Hold firm to one belief
Throughout the history of the revolution, faith in the Party's leadership has always been present as a core value in the spiritual life of the Vietnamese people. Entering a new stage of national development, continuing to nurture that faith, while simultaneously transforming revolutionary ideals into concrete awareness and action in social life, is a matter of long-term significance and is of great concern to many.
.png)
Thanh Quynh(Perform) /Present:Hong Toai• February 2, 2026
*****
Throughout the history of the revolution, faith in the Party's leadership has always been present as a core value in the spiritual life of the Vietnamese people. Entering a new stage of national development, continuing to nurture that faith, while simultaneously transforming revolutionary ideals into concrete awareness and action in social life, is a matter of long-term significance and is of great concern to many.
Nghe An Newspaper and Radio & Television had a conversation with Major General Nguyen Xuan Chi (born 1931) - former Secretary of the Party Committee, Deputy Commander of Military Region 4, who was awarded the Second Class Independence Medal, and made many contributions to the cause of building and defending the Fatherland; and Comrade Tran Dinh Huy (born 1993) - Secretary of the Youth Union of Nghe An Ethnic Boarding School, outstanding young Party member at the provincial level in 2025.
.png)
PV:From two different generations – one who grew up through war and dedicated himself to building and defending the nation; the other who rose from an ethnic minority background and matured in peacetime – looking back on their journeys, do these two comrades believe that their faith in the Party and love for the country have shaped their life paths and their spirit of dedication, especially in pivotal choices?
Major General Nguyen Xuan Chi:I joined the Party very early, but not through grand, lofty concepts. Rather, it stemmed from very simple things. My father, a revolutionary activist, advised me: Strive to join the Party primarily to become a person who lives a righteous and decent life. At that time, my father also gave me many documents to read about the sacrifices of previous soldiers, including a book about martyr Thai Van Lung – a revolutionary soldier who was tortured and imprisoned but remained unyielding to the enemy. Those stories gradually nurtured my initial understanding of ideals and responsibility to the country.
On November 12, 1949, I enlisted in the army. In March 1950, while a student at the Tran Quoc Tuan Military Academy, I was admitted to the Party. After more than a year of study, I went to the battlefield and began my fighting career in the battlefields of Military Region 5, then Binh Tri Thien, and the Southeast region… It was in that harsh environment that my faith in the Party was no longer just theory, but was forged through each day, each task, and each specific circumstance.
Those were life-or-death moments, when I had prepared two grenades – one for the enemy, one for myself – to fight to the end. There were also weeks without rice, when we had to cut down trees in the forest to eat to stave off hunger, our bodies emaciated, our weight dropping to only 43 kg. Yet, even when marching through the orchards and vegetable gardens of the local people, no matter how hungry or thirsty we were, my comrades and I never took even a single plant from their crops. It was in those dire circumstances that faith in the Party was not only a spiritual anchor, but also a boundary for each soldier to maintain self-control, preserving the integrity and honor of a Party member.
As we enter peacetime, the challenge lies in how each individual examines themselves daily. I have always believed that striving to be worthy of the title of Party member is not easy, and it is a journey that requires lifelong perseverance. No one imposes this training, but without self-discipline, it is impossible to maintain that belief. Therefore, in my neighborhood, it is not uncommon to see elderly Party members still attending Party meetings with canes. For them, it is not only a responsibility, but also an honor and a source of happiness to remain a Party member until the end of their lives.
Tran Dinh Huy:I believe that each generation grows up in different historical circumstances, but the greatest common ground remains faith in the Party's leadership and a deep love for the Fatherland. For the generation that lived through the war, that faith was forged in bombs and bullets, in sacrifice, and in the aspiration to win independence and freedom for the nation.
As for our generation – young people who grew up in peace, especially those from ethnic minority areas – our faith in the Party was nurtured by the practical changes in our homeland, by the humane policies and guidelines that opened up opportunities for learning, training, and contributing.
In life's pivotal choices, from educational and career paths to the decision to join the Party, revolutionary ideals and love for the country have become the guiding "compass." These were not easy choices, but they were choices with lasting significance, helping each individual live more responsibly towards the community and make practical contributions to the nation's shared future.
Major General Nguyen Xuan Chi:I believe we shouldn't view things in such a one-sided or generalizing way. Each generation grows up in different historical conditions and social circumstances. While our generation joined the Party amidst the flames of war, driven by the ideals of national liberation and the defense of the homeland, today's young generation matures in peacetime, with many choices and intertwined influences. This difference inevitably leads to differences in understanding and approach to the Party.
Party members should not criticize the masses or generalize that young people are "far from the Party." Instead, we need to recognize that it is our responsibility to do a better job of ideological work and build a healthy training environment where young people can be challenged, contribute, and grow. The reality shows that it's not that young people don't want to join the Party, but rather that they need proper guidance, direction, and inspiration.
I have met young people from very difficult circumstances, orphans, who studied and worked at the same time, yet still strived to join the Party while still in school. This shows that when ideals are ignited, young people are ready to dedicate themselves.
Furthermore, it is necessary to promote the role of socio-political organizations to create an environment for young people to participate, train, and contribute through concrete actions at the grassroots level. Management, education, and evaluation must be carried out rigorously from the family and residential group to the Party committees and branches at all levels, with the exemplary role of leaders, group leaders, and Party branch secretaries being extremely important.
The understanding that "joining the Party is not primarily for personal gain, but to voluntarily accept responsibility, train, and contribute to the collective and the country" is not formed overnight, but rather through a process of education and practical training. However, this process varies from person to person, depending on their starting point, living environment, and level of self-discipline. Therefore, cultivating a correct understanding of revolutionary ideals requires perseverance, through the organizational environment and the exemplary leadership of Party members and Party committees at each grassroots level.
It is also important to recognize, from a humane perspective, that many young people, even those who are not yet Party members, are still good citizens, quietly contributing to society. The key is to ensure that each young person understands the Party's noble goal: serving the nation and the people. From there, when they meet the necessary conditions and have the awareness, they will voluntarily join the Party ranks with faith, responsibility, and a sincere desire to contribute.
Tran Dinh Huy:In my opinion, young people are not "distant from the Party" or "apathetic towards the Party," but rather are seeking new, more accessible, and persuasive approaches to revolutionary ideals.
Young people live in an open environment with diverse information sources, so their beliefs don't come from slogans, but from concrete values, vivid role models, and practical actions.
The most important solution is to make the Party's ideals "alive" in the daily lives of young people through revolutionary action movements and models of contribution linked to the real needs of society. At the same time, it is crucial to strengthen dialogue, listen to, and respect the differences and legitimate aspirations of young people. When young people are given opportunities, trusted, and guided by action, their faith will be naturally and sustainably awakened.
PV:In today's social context, how should "living with ideals" be correctly understood? How are revolutionary ideals being transformed in the rhythm of modern life, especially in the way young people choose their life paths and contributions?
Major General Nguyen Xuan Chi:In our time, living with ideals meant, first and foremost, absolute faith in the Party's leadership, and a willingness to sacrifice for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland and the happiness of the people.
However, each historical period has different conditions and circumstances. In today's society, especially for the younger generation, living with ideals should not be understood rigidly or imposed according to a common model.
Each young person has their own starting point, abilities, and circumstances. What's important is that they set the right goals for themselves, live honestly, and connect their personal ideals with the interests of the community and the country.
In the current context, revolutionary ideals are transformed into a sense of responsibility in learning, working, and creating, and into a desire to contribute to building a prosperous homeland and a just and civilized society.
Regardless of the path they choose, if young people live decent lives and are responsible to themselves, their families, and society, then that is the ideal way of life that is practically manifesting in today's world..
Tran Dinh Huy:In my opinion, first and foremost, it means living responsibly towards oneself, family, community, and country. This means prioritizing the common good over personal interests when necessary; daring to venture into difficult areas, remote regions; and persevering in work and study to create positive value for society.
.jpg)
Revolutionary ideals are clearly being embodied in modern life, from young entrepreneurs committed to sustainable development and the preservation of national culture, to young teachers and officials volunteering in mountainous regions, and youth union members pioneering digital transformation, environmental protection, and social welfare. Although expressed differently, the common thread is the aspiration to contribute to a developed, humane, and sustainable Vietnam.
Major General Nguyen Xuan Chi:I have only one message to convey: Everyone has their own ideals, but if you are a party member, then be a true party member!
Tran Dinh Huy:As a young Party member and the Secretary of the Youth Union at the school, I constantly remind myself and the Youth Union members and young people striving to join the Party at the school to continuously self-reflect, self-correct, and cultivate political acumen, morality, and the capacity for action. I hope that today's young generation will nurture great aspirations, live with ideals and responsibility, and dare to contribute to the country through concrete and practical actions.
.jpg)
Faith in the Party and the path the nation has chosen will continue to be strengthened not only by glorious traditions, but also by the achievements and positive changes in life today and tomorrow.