Mr. Nguyen Thai Binh, from Nhu Thanh commune (on the right): “Accessing digital technology is not easy for the elderly, but if they don't learn, they will fall behind.”
At nearly 80 years old, Mr. Nguyen Thai Binh from Nhu Thanh commune still regularly participates in digital transformation training courses in his locality. His hands bear the marks of time, and his ability to operate a phone is no longer as nimble, but his eyes always light up whenever he learns something new.
He thought that life today is very different from before. From policy information and administrative procedures to buying and selling, and communicating with children and grandchildren, everything is connected to technology. If they don't learn and understand, the elderly can easily become targets of scams or isolate themselves from society.
Therefore, despite his advanced age, Mr. Binh still felt compelled to continue learning so as not to fall behind in his own life.
Having spent his entire life surrounded by mountains, fields, and the slow pace of life in Chong village, Thien Phu commune, Mr. Ha Van Tu (79 years old) never imagined he would one day sit in front of a phone screen learning how to create an online account, enter verification codes, or gradually become familiar with the digital conveniences that are increasingly present in his life. Concepts that were once unfamiliar to someone accustomed to wielding a hoe and clearing land have now become new lessons in his twilight years.
Unlike the younger generation, he doesn't have the agility to do many tasks repeatedly. If he doesn't understand something, he asks the staff, asks the people around him, and at home he asks his children and grandchildren for further explanation. He then memorizes each step so he can do it himself next time. For Mr. Tú, learning technology isn't about keeping up with trends, but about avoiding being left behind in a life that's changing every day.
He stated that he has always been determined to continue learning, not only to improve his family's economic situation but also to better serve his daily life. Therefore, in addition to digital transformation training sessions, he actively participates in legal awareness classes, listens to radio broadcasts, reads newspapers, and learns about land issues and public security. Through each learning experience, he gains a better understanding of how to filter information, identify risks in cyberspace, and protect himself and his family in the increasingly prevalent digital environment in his village.
Mr. Ha Van Tu, from Thien Phu commune (far left), believes that studying at this age is no longer an obligation, but has become a responsibility to oneself and the community.
For many, learning in old age is about adapting to a changing life, but for Mr. Nguyen Manh Hung from Tinh Gia ward, it is also a way to continue contributing to society.
Returning from the battlefield with an 81% disability rating, Mr. Hung did not surrender to adversity. Without formal training, he taught himself from books, documents, and the internet to find solutions to the problem of improving honey quality. Based on the fact that honey easily ferments and changes color due to impurities, he persevered in his research for nearly three years, overcoming numerous failures to create the NH-10/70 honey purification machine in 2021.
The NH-10/70 honey purification machine not only contributes to improving the quality and increasing the value of beekeeping products but also marks the culmination of Mr. Nguyen Manh Hung's persistent self-learning journey. This innovation won second prize at the 13th Thanh Hoa Provincial Technical Innovation Competition (2022-2023) and its application was accepted for a patent.
In 2025, Mr. Hung continued to receive the Golden Star of Vietnam Award from the Central Association for the Promotion of Learning. For him, the greatest reward is that the lessons learned have become valuable assets for the community.
He shared: "I always tell myself that I must strive to improve myself, learn continuously, and become a useful member of society."
For war veteran Nguyen Manh Hung, the greatest reward is that the lessons he learned have become valuable assets for the community.
During his lifetime, President Ho Chi Minh always affirmed, "Learning is a lifelong endeavor, learning from books, from practice, and from the people themselves." In the digital age, where knowledge and technology are constantly evolving, this idea shows even deeper significance.
In Thanh Hoa, the spirit of lifelong learning is being concretized through "digital literacy" classes implemented at the grassroots level, with the motto "those with more knowledge guide those with less, and those with less knowledge support those who are completely clueless." From residential areas and cultural centers to individual households, officials and youth union members directly accompany people in accessing technology, improving digital skills, and adapting to modern life.
Youth union members accompany and support the elderly in accessing digital technology.
In reality, lifelong learning is not only a need for self-improvement but also a condition for each individual to keep pace with the development of society. From the elderly and farmers to officials and Party members, the spirit of self-learning, following the example of President Ho Chi Minh, is contributing to building a learning society, narrowing the digital divide, and creating opportunities for development so that no one is left behind.
Mai Nhung
Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/hoc-tap-suot-doi-de-khong-bi-bo-lai-phia-sau-289961.htm
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