In his article marking the 94th anniversary of the Vietnam Communist Youth Union this year (March 26), he noted that under the leadership of the Party, the youth have consistently taken the lead in various revolutionary stages, from the struggle for national independence and reunification to the process of renewal and socio-economic development. The history of the Party is closely linked to the contributions of many generations of outstanding youth, among whom many leaders and intellectuals have taken on significant responsibilities from a young age.

In the current period, he said, young people play a crucial role in national development. They are the backbone driving Vietnam into a new era, serving as the key force in building and advancing production while leading in emerging fields. The youth are not only the future owners of the country but also contribute significantly to shaping national values, culture, family, and the identity of the Vietnamese people.

Achievements and challenges

According to the Party leader, the growth and destiny of the nation depend greatly on its youth. During the wars to defend the country, millions of young people sacrificed their youth in the spirit of “sacrifice for the nation’s survival.” Today, Vietnamese youth continue to affirm the nation’s position through remarkable achievements in academics, sports, and culture. They have won numerous international awards in science and arts, contributing to Vietnam's intellectual advancement and global competitiveness.

In sports, young athletes have also achieved impressive results, showcasing their resilience and competitive spirit. In the field of culture, the youth have played a crucial role in preserving, safeguarding, and promoting national identity. In the context of international integration, they have showcased traditional cultural values to the world through cultural exchanges, creative arts, and diverse initiatives, helping to elevate Vietnam’s cultural standing on the global stage while reinforcing the national pride of the younger generation.

Despite the achievements, the Party leader pointed out, Vietnamese youth still face significant challenges, particularly in terms of workforce quality. Their creativity, labour productivity, practical skills, and foreign language proficiency still lag far behind developed countries. Vietnam is among the 34 largest economies in the world, yet its labour productivity ranks only 117th out of 181, equivalent to just 11.4% of Singapore’s and 35.4% of Malaysia’s. This underscores the urgent need to enhance workforce quality to keep pace with global trends.

Although Vietnam has made significant progress in improving living standards, education, and health care, the leader said, the physical fitness and health of its youth still lag behind developed countries. The average height of Vietnamese people is lower than that of Thailand, the Republic of Korea, and Japan. In addition, the average life expectancy is 5–10 years shorter than in advanced nations. The stunting malnutrition rate remains high at 19.6%, affecting long-term physical development. In elite sports, Vietnam struggles to compete in disciplines that require strength and endurance.

Vietnam is entering the final phase of its demographic dividend, while the aging population is accelerating rapidly. The proportion of people aged 60 and above increased from 10% in 2011 to 12.8% in 2022 and is expected to reach 20% by 2036, marking its transition into an aging society. This trend leads to a declining labour force, a growing number of dependents, and significant pressure on financial and healthcare systems. Therefore, formulating a sustainable development strategy to effectively leverage the young workforce has become an urgent priority.

Globalization brings numerous opportunities but also presents significant challenges in preserving Vietnam’s cultural identity. The strong influx of foreign cultures risks eroding traditional values if not embraced with discernment. The young generation is increasingly influenced by modern culture, leading to a detachment from traditional arts, folk festivals, indigenous cuisine, and core ethical values. At the same time, social evils and youth crime rates are becoming more complex, negatively impacting the country’s sustainable development.

Requirements for the youth in a world full of turmoil

According to the General Secretary, as the world undergoes rapid transformations driven by technological and scientific advancements, Vietnam must focus on preparing a young generation with the capability and resilience to integrate globally. Artificial intelligence, biotechnology, big data, and automation are not only reshaping the way people work but also profoundly impacting social life. To avoid falling behind, Vietnamese youth need to be equipped with a strong knowledge foundation, adaptive skills, and creative thinking, contributing to the country’s sustainable development.

In the digital era, creativity, critical thinking, and the ability to quickly adapt to technology are no longer just advantages but essential prerequisites. Vietnamese youth must receive comprehensive training not only to use technology but also to research, develop, and apply it effectively.

Moreover, global thinking and foreign language proficiency play a crucial role. As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, opportunities are no longer confined within national borders but extend globally. The young must equip themselves with strong communication skills, cross-cultural collaboration abilities, and the capacity to absorb international knowledge. This will enable them to compete on equal footing with developed nations while also enhancing Vietnam’s position on the global stage.

He also pointed out that sharp intellect must go hand in hand with a strong physique to cultivate a generation capable of competing in the international arena. A healthy body not only boosts productivity but also fosters resilience, endurance, and mental strength in the face of challenges.

Prioritizing physical education, improving nutrition, and investing in community healthcare systems will help enhance the physical stature of Vietnamese people, thereby increasing the overall quality of the workforce. Furthermore, expanding school sports programmes and promoting fitness habits from an early age will lay the foundation for the sustainable development of future generations.

In his opinions, international integration does not mean losing cultural identity; rather, it requires selective absorption, preservation, and promotion of the nation’s core values. Culture is the thread that binds communities together, shaping a unique identity and elevating Vietnam’s position on the global stage.

Alongside acquiring knowledge and integration skills, the young generation must be educated in national pride, humanistic values, and social responsibility. When individuals develop a deep awareness of their roots and traditional cultural values, they will have the confidence to integrate without losing themselves—growing and evolving while preserving the Vietnamese spirit in every field.

Developed nations all have long-term strategies for investing in education, physical development, and culture to cultivate a high-quality workforce. Vietnam must also adopt a comprehensive approach, with a focus not only on knowledge but also on physical fitness, moral character, and cultural identity preservation.

Learning from advanced education models worldwide is essential, but even more crucial is adapting them flexibly to fit Vietnam’s specific conditions. When the youth are well-trained, equipped with intelligence, strong health, and resilience, they will be a driving force that propels the country confidently into the new era that is ready to compete and integrate deeply into the world.

New opportunities for Vietnam

The Party General Secretary emphasized that Vietnam is at a crucial stage, where the achievements of nearly 80 years of national construction, 50 years of reunification, and nearly 40 years of economic reforms have laid a solid foundation for development. However, along with these successes come new challenges from deep global integration, intense international competition, and the powerful impacts of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

To seize opportunities and overcome challenges, he said, Vietnam must continue institutional reforms, enhance the quality of human resources, invest in science and technology, and pursue sustainable development. Most importantly, the youth play a decisive role in propelling Vietnam to new heights, preparing to face global uncertainties, and contributing to building a strong, independent, and prosperous nation.

Towards 2045, Vietnam aims to become a developed, high-income country. To achieve this goal, he held, the young generation must excel in intelligence, physical strength, and cultural identity, equipping them to compete globally. The Party and the State recognize that people are the foundation of sustainable development, with youth work being a vital factor that determines the nation's success or failure. Investing in the young generation is a strategic priority to build a strong, intelligent, and civilized youth force that enables Vietnam to rise and assert its national position on the global stage.

Orientations for human development till 2045

Towards the 2045 goal, the leader said, human development, especially the young generation, is a strategic priority. Strong investment in education is essential, including reforming training systems, enhancing intelligence, STEM skills, foreign languages, digital technology, and creative thinking. Cultural, ethical, and aesthetic education must go hand in hand to shape well-rounded individuals. Building a learning society and fostering lifelong self-learning are key tasks. Moreover, policies to attract young talent from abroad and improve global competitiveness are crucial.

In addition to intellectual education, a strategic plan to enhance the physical well-being of Vietnamese people is essential. Developing structured school sports programmes aims to improve physical stature, targeting an average height of 175 cm for men and 163 cm for women by 2045. Expanding nationwide healthcare initiatives and modernizing sports infrastructure are key priorities. In addition, increasing the number of elite athletes and striving for ASIAD and Olympic medals, not only in skill-based sports but also in strength and endurance disciplines—is a crucial goal.

Culture plays a vital role in human development. It is essential to preserve and promote cultural heritage and arts while modernizing them to align with contemporary times. The goal is to nurture a Vietnamese identity that is rich in tradition, patriotic, compassionate, creative, and globally integrated without losing its essence. Furthermore, fostering the cultural industry will help transform culture into an economic driver and a source of national soft power.

The population development strategy, in his view, must maintain a balanced structure to leverage the demographic dividend before aging sets in. Improving population quality requires a focus on health care, nutrition, and comprehensive education. Additionally, policies should support young families, encourage replacement-level fertility rates, and enhance child healthcare services.

Nurturing ethics, ideals, and a spirit of dedication in youth is crucial. It is essential to create opportunities for their involvement in digital transformation, the green economy, national cultural projects, and global integration. This enables young people to both absorb global knowledge and promote Vietnamese cultural values worldwide.

To achieve these ambitious goals, he noted, the Party and State will comprehensively invest in developing the young generation, especially the "Rising Generation" by 2045. Education, training, sports, culture, and population policies are top priorities. All policies aim to improve the quality of life and global competitiveness of young people, so as to foster a well-rounded development in ethics, intellect, physical health, and aesthetics.

It is essential to develop specialized policies to promote the pioneering role of youth in labour, Industry 4.0, technology, digital transformation, entrepreneurship, and innovation. Young people should actively engage in soci-economic projects, national defense, security, and international integration.

It is also necessary to enhance the quality of young human resources, revise key policies for young talents, and make breakthroughs in education, career orientation, vocational training, employment, housing, culture, and sports. Apart from this, solutions should be implemented to prevent youth-related crime, establish a statistical index system, and develop youth development criteria at the provincial level.

The Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union needs to innovate its activities in a practical manner, aligning with national development goals and improving people's livelihoods. It must promote the pioneering role of youth in the economy, national defence, international integration, science and technology, entrepreneurship, and digital transformation. oreover, it should safeguard the Party’s ideology, counter false viewpoints, and prevent crime among young people.  

The development of the youth requires the collaboration of families, schools, and businesses, alongside support from the Party, the State, and socio-political organizations. Families provide the foundation, schools cultivate intellect and character, while businesses create opportunities for young people to innovate, develop skills, and gain experience.

He emphasized that it’s the youth that are the key force in achieving development goals. Each young person must take initiative in learning, self-improvement, and confidently integrating into the global arena with strong knowledge, robust health, and a deep-rooted Vietnamese identity. At the same time, they should become global citizens with a Vietnamese soul, contributing to the nation's growth and protection.

Towards the 100th anniversary of its founding in 2045, Vietnam aims to cultivate a generation of youth who excel in intellect, thrive in physical strength, and are rich in cultural identity. Young people must be confident and resilient that stand alongside their international peers, contributing to the nation's prosperity and development.

Party leader requests renewing youth work to meet new requirements

VOV.VN - Party General Secretary To Lam has asked the Vietnam Youth Federation to renew youth work in the new context to maximize the role of young people in the era of national advancement.