A five-year journey to rekindle national pride.

On the morning of July 2nd, in Ho Chi Minh City, the Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper held a ceremony to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the "Proud of the National Flag" program. The program was honored to welcome Ms. Truong My Hoa - former Vice President of Vietnam; Mr. Nguyen Thien Nhan - former Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee; Mr. Phan Nguyen Nhu Khue - Head of the Propaganda Department of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee; Mr. Duong Ngoc Hai - Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, along with leaders and former leaders of localities; the People's Armed Forces; universities, partner organizations; businesses… to attend.

The Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper presented the national flag to Con Co Island ( Quang Tri province ) in March 2023.

The "Proud of the National Flag" program was officially launched and implemented on June 1, 2019. This is a practical and meaningful activity organized by the Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper, aiming to convey important messages about patriotism, national pride, and the responsibility of every Vietnamese citizen in preserving and protecting the sacred territory of the Fatherland.

Over the past five years, the "Proud of the National Flag" program has organized and co-organized more than 310 events nationwide, and has donated and signed agreements to distribute 2,118,120 national flags to 54 provinces and cities.

Specifically, 1,214,370 flags from the "Millions of National Flags for Fishermen Staying at Sea" component were distributed to fishermen in 28 coastal provinces and cities; 370,150 flags from the "National Flags on Borders" component were given to border guards and people living along the border in 25 provinces with land borders; and 533,600 flags from the "National Flag Road" component were used to build more than 750 flag roads at historical and cultural sites in 44 provinces and cities nationwide. In Ho Chi Minh City, "National Flag Roads" are present in almost all localities.

Speaking at the ceremony, journalist and Doctor To Dinh Tuan - Editor-in-Chief of Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper and Head of the Steering Committee of the program - emotionally expressed that the "Proud of the National Flag" program has far surpassed the 1 million flag mark, achieving more than 200% of the target set by the Organizing Committee.

Mr. To Dinh Tuan, Editor-in-Chief of Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper, shared his thoughts at the ceremony.

According to Mr. To Dinh Tuan, over the years, the Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper has organized many major social work activities and programs, accompanying people nationwide. Among them, the "Proud of the National Flag" program holds a particularly special meaning.

To carry out the "Proud of the National Flag" program, members of the Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper and their partners overcame difficulties and hardships, traveling to remote areas of the country to donate national flags.

"The joy of seeing the flags from the 'Proud of the National Flag' program fluttering across the country, practically contributing to fostering national pride and joining hands in protecting the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland, is a great motivation that helps us determinedly implement the program. And that is also the great significance of the 'Proud of the National Flag' program," emphasized the Editor-in-Chief of Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper.

Mr. Phan Nguyen Nhu Khue, Head of the Propaganda Department of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, delivered a speech at the ceremony.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Phan Nguyen Nhu Khue said that in recent times, the city has organized many activities focused on border areas and islands. The "Proud of the National Flag" program is a meaningful and creative activity that has resonated nationwide.

After five years, the program has achieved very significant results. The image of the red flag with a yellow star flying everywhere has become a sacred symbol, representing the aspirations and unwavering will of the people to protect the sovereignty of the Fatherland. "Proud of the Fatherland Flag" further illuminates the spirit of the Vietnamese people," Mr. Phan Nguyen Nhu Khue expressed.

During the implementation of the "Proud of the National Flag" program, the editorial board of Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper also carried out many meaningful and practical activities such as donating thousands of first-aid kits, providing lifebuoys to fishermen; and donating portraits of President Ho Chi Minh to ethnic minority people in border areas.

In particular, the "Scholarship Program to Support Ethnic Minority and Poor Students," founded by Mr. Truong Hoa Binh, former Politburo Member and former Standing Deputy Prime Minister, and managed by the Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper since 2022, has awarded thousands of scholarships totaling over 14 billion VND, and donated nearly 1,000 bicycles to students from ethnic minority communities in border areas, children of soldiers and fishermen who have strived to overcome difficulties in their studies, contributing to motivating them to rise in life.

At the commemoration ceremony, Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper continued to award 300 scholarships, equivalent to 600 million VND, to the children of officers and soldiers of the armed forces.

Fisherman Dao Van Tin (Phu Yen province) shared that over the years, fishermen have always received the attention and support of the Party and the State. The "Proud of the National Flag" program has helped fishermen feel more secure every time they go out to sea to fish.

"Besides us on each fishing trip, we also have the support of state agencies and organizations, which further motivates us to both develop the economy and participate in protecting the sovereignty of the country's seas and islands," said fisherman Dao Van Tin.

Here are some photos from the 5th anniversary celebration of the "Proud of the National Flag" program:

Before the 5th anniversary celebration of the "Proud of the National Flag" program, delegates and guests visited a photo exhibition themed "The 5-Year Journey of the 'Proud of the National Flag' Program"; and toured the Ho Chi Minh Cultural Space of the Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper.

Mr. To Dinh Tuan - Secretary of the Party Committee and Editor-in-Chief of Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper - introduced the program to Ms. Pham Phuong Thao, former Chairwoman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council.

The exhibition displays images of central and Ho Chi Minh City leaders participating in the program; images introducing the program's components, including "National Flag on the Border"; "A Million National Flags Accompanying Fishermen at Sea"; "National Flag Road"; and images introducing the units that have partnered with the program.

During its five-year journey of "going to the mountains and the sea" to implement the "Proud of the National Flag" program, the staff of Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper has established very proud records, which have been recognized and awarded four records by the Vietnam Record Organization: The program that donated the most national flags in Vietnam; The program that donated national flags in the most provinces and cities in Vietnam; The program that displayed the most national flags along the roads in Vietnam; and The program that displayed the longest national flag along the road in Vietnam.

Dr. Nguyen Van Vien, Lawyer - Director of the Vietnam Intellectual Property Institute, Vice President of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Record Holders Association, and Ms. Nguyen Thi Quynh Ngoc, Secretary General of the Vietnam Record Organization, presented four records to the Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper.

At the commemoration ceremony, Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper was honored to receive the Emulation Flag, certificates of merit, and commendations from the Government, ministries, departments, and localities.