoods for local residents and bringing Tủa Chùa tea products far and wide. The company is currently deploying the Sandbox low-altitude economic development model, applying UAVs to transport fresh tea leaves, enhancing raw material quality, and orienting tea cultivation toward IoT smart agriculture.

By 2027, we strive to become a science and technology enterprise; actively researching Lão Ông Tea, Black Tea, and Green Tea products; and developing Diệp Thanh Trà - Tủa Chùa Ancient Shan Tuyết Green Tea into a 5-star OCOP product. I believe starting a business in one’s homeland, generating value from local advantages, and promoting products carrying the distinct mark of Tủa Chùa is the way today’s youths continues the story of independence through labor, creativity, and responsibility.

Sergeant Nùng Văn Phú, Regiment 741, Điện Biên provincial Military Command

Expressing gratitude through today’s actions

Being born and raised in peace and serving in the military environment is a great blessing for me. The more deeply I appreciate today’s independent and free life, the more I understand that these peaceful days were bought with youths and blood sacrifice of countless preceding generations. Across the historic land of Điện Biên, thousands of martyrs’ graves still lack identification. Each unidentified grave represents years of agonizing anticipation for their families. Directly participating in the “500-day-and-night Campaign to accelerate the search, collection, and identification of martyrs’ remains” is an honor and a responsibility for today’s younger generation. I define the duty of a young soldier first and foremost as strictly maintaining discipline, excellently accomplishing assigned tasks, and joining hands to bring fallen heroes back to their true names. Each identified grave eases the waiting of another family; each martyr called by their proper name is another tribute to those who dedicated their youth to the Fatherland’s independence and freedom. We will give our utmost effort to fulfill our duties so that the journey of searching, gathering, and honoring heroic martyrs is complete.

Chang Thị Dung, Vice Chairwoman of the Việt Nam Fatherland Front Committee of Sín Thầu commune, Secretary of the Hồ Chí Minh Communist Youth Union of Sín Thầu commune

Youths resolve from the border frontier

In Sín Thầu, where “a single rooster’s crow is heard across three countries,” the values of independence and peace are ever-present in daily life. In my view, independence in thought means having one’s own conviction, knowing right from wrong, deciding one’s direction, and taking responsibility for one’s choices. Under peaceful national conditions, youths have abundant opportunities to learn and establish themselves and their careers. For Sín Thầu youths, the key is to boldly access science and technology, select appropriate cultivation and husbandry models, and promote local cultural values. Along with this, each Youth Union member must heighten awareness of defending territorial sovereignty and national border security; actively coordinating with Border Guard forces to patrol, clear border paths and boundary markers, disseminate legal knowledge, and mobilize residents to maintain public order and security. As the commune Youth Union Secretary, I see the necessity to gather youth strength, channeling the pioneer spirit into specific tasks - from economic development and New-style rural area building to cultural preservation and safeguarding every inch of frontier territory.

Đặng Quỳnh Trang (National Valedictorian of the 2026 High School Graduation Exam)

Studying to master the future

To me, independence means first of all living, studying, and confidently choosing one’s future in a peaceful nation. The more I cherish today’s opportunities, the more I realize that behind this peaceful life lies the sacrifice of countless generations of forebears. The responsibility of young people is to strive in studying, practicing, and mastering knowledge and science and technology to build the capacity to contribute to the homeland and country. Each individual must also dare to try, step out of comfort zones, not fear failure, and turn acquired knowledge into practical value for the community. The score of 38.5/40 in the 2026 High School Graduation Exam is the fruit of self-study, persistence, and daily dedication, as well as the starting point for a new journey. With the dream of becoming a teacher, I chose to major in Mathematics Teacher Education at Hanoi National University of Education. Upon graduation, I hope to return to Điện Biên, where I was born and raised, to contribute to the education sector, carry forward the fine values cultivated by generations of teachers and students before me, and bring knowledge and confidence to students, especially those in disadvantaged areas of the province.

Tòng Thị Đông, Thái Nguyên University in Điện Biên province

Cherishing learning opportunities

As a student, I feel the value of peace directly from the learning and training environment I currently enjoy. Peace provides the younger generation with opportunities to attend school, pursue aspirations, and choose their futures. These seemingly ordinary things were bought with the blood and youth of past generations. Through Youth Union activities, volunteer campaigns, and traditional education on the historic land of Điện Biên, I understand that gratitude must be manifested in action. As young individuals, we must study seriously, cultivate character, enhance professional expertise and skills, and prepare the capacity to serve the community. As a pedagogy student, I define my responsibility as preparing a solid foundation to become a teacher of virtue, competence, skill, and responsibility toward students. I will actively join Youth Union activities, volunteer movements, digital transformation efforts, and community initiatives so that knowledge and skills accumulated in lecture halls are translated into concrete deeds, contributing to the development of our homeland.