As home to more than 30 ethnic groups, the northern mountainous province of Yen Bai has a large number of young ethnic minority people, accounting for up to 35 percent of the province’s total young people. Due to difficulties in transport systems and local budgets, many young people in mountainous and far-flung areas do not have enough books and newspapers to read. The Yen Bai Youth Union has proposed an initiative to “renew old books” by collecting old books and newspapers (but not too old) so as to provide them for young people in these areas. Deputy secretary of the Yen Bai Youth Union Nguyen Thanh Xuan said that the initiative has helped far-flung areas resolve the shortage of books and newspapers in local youth unions.

The shortage of books and newspapers has become a common situation for youth unions in mountainous provinces. Many localities do not have enough funds to build cultural centres and buy books and newspapers for young people, in order to help them enrich their knowledge and apply advanced science and technology in production activities. Recently, State President Tran Duc Luong presented books to young people in mountainous and remote areas. This was a meaningful and practical activity to support young people nationwide.

According to head of cultural and ideological board of the Ha Giang provincial Youth Union Duong Anh Phuong, the province suffers from a severe shortage of books. Although Ha Giang’s village cultural centres have provided some books, the province has failed to meet young people’s requirement. Furthermore, many young people in far-flung areas lack books on agricultural production. Their knowledge and exchanges are limited, resulting in poor living conditions.

Despite their limited budget, local youth unions launch activities and movements very often, creating a good venue for young people to meet, exchange experiences and help each other develop production activities. Hence, young people always want to access updated information. However, it is quite difficult for some young people to read books and seek information sources because they lack media and have just completed primary school. Therefore, the Yen Bai Youth Union launches book-reading movements regularly at its youth union braches.

Recently, two emotional diaries, entitled Nhat Ky Dang Thuy Tram (Dang Thuy Tram’s diary) and Mai Mai Tuoi Hai Muoi (Forever 20 Years Old), written by young war martyrs Dang Thuy Tram and Nguyen Van Thac, respectively, have drawn public attention, particularly from young people. This demonstrated that young people today are no longer indifferent to the past. The two diaries have encouraged young people to launch movements to learn and follow the bright examples of the two young martyrs Dang Thuy Tram and Nguyen Van Thac.

Currently, the living conditions of young people are still poor, especially those living in mountainous and remote areas. They really need a helping hand from organisations, individuals and publishing houses so that they can improve their daily lives and get access to various information sources such as artworks, culture, books and newspapers. This is a good opportunity for youth unions’ members to promote their activities.