Young pioneers in developing science and technology

After six years of working at the Government Solutions Center, Viettel Enterprise Solutions Corporation, Mr. Hoang Khac Hieu is not only a young and enthusiastic engineer but also a person who contributes to positioning Vietnamese technology on the world map. The days of hard work with his teammates, sometimes at the meeting table with international partners, sometimes rolling around in the field to perfect the product... have trained a young engineer to "dare to think, dare to do, dare to conquer new technologies".

All-night text messages, online meetings spanning thousands of kilometers, detailed and meticulous data analysis reports, long business trips to survey and listen to customer needs... Despite all the hardship, Mr. Hieu and his colleagues have never once faltered.

For Mr. Hoang Khac Hieu, the most memorable moment was when the team presented the Traffic Monitoring Solution integrating AI on cameras and 5G technology to international experts at the Dubai Financial Center. Many people were surprised: "I didn't expect Vietnam to be able to make such a product". In the middle of the Dubai Financial Center, which is considered the heart of global technology, listening to the "winged compliments" of international experts and customers for Vietnamese technology products, the young engineer could not help but feel happy and proud. In that moment, he decided to "dream bigger dreams": Bringing Vietnamese technology further, positioning Vietnamese intelligence on the world technology map.

Not only making his mark in the international technology arena, Mr. Hieu also brings technology to serve the community even in the most difficult times. During the days when the whole country was struggling to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, the transportation of essential goods faced many difficulties. He and six teammates were tasked with developing the "Green Channel" project for the Ministry of Construction (Ministry of Transport before the merger). In just two weeks, a complete system was designed and deployed, helping thousands of vehicles to move smoothly, reducing pressure on the control force.

While many people work from home to ensure safety, Mr. Khac Hieu and his teammates still go to the company, work through the night, facing the risk of infection. The office becomes a "headquarters", where everyone is united with the sole goal: Complete the project in the shortest time. When the system is officially put into operation, it allows drivers to easily register their travel routes, helping authorities control information quickly and accurately.

“Standing in front of the screen watching the statistics updated every minute, witnessing thousands of vehicles licensed after only a few hours of operation, we understand that every effort is worth it. 'Green Stream' is not only a technology project, but also a testament to the sense of responsibility, dedication and determination of the whole team. In the most difficult times, technology becomes the key to opening the way for solutions that bring real value to society,” Mr. Hoang Khac Hieu shared.

From the dream of a “Made in Vietnam” technology product reaching the international level to solutions that bring value to millions of people, Hoang Khac Hieu’s journey is a testament to a generation of young engineers who are constantly innovating, creating and contributing. They not only write their own story, but also open a new chapter for Vietnamese technology on the world map.

After nine years of living and researching in France, Dr. Nguyen Viet Huong (Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Phenikaa University) faced many crossroads. Attractive invitations from leading European research centers promised a bright future, but he chose a different path: the path of return. For Dr. Nguyen Viet Huong, his homeland is not only a place to remember, but also a place to contribute.

From the early days of fiddling with electric cables, writing lines of code, to becoming a doctor honored by the French Chemical Society, the young doctor's scientific journey is one of perseverance in conquering every challenge. It was the rigorous training in the laboratory that helped him shape his research identity and led him to an important turning point: Building the SALD system, the first atmospheric pressure atomic monolayer deposition system in water.

In 2019, he joined Phenikaa University and led the project to build and design the SALD system, the first atmospheric pressure atomic monolayer deposition system in the country. After three years of hard work with his teammates, in February 2022, the SALD technology laboratory was born. Since then, Dr. Nguyen Viet Huong has been passionate about "sowing the seeds" of science in every class in the classroom, in the laboratory and leading and accompanying young people in Phenikaa Group and many international cooperation projects such as: Korea, Taiwan (China), Malaysia and European countries...

Dr. Nguyen Viet Huong believes that young people are the most powerful resource for developing science and technology. Their creativity, flexibility and fearlessness of failure have contributed to making important strides. “Scientific research requires perseverance and persistence, and youth is the most suitable age to challenge that,” Dr. Nguyen Viet Huong shared.

From her own experience, Dr. Huong always encourages students to join scientific research groups, starting from the second or third year... to practice. Not only are they exposed to practical knowledge, they also have the opportunity to work with fellow researchers, learn how to think scientifically and develop many soft skills, a great environment to grow up.

But above all, what Dr. Huong wants to convey is not only knowledge but also the spirit of self-study. He emphasized: “Science and technology change constantly. What is learned today can be outdated in just a few years. Only the spirit of self-study can help young people catch up and go further.” Therefore, in teaching, he always creates conditions for students to actively explore, research and present problems, a method that helps them practice independent thinking. For Dr. Huong, doing science is not only a passion but also a responsibility. Responsibility to the homeland and country; responsibility to the truth, always maintaining integrity in research. Especially responsibility to the young generation, Dr. Huong wants to fuel and help them go further on the path of science.

When talking about his journey, Dr. Huong did not talk much about the achievements he had made. What he deeply cared about was how to let the younger generation continue, so that Vietnamese science could reach out to the world, that was the most meaningful success.

The black and white photos, blurred over time, each soldier's face gradually faded from the memories of their loved ones, as if awakened with the support of technology. Mr. Le Van Phuc (Head of the "Red Flower Color" restoration team, Deputy of the Skyline photo restoration team) and his colleagues have gone on a special journey together: Applying AI to restore photos of martyrs, bringing their bodies back to their families after many years of waiting.

“In the past, it took hours, even days, to restore a photo. Now, with the support of AI technology, the time is shortened to only 30 minutes to an hour (for photos with little damage). More importantly, the technology helps increase accuracy, bringing clearer, more realistic photos…”

Video of Mr. Le Van Phuc sharing about the project of applying AI to restore photos of martyrs:

Last March, the group restored photos of 64 Navy soldiers who died on Gac Ma Island. Mr. Phuc will always remember the moment when he visited the family of martyr Mai Van Tuyen in Thai Binh: “When we showed him the restored photo along with a video simulating martyr Mai Van Tuyen waving goodbye to his family, his sister hugged the photo tightly and burst into tears. Around them, relatives also quietly wiped away their tears. At that moment, I understood that the work we were doing was not simply restoring images but also a bridge between the past and the present, so that those who have passed away will always be present in the hearts of those who remain.”

However, each restored photo has its own challenges. There are some photos where the faces are not clearly visible, with only blurred features remaining. How to recreate the uniforms of each period? How can the families accurately recognize their loved ones?... At those times, Mr. Phuc spent hours talking to the families of martyrs, listening attentively to every small detail... to restore the photos in the most realistic way. Besides, AI technology is not yet perfect, constantly changing, Mr. Phuc and the members of the team have to update and research constantly.

“I believe that technology is not only for economic development, but can also bring profound spiritual values, helping us preserve history, maintain the memories of generations who sacrificed for national independence. But to do that, we must be responsible for the technology we are using, not distorting history, not creating false images. Technology must be a tool to preserve the truth. What I hope for most is to be able to spread this work to more young people. Currently, the 'Color of Red Flowers' group has 20 members, each in charge of a different stage. But Vietnam has more than one million martyrs and the number of people doing this work is still too small. I hope that, in the future, the restoration of martyrs' photos will not only be a project of a small group, but will become a common responsibility of today's young generation, those who do not forget the past, do not forget the sacrifices for us to have today", Mr. Le Van Phuc wishes.

As Vice President of the Son La Provincial Youth Union and Head of the Son La Provincial Police Youth Department, Senior Lieutenant Duong Hai Anh is not only a soldier dedicated to his duty but also a pioneer in applying technology to charity. For the young Senior Lieutenant, digital transformation is not only a trend, but also a way for kind hearts to spread more widely, faster, and to the right people in need.

“The digitization of charity projects helps build a transparent and public online database. Thanks to that, donors can easily connect, track and contribute more effectively, ensuring that support reaches those in need,” said Senior Lieutenant Hai Anh.

That passion is clearly demonstrated through the “Nuoi Em Moc Chau” project, with automatic features such as creating ID photos, AI replying to messages, data checking system, the project not only helps reduce workload but also increases accuracy and transparency. In particular, each child is given a “Nuoi Em Code”, numbered according to each school to avoid confusion and duplication. This code is not just a series of numbers, but also a “ticket” to ensure that no child is left behind.

In the project "Happiness for Children" (deployed from December 2021), Senior Lieutenant Hai Anh also created a digital charity map. Thanks to this map, donors can monitor the progress of the project in real time and choose to sponsor items according to their ability: Item 20 million VND to help build toilets, 30 million VND to dig water wells, 50 million VND to install computer rooms, 80 million VND to build houses, 200 million VND to build schools...

“I hope that young people will apply science, technology and engineering to volunteer projects so that the project implementation and management process can be systematic and scientific, especially in building an authentic volunteer data warehouse in their area…”, Senior Lieutenant Duong Hai Anh shared.

Each number, image, and line of data on the system is not simply information, but a piece of love, of dreams taking flight. Technology is no longer a dry thing, but has become a bridge connecting hearts, bringing happiness to distant lands.

In the digital age, union members and young people are pioneers, carrying the mission of mastering science and technology, bringing Vietnamese intelligence far and wide. They are not only technology recipients, but also creators, innovators and technology application to solve practical problems of the country. They are young engineers who constantly research and develop artificial intelligence, big data, blockchain... to create "Made in Vietnam" technology products, positioning Vietnamese technology on the world technology map.

Science and technology do not stop at great inventions, they also have practical applications in life, especially in charity activities. Technology has helped campaigns to help children in mountainous areas and support disadvantaged families become more transparent and effective. A digital charity map, an automatic child data management system, or an application connecting benefactors with those in need, all originate from dedicated young people, always thinking of ways for technology to not only serve economic development, but also spread love and sharing with the community.

More than a tool, science and technology are a source of inspiration, a “fire” that urges young generations to embark on a journey of discovery and creativity. Each invention and new model not only brings practical value, but also a strong affirmation: Vietnamese youth have enough intelligence and courage to lead the technological revolution; above all, they are spreading a message: Youth is not only about dreams, but also about action and commitment to create sustainable values ​​for the future.

Recently, at the Youth Dialogue Conference in 2025, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that 20 million young people will determine the position and stature of Vietnam in the digital age; the vision and aspiration for national development by 2045 greatly need the contribution and intelligence of this force...

In the coming time, the Government and the Prime Minister will focus on directing three key tasks: Perfecting institutions, mechanisms, and policies to support young people in developing science, technology, innovation, startups, and digital transformation; developing digital infrastructure, improving the investment and business environment, supporting and creating favorable conditions for young people to participate deeply in developing science, technology, innovation, startups, and national digital transformation; strongly investing in developing high-quality young human resources, especially in key technology fields.

The Prime Minister suggested that Vietnamese youth promote the spirit of initiative and creativity with “5 proactive measures” in developing science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation. These include being proactive in studying, scientific research, applying technology, digital transformation; proactively contributing ideas, participating in perfecting institutions, improving the investment, business and startup environment; proactive in smart governance and optimizing work efficiency; proactive in startups, innovation, digital transformation; proactive in international exchange and integration.

Along with that, the Prime Minister made 3 "orders" for Vietnamese youth: "Vietnamese youth have said and done, have committed to do, have made efforts and must make more efforts, have been determined and must be even more determined, have been pioneers and must be even more pioneers in developing science, technology, innovation, digital transformation"... Vietnamese youth must promote the spirit of "not being arrogant in victory, not being discouraged in defeat"; must have the mindset of "turning nothing into something, turning difficult into easy, turning the impossible into possible", keeping "a pure heart - bright mind - great ambition", thinking deeply, doing big things, looking far and wide; valuing time, intelligence, and timely decisiveness; striving to overcome one's own limits to constantly contribute to the homeland and country.

In the article “Future for the Rising Generation” on the occasion of the 94th anniversary of the founding of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (March 26, 1931 - March 26, 2025), General Secretary To Lam also emphasized that in the current period, the role of youth is becoming more and more important, youth “are the pillars that lead the country firmly into the new era”, are the main resource to build and develop new productive forces, and are also the pioneers participating in new fields. The maturity, sustainability, and even the destiny of the country “depend greatly on the youth force and the young generation”.

The world is entering an unprecedented period of breakthrough development in technology and science. The rapid and powerful development of artificial intelligence, biotechnology, big data and automation is strongly and rapidly shaping the way we work, live and communicate globally. This requires each country, including Vietnam, to carefully prepare a young generation that meets strict human resource standards for integration and sustainable development.

According to the General Secretary, in terms of intelligence, today's young Vietnamese generation needs more than ever creativity, critical thinking and the ability to quickly handle technological changes. Young people must be trained to become pioneers in mastering new technology, with the capacity to research, develop and apply the most advanced achievements into practice.

Article: Hong Phuong
Presentation, video: Le Phu
Photo: HP, NVCC, Thanh Doan,
Central Youth Union

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/long-form/emagazine/thanh-nien-tien-phong-phat-trien-khoa-hoc-cong-nghe-20250325225621037.htm