Hoa Minzy and the canoe driver who went into the flood to support people received the 2025 'National Volunteer' award

On the evening of December 7 at Di An Square (HCMC), the Central Youth Union organized the award ceremony of the "National Volunteer" and "Creative Youth" awards nationwide in 2025, honoring 63 individuals and groups dedicated to the community, including singer Hoa Minzy and Mr. Hoang Minh Thanh - the canoe driver who drove into the flood to support his compatriots.

Attending the ceremony were Mr. Le Quoc Phong - Member of the Party Central Committee, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee; Mr. Bui Quang Huy - Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front , First Secretary of the Central Youth Union; Mr. Nguyen Tuong Lam - Secretary of the Central Youth Union, Chairman of the Vietnam Youth Union.

In 2025, the "National Volunteer" Award received 233 selected and nominated profiles from provinces, cities, organizations, units and individuals across the country and was voted on, shared and spread on social networks, attracting the attention and votes of the community.

The National Volunteer Award Selection Council has voted to select outstanding collectives and individuals with outstanding achievements in volunteer activities for the development of the country and the community in 2025. There are 20 outstanding individuals and collectives awarded in 2025.

Mr. Hoang Minh Thanh - the canoe driver who drove into the flood to support his fellow countrymen is one of the young people honored with the "National Volunteer" Award in 2025.

Mr. Le Quoc Phong - Standing Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee and Mr. Bui Quang Huy - First Secretary of the Central Youth Union commended and rewarded the example of National Volunteer Hoang Minh Thanh, the canoe driver who drove into the flood to support his compatriots.

When asked what made him continue to drive the canoe into the flood for 12 years, Mr. Thanh said that it was because of the haunting cry for help and the joy and happiness of saving people. One thing that made Mr. Thanh ponder and act was, “If I don’t do it, who will?”. “When you save someone, you will find your heart is bigger than your fear,” Mr. Thanh said.

In 2025, the “Creative Youth” Award received 204 nominations from 31 provincial, municipal and affiliated Youth Unions. Based on the assessment of the Selection Council, the Central Youth Union Secretariat selected 43 outstanding creative works, solutions and products to honor and reward.

Among the submitted applications, many outstanding projects are in the fields of digital transformation, artificial intelligence, big data, automation, and technical solutions in production and business. Many products have high applicability, being deployed in practice or commercialized in enterprises and establishments.

The group of authors of the AI Sentinel system project is one of the individuals and groups recognized as "Creative Youth" nationwide in 2025.

Mr. Nguyen Tuong Lam - Secretary of the Central Youth Union, President of the Vietnam Youth Union (right cover) and Mr. Ngo Minh Hai - Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union commended and rewarded the Creative Youth.

At the award ceremony, Mr. Hoang Bao Long - representative of the AI Sentinel system project team shared the moment that made the team want to use AI technology to protect people.

According to Mr. Long, the group was inspired to carry out the project from many different perspectives, but shared the same will, including experience with natural disasters, admiration for border guards, the desire for technology to serve life and happiness when Sentinel was applied.

“If an idea can save one life - start today” - Mr. Bao Long spread the message.

Young people not only dare to think, dare to do, but also dare to commit.

Speaking at the award ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Tuong Lam - Secretary of the Central Youth Union, President of the Vietnam Youth Union said that over the years, the "Youth Volunteer" movement has become a beautiful and sustainable mark in social life, associated with the good image of generations of Vietnamese youth. Each campaign, each volunteer team not only carries the enthusiasm of young people, but also spreads faith in good things in society. In 2025, millions of union members and young people have participated in volunteer activities across the country: from caring for the disadvantaged, supporting people in disaster areas, building rural roads, repairing schools, taking care of community health, to protecting the environment, developing a green economy ...

According to Mr. Lam, the volunteerism of today's youth does not stop at "support" or "giving" material things, but has developed to a new level. It is the spirit of civic responsibility, the awareness of accompanying the development of the country. You are not only building rural roads, protecting the environment, but also sowing seeds of kindness. Each campaign, each volunteer team of you not only carries the enthusiasm of youth, but also spreads the belief in the kindness and goodness that will last forever in our society. Today's award is the deepest gratitude of the Youth Union and the community for the hearts that know how to live for everyone. You have proven that: "Happiness is not about receiving, but about sharing and contributing".

Singer Hoa Minzy was commended and awarded as a National Volunteer.

“If volunteering is the heartbeat of compassion, then creativity is the breath of wisdom, the driving force of youth in the digital age. We are living in an era where “innovation” is the key to survival and development. In particular, Resolution No. 57 of the Politburo on promoting national innovation has opened up new development space, creating a strong driving force for young people to promote their intelligence, aspirations, and pioneering spirit in science and technology, creative startups, and digital economic development,” Mr. Nguyen Tuong Lam emphasized.

Mr. Lam said that the Central Youth Union has identified innovation as the core task of the Youth Union's work in the current period. And the youth, no one else, is the decisive force to turn innovation into a new growth engine for the country. The authors and groups of authors who won the award today are the ones who realize that policy of the Party.

“We may be behind, but we can “move forward” thanks to our creativity and flexible adaptability. Your products are not only a source of personal pride, but also a valuable asset of the nation. This year's award-winning projects, solutions, and products demonstrate the spirit that you not only dare to think and do, but also dare to venture into new, difficult, and challenging fields. These are smart digital transformation solutions that help solve administrative procedures and help people access public services more easily; these are initiatives in high-tech agriculture that help farmers increase productivity and escape poverty sustainably on their homeland; these are green economic models, circular economic models, strategic environmental protection solutions, and climate change response solutions…” - Secretary of the Central Youth Union, President of the Vietnam Youth Union Nguyen Tuong Lam said.

Delegates, individuals and groups receiving the 2025 National "National Volunteer" and "Creative Youth" awards took souvenir photos.

The Central Youth Union would like to express its sincere thanks to the City Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City; Vietnam National Industry and Energy Group, Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Investment and Development, and accompanying units for their attention, support, and facilitation in organizing the Vietnam Youth Festival 2025.

Source: https://tienphong.vn/hoa-minzy-va-nguoi-lai-ca-no-vao-tam-lu-ho-tro-dong-bao-nhan-giai-tinh-nguyen-quoc-gia-2025-post1802671.tpo