The Party, State and people will forever remember and appreciate the contributions of the youth volunteer force.

The meeting expressed deep gratitude for the attention and respect of the Party and State leaders for compatriots and soldiers in the cause of national liberation and national construction and defense.

Speaking at the meeting,President To Lam said he was very happy, excited and moved to welcome former youth volunteers, who did not hesitate to sacrifice their blood and bones, dedicating themselves to the independence and freedom of the Fatherland and the happiness of the people.

The President conveyed the regards, wishes of good health and best wishes from General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to the former youth volunteers.

The President affirmed that the history of the birth and development of the Vietnamese youth volunteers is closely linked to the glorious, proud and honorable resistance wars for national construction of the Party, our nation and our people. The youth volunteers are a shining symbol of the young generation of Vietnam; a national heroic force founded and trained by President Ho Chi Minh . Under the leadership of the Party, the youth volunteers have promoted their patriotism, indomitable tradition, followed the flag of the Party and Uncle Ho, fought and sacrificed extremely bravely for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland, for the happiness of the people, and contributed to the national historical miracles such as the Dien Bien Phu victory, the resistance war against the US imperialists, the complete liberation of the South, the reunification of the country, as well as in overcoming the consequences of the war and building socialism.

Bearing in mind Uncle Ho's teaching, "The mission of the Youth Volunteer Team is to volunteer for everything, no matter how difficult or easy, and serve the resistance until the day of success", the youth volunteer force clearly demonstrated its bravery, intelligence, bravery, and pioneering spirit, taking the lead in the most difficult and arduous places, working selflessly under the bombs and bullets, the smoke of war in the work of healing the wounds of war, restoring and developing the economy, building and defending the Fatherland. The image of the youth volunteer is associated with the determination to "cut through Truong Son to save the country", "singing to drown out the sound of bombs", with the determination of "bronze feet and iron shoulders"... with its mark on the legendary Truong Son road such as: Dong Loc Intersection, Truong Bon...

With their exploits, achievements, sacrifices and great contributions, the youth volunteers are shining symbols of revolutionary heroism, the quintessence of the Vietnamese people, and the pride of Vietnamese youth.

President To Lam

The President emphasized that with their exploits, achievements, sacrifices and great contributions, the youth volunteers are a shining symbol of revolutionary heroism, the quintessence of the Vietnamese people, and the pride of Vietnamese youth. The Party, State and people will forever remember and appreciate the great contributions and dedication of the youth volunteers and have had many policies and practical gratitude activities.

Many titles of Hero of the People's Armed Forces and Hero of Labor were awarded to former youth volunteers. Many comrades in the youth volunteer force became excellent cadres of the Party and State in the political system; many comrades are old but want to actively participate in the work of the Party, government, Front, and grassroots organizations; many are shining examples of good economic performance and active social security, adding to the glorious tradition and proud contributions of the youth volunteer force in the period of national renewal.

The President expressed his delight, through the report, that although the Vietnam Association of Former Youth Volunteers was only established 20 years ago, it has made many efforts and achieved practical results. Especially since the beginning of the 4th Congress term, the Association has organized many meaningful campaigns and movements, taking the lead in implementing the Party and State's policies and guidelines; advising, proposing, and coordinating with all levels and sectors to promote the settlement of post-war policies for youth volunteers; propagating and educating the tradition of historical witnesses, comradely activities, searching for and collecting martyrs' remains, helping each other to do business, eliminate hunger and reduce poverty, participating in economic and social recovery and development activities after the Covid-19 pandemic; actively encouraging, visiting, and sharing with each other in difficult times; creating good public opinion, consensus in society, and being highly appreciated by friends around the world.

The President also expressed that, in addition to the results, there are still many cases of former youth volunteers who have sacrificed for a long time but have not been recognized as martyrs. Many of their descendants were infected with Agent Orange and dioxin but have not received adequate attention. Thousands of youth volunteers have not enjoyed health insurance and other benefits as prescribed; they are old, weak, have a difficult life, and have no place to rely on...

The President affirmed that these are great concerns and worries of the Party, State and people, requiring urgent joint efforts of all levels and sectors to resolve, especially in the context of preparing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification.

There are still many cases of former youth volunteers who have sacrificed for a long time but have not been recognized as martyrs. Many of their descendants were infected with Agent Orange and dioxin but have not received adequate attention. Thousands of youth volunteers have not enjoyed health insurance and other benefits as prescribed; old age, weak health, difficult life, no place to rely on... These are great concerns and worries of the Party, the State and the people, requiring urgent joint efforts of all levels and sectors to resolve, especially in the context of preparing for the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification.

President To Lam

On the occasion of the Vietnam Veterans Association preparing for the 5th National Congress of Delegates for the 2024-2029 term, the President hopes that the delegates will keep in mind and make every effort to fulfill Uncle Ho's last wish: "For those who have bravely sacrificed part of their blood and bones (cadres, soldiers, militia, guerrillas, youth volunteers, etc.), the Party, the Government and the people must find ways to provide them with a stable place to eat and live, and at the same time open vocational training classes suitable for each person so that they can gradually become self-reliant."

The President also hopes that the delegates of former youth volunteers will make more efforts, and with more practical activities, to soon resolve outstanding issues in the work of former youth volunteers; considering it a duty, responsibility and also a sentiment expressing deep gratitude and appreciation to those who have devoted and sacrificed for the cause of national liberation, national reunification, and building and defending the Fatherland. Specific tasks, time and progress need to be outlined in the 2024-2029 term of the 5th Vietnam Association of Former Youth Volunteers and determined to carry them out.

Imbued with Uncle Ho's words, "Soldiers and cadres are trained in good qualities such as: Determination, courage, steadfastness, not afraid of hardship, not afraid of dryness, are nurtured in organizational and disciplined qualities by the masses' frank criticism, so that cadres can wash away bad qualities such as: Bureaucracy, commandism, embezzlement, waste. In that school, words talk and hands do, theory is closely linked to practice. It makes cadres' thoughts clearer, their stance more solid, their working style more democratic. Those schools both train and test cadres"; ministries, departments, branches, especially the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union continue to research and propose creative application of Ho Chi Minh's thoughts on the Great School of Youth Volunteers, building a contingent of cadres, building a generation of Vietnamese youth with patriotism, self-reliance, and national pride; have strong political will, pure revolutionary ethics, have the capacity and courage to integrate internationally, have great dreams and ambitions, be proactive, creative, master advanced science and technology on par with the times, be ready to contribute, sacrifice, and commit, truly becoming a great resource for the cause of building and defending the Fatherland.

The President also emphasized the need to continue to gather, unite, and build a strong Association and force of former youth volunteers nationwide, actively and effectively participating in the cause of innovation, construction, and defense of the Fatherland. Pay attention to discovering, building, renovating, and embellishing historical sites and historical relics of youth volunteers, truly becoming "Red Addresses" to educate revolutionary traditions. Quickly synthesize proposals to award the "Glorious Youth Volunteer Medal" to former youth volunteers who have completed their tasks in the resistance war, and the newly supplemented and amended Law on Emulation and Commendation.

At the meeting, the President also acknowledged the opinions and recommendations of the delegates and requested agencies, ministries and branches, especially the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs and the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, to promptly propose solutions.

On this occasion, the President presented the Association with a meaningful gift, a photo of Uncle Ho with the Youth Volunteers, along with 200 million VND for the Association to prepare costumes for delegates attending the 5th National Congress of the Vietnam Veterans Association.

The Vietnamese Youth Volunteer Force was founded and trained by President Ho Chi Minh in the midst of the war of resistance against French invaders.
On July 15, 1950, at Hong Mountain, Dai Tu district, Thai Nguyen province, the Central Youth Volunteer Team was established, consisting of 225 members, the predecessor of today's Youth Volunteer Force.
Over the past 74 years, generations of youth volunteers have devoted themselves to sacrifice, fostering the glorious tradition of youth volunteers and generations of Vietnam; always proactive, creative, determined to complete their missions. In war, youth volunteers are ready to sacrifice themselves, in peacetime they are always at the forefront of creative innovation.

At the meeting, the report of Chairman of the Vietnam Veterans Association Vu Trong Kim said that by July 2024, the whole country had more than 650,000 youth volunteers who had participated in resistance wars for national independence, socialist construction, international missions, and economic development.

In recent times, the Vietnam Veterans Association has organized many practical activities to support former volunteers. Typically, in the last term, the association mobilized members and society to donate 1,107 gratitude houses, repair 509 houses; mobilized to give gifts and other items such as savings, bicycles, food, clothes, school supplies worth over 269 billion VND. In particular, members helped each other during the Covid-19 pandemic with more than 2 billion VND and many other items.

Currently, the Central Committee of the Association is implementing the campaign "Former Youth Volunteers set a good example in following Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and style" and two major movements including: "Former Youth Volunteers do good business for the sake of comradeship" and "For the sake of comradeship, each cadre and member does many good deeds". Chairman of the Vietnam Veterans Association Vu Trong Kim and a number of members made recommendations and proposals to the President on a number of contents.