Among the nominees, nine are from ethnic minority groups, including Tay, Mong, Nung, Ba Na, Gia Rai, Muong, and Giay. The oldest was born in 1983 and the youngest is 14.

All of them showed outstanding achievements in national construction and defence, specifically science-creativity, production, business-startup, administrative management, security and safety, sport, culture and art, and social activities.

Nguyen Thi Thu Van from the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Centre Committee said the jury has made secret votes to choose 20 most outstanding nominees in nine fields. No nominee was selected in the administrative management category.

The names of the 20 youths will be publicised on a number of online newspapers, including Tien Phong, Thanh Nien, Ho Chi Minh City Youth, Vietnamnet, Dan Tri and Hoa Hoc Tro, and the website of Vietnam Television Channel 6 (VTV6) for public voting.

The voting results will serve as a reference for the organisers to choose the best 10 faces before they meet in mid-March.

A number of online exchanges will be held with the nominees on the online versions of newspapers.

The annual Vietnam Outstanding Youth Faces Award is presented to 10 youngsters under 35 with excellent performances in their areas for years, especially the year when they are nominated.

Through 21 years, the award has honoured over 210 faces. Other 210 faces have also received the “potential youth face” title.-VNA