Like spring flowers

The movement "Good people, good deeds" is growing more and more widely, there are many typical advanced examples in studying and following Uncle Ho's teachings to bring good things to life, spread positive messages in life, it can be said that they are fragrant flowers in "Uncle Ho's garden".

Besides the examples that are honored, receive certificates of merit from leaders at all levels, and are reported on mass media, somewhere around us there are many shining examples, ordinary people but contain a noble soul, ready to give to spread love. Those examples are quiet but no less brilliant because of their contributions to life.

I would like to tell a story about a very ordinary person who lived years as fragrant as spring flowers, that is Mr. Nguyen Van Huong, born in 1949, residing in Minh Thanh 1 neighborhood, Chon Thanh ward, Dong Nai province, former Secretary of the neighborhood Party cell, people often call him by the affectionate name "Uncle Nam Huong".

I got to know Uncle Nam Huong when he and my father worked together at the Representative Board of the Elderly Association of Chon Thanh District in 2003. My impression of him at that time was a small figure, a warm voice and a gentle smile. Born and raised in Ho Chi Minh City, but almost all of his life, Uncle Nam Huong was attached to his second hometown - Minh Thanh.

Như hoa mùa xuân - Ảnh 1. — Scholarships for representatives of families of students who overcome difficulties to study well

Since 1975, in the early days of the local government, he has participated in local activities. In 1979, Mr. Nam Huong was the youth leader of Minh Thanh commune. He has held many positions in the locality. In 2000, he worked on ethnic and religious affairs in Binh Long district. In 2003, when Chon Thanh district was re-established, he returned to hold the position of Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee (VFF) of the district and Head of the Representative Board of the District Elderly Association. After retiring in 2009, he continued to work on the elderly in his home district.

In 2021, he stopped working at the Association of the Elderly. At this age, he should have been able to retire and enjoy the countryside, but with a clear mind, full of energy and a heart full of love, he continues to do things that are useful to society.

The neighborhood party cell elected him as the Party cell secretary from July 2022. During his time running the cell's activities, he proposed many directions for the cell's activities, with the goal of working for the people, and political work must be associated with improving people's lives both materially and spiritually. Many cultural, artistic, and sports activities were organized for the people of the neighborhood, creating a relationship that brought people together. He paid special attention to the youth union members, because this was the right-hand man of the Party. He regularly attended the cell's activities to encourage, share, and orient the thinking of the younger generation with practical stories.

With many years of experience in ethnic and religious affairs, he has contributed to the locality in implementing a civilized lifestyle, eliminating superstitions, and reducing bad customs in funerals and weddings. With the strength of movement activities, he has built a cultural and artistic movement in the neighborhood with art troupes of all ages from youth, women and especially the birth of the Elderly Art Club under the "Intergenerational Help Each Other" Club in line with the spirit of "old age, high ambition", setting an example for children and grandchildren to follow. And it is impossible not to mention the birth of the Chon Thanh District Amateur Music Club, chaired by Mr. Nam Huong himself from 2010 to present.

Most of Minh Thanh people know Mr. Nam Huong, because he not only contributes to his neighborhood but also participates in supporting local activities. He once held the position of Chairman of Minh Thanh Commune People's Committee. With his prestige and extensive experience, he has successfully mediated many cases of land, property, and family disputes with the local government. Sometimes he jokingly says that although he is single, he is successful in mediating family disputes.

Since he was appointed as the Secretary of the neighborhood Party cell (2022), the most prominent are the skillful mass mobilization models that Uncle Nam Huong advised the Party cell to build, including: "Mass mobilization model in volunteer work", "Model of building a strong political system", "Cultural model in religious spiritual beliefs". Up to now, the models are still operating effectively, contributing to the ideological orientation of the team of cadres, party members and people in the neighborhood.

In 2024, he and the neighborhood's residents received a certificate of merit for implementing Directive 05 of the Politburo on promoting the study and following of Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and lifestyle. He said that it was a great honor for the neighborhood and for him personally. He was very proud that he had lived, worked and studied according to the ideology of great Uncle Ho, contributing part of his strength to local development.

In addition to managing the activities of the neighborhood party cell, Uncle Nam Huong pays special attention to charity work. With the spirit of supporting unfortunate lives and difficult circumstances, with his prestige and sincerity, he mobilized cadres and people to establish a charity fund for the neighborhood. All the resources he called for were focused on the fund to share with those in need of help. His family alone contributed 60 million VND to the "Intergenerational Help Each Other" Club.

Như hoa mùa xuân - Ảnh 2. — Mobilizing gifts for families in difficult circumstances

Every year, he mobilizes to organize a "homegrown" cultural night in the neighborhood. With a deep spirit of sharing, the program has received the sympathy of the people and contributed a considerable amount of money to support those in trouble in the area. He said that he always remembers the time he supported a family from the West to start a business in Minh Thanh. The wife died of a serious illness and the family had no money for the funeral. He mobilized cadres and people to raise 39 million VND to take care of the funeral for the deceased and help them with some expenses to return home...

He said, only when he traveled did he realize that there were still many unfortunate lives that needed help, and that thought kept haunting him every night... He shared that he wanted to do a lot, and had always cherished plans, but he was old and could no longer do great things, so he always tried to do small things every day...

The proof is that every year, he does propaganda work to mobilize people with the spirit of "the rich help the poor" so that those in need can receive warm gifts for the spring. One special thing is that all the items and cash he mobilizes are concentrated in the neighborhood's Charity Fund and handed over to the hamlet committee and the neighborhood Fatherland Front to manage and distribute, he does not directly spend.

In early 2025, he stopped taking on the role of Party Cell Secretary, but with the desire to train young people with capacity and qualifications to continue carrying out the tasks assigned by the Party and the people, he said he would be ready to stand behind and support with the knowledge and experience that have been forged over more than 70 years of life.

Joining the Party in 1987, up to now, this honest party member still works diligently every day to beautify life, spreading good values to those around him. It can be said that Uncle Nam Huong's work is not too great, but not everyone can do it. In the midst of a bustling society, amidst the competition of life, Uncle Nam Huong still goes home simply, dedicating most of his time to social work, to the development and change of the place where he lives. Because for him, "giving is forever, living is to love".

The fifth Living Well Writing Contest was organized to encourage people to write about noble actions that have helped individuals or communities. This year, the contest focused on praising people or groups that have performed acts of kindness, bringing hope to difficult situations.

The highlight is the new environmental award category, honoring works that inspire and encourage action for a green, clean living environment. Through this, the Organizing Committee hopes to raise public awareness in protecting the planet for future generations.

The competition has diverse categories and prize structure, including:

Article categories: Memoirs, reports, notes or short stories, no more than 1,600 words for articles and 2,500 words for short stories.

Articles of memoirs, reports, notes:

- 1 First Prize: 30,000,000 VND

- 2 Second prizes: 15,000,000 VND

- 3 Third prizes: 10,000,000 VND

- 5 Consolation prizes: 3,000,000 VND

Short story:

- 1 First Prize: 30,000,000 VND

- 1 Second Prize: 20,000,000 VND

- 2 Third prizes: 10,000,000 VND

- 4 Consolation prizes: 5,000,000 VND

Photo category: Submit a photo series of at least 5 photos related to volunteer activities or environmental protection, along with the name of the photo series and a short description.

- 1 First Prize: 10,000,000 VND

- 1 Second Prize: 5,000,000 VND

- 1 Third Prize: 3,000,000 VND

- 5 Consolation prizes: 2,000,000 VND

Most Popular Prize: 5,000,000 VND

Prize for Excellent Essay on Environmental Topic: 5,000,000 VND

Honored Character Award: 30,000,000 VND

The deadline for receiving entries is October 16, 2025. The entries will be evaluated through the preliminary and final rounds with the participation of a jury of famous names. The organizing committee will announce the list of winners on the "Beautiful Life" page. See detailed rules at thanhnien.vn .

Organizing Committee of the Beautiful Living Contest