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| The Ly Tu Trong Award 2026 is a recognition of Dong Van Thanh's contributions to the Youth Union and youth movements. |
The small alley leading into the Thu Lam residential area was bathed in sunlight that afternoon. We followed the Secretary of the Van Xuan Ward Youth Union, Dong Van Thanh, to visit the family of a child suffering from a serious illness. Upon arriving at the house, Mr. Thanh sat down beside the young mother, kindly inquiring about the child's health, treatment progress, and recent hospital transfers. The conversation flowed naturally, as if between close relatives.
Previously, the Youth Union of Thu Lam residential area, in coordination with the Ward Youth Union, mobilized union members, young people, and philanthropists to join hands in supporting the family. The donation of nearly 28 million VND helped to alleviate difficulties and reduce the economic burden for the young mother in her journey to treat her child's illness.
I met Mr. Dong Van Thanh during many youth activities in Van Xuan, and what impressed me most was when this Youth Union official, born in 1994, shared: "Working in the Youth Union is hard and busy, but it also brings a lot of joy. For me, the greatest happiness is being trusted by young people and the people."
Youth Union officials often jokingly say that to unite young people, you must first become their friend. In Van Xuan, many members simply call Mr. Thanh "Mr. Thanh" instead of the Youth Union Secretary. This form of address reflects a close and familiar relationship that not all Youth Union officials possess.
In 2016, after graduating with a degree in Economic Law, Thanh returned to his hometown to work. From Deputy Secretary to Secretary of the Ward Youth Union, nearly a decade of involvement with the youth movement has helped him understand the thoughts and aspirations of young people.
He often shared that young people today also have many worries and pressures of their own: young factory workers have to work shifts so they can only participate in activities on weekends; recent graduates struggle to find jobs; and many young people want to contribute but don't know where to start.
Perhaps that's why his conversations with the youth union members often take place on the football field, at the roadside cafe, during branch meetings, or on social media. Thanh is as approachable as an older brother or friend, always ready to listen and support young people whenever they face difficulties.
Mr. Ta Van Tai, a member of the Youth Union in Van Xuan ward, shared: "Mr. Thanh is very close to young people. Whenever the Youth Union organizes activities, he always participates directly with us. He also regularly listens to the thoughts and aspirations of the members, so he is trusted and respected by many young people."
Following the administrative reorganization, the workload of the Ward Youth Union increased significantly. The area is larger, and the population is greater. Many people worried that youth activities would be dispersed. However, reality has shown the opposite.
In 2025 alone, the youth support team for public services at the Ward's Public Administrative Service Center mobilized 160 members to assist over 2,000 citizens in completing administrative procedures.
From cleaning up martyrs' cemeteries and renovating historical sites to assisting with digital application installations, supporting students during exam season, and donating blood, the green uniforms of young people are present everywhere. Specifically, on the occasion of the 78th anniversary of the Day of War Invalids and Martyrs, over 300 youth union members participated in cleaning the martyrs' cemetery, and 200 attended the candle-lighting ceremony to pay tribute.
Sharing his thoughts on youth union work, Thanh confided: "I always believe that young people should be the leading force in new and challenging tasks."
That mindset guides him in all his activities, from mobilizing young people to participate in digital transformation, organizing classes on drowning prevention skills for children, to staying up all night supporting people in responding to natural disasters.
During the storms at the end of 2025, he directly participated in relocating people's belongings and mobilized youth forces to build dikes to prevent flooding. At the same time, the Ward Youth Union implemented campaigns to receive and distribute more than 30 tons of relief goods, worth approximately 600 million VND, to support people in Central Vietnam affected by natural disasters.
For his many contributions, in 2026, Mr. Dong Van Thanh was awarded the Ly Tu Trong Prize - a well-deserved recognition for his efforts and dedication to the Youth Union and youth movements.
Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/xa-hoi/net-dep-doi-thuong/202606/thu-linh-doan-va-khat-vong-cong-hien-b053994/
