Vietnam has a proud past, but it needs a generation with enough ambition to make a breakthrough.

At the recent launch ceremony of Van Lang Global School under Van Lang University, Madame Ninh shared important stories and messages about Vietnam's development journey, emphasizing the concept of a “sense of direction.”

Resilient, steadfast, and never giving up

Looking back more than 20 years, Ninh recounted a memorable anecdote when she had only three minutes to speak about Vietnam at an international event. She compared Vietnam to a long-distance runner, not alone but alongside regional peers such as Thailand and Malaysia, all members of ASEAN.

“The issue was not whether to run or not, but how to run faster than your companions,” Ninh said. From there, she posed a pivotal question: What will make the difference? And the answer she gave then was a “sense of direction”, a clear orientation for the entire nation.

Ninh explained: An individual can jog every morning without needing to know the destination, but a nation that has experienced many ups and downs like Vietnam cannot develop without a common goal. “All Vietnamese, at home and abroad, must share a clear direction for the entire nation.”

What surprised Ninh was that immediately after the presentation, during the Q&A session, Henry Kissinger (former US Secretary of State and former National Security Advisor) raised his hand to speak. He did not talk about weapons or the military but acknowledged a profound truth: The US had faced a people with a shared ambition, determination, and purpose - a “sense of direction.”

At that time, in 2004, Vietnam had not yet joined the WTO and was far from many current achievements. But those words left a powerful impression on her. Two decades later, she believes this remains a highly relevant message: Vietnamese people need to continue nurturing and promoting this sense of developmental direction.

“Why does the world see us that way? Have we seen ourselves like that yet?” she questioned, while also suggesting that this needs to be reflected upon at every level, from the state and businesses to education, especially by the younger generation.

She cited another story about Dominic Scriven, Chair of Dragon Capital, who has lived and worked in Vietnam for over 30 years. In a survey conducted by the HCMC Peace and Development Foundation, Scriven assessed that Vietnamese people are not only good at adapting but are particularly resilient, steadfast, and never give up, continuing no matter how difficult it gets.

Relating these two stories, Madame Ninh sent a message: Young people should be confident, creative, and united, for they hold the key to the country's future. Vietnam has a history to be proud of, but it also needs a generation with enough ambition to make the country take off.

Direct message to younger generation

She also recalled the message that Professor Ngo Bao Chau sent to students in a previous exchange: Vietnamese youth must be “upward-looking and goodness-oriented”. In this, “upward-looking” means surpassing one's own limits to reach the pinnacle of capacity and intellect, while “goodness-oriented” means becoming a decent person.

According to Ninh, ambition, ethics, and determination are the foundation for forming the “key equation,” with the companionship of schools, teachers, students, employers, and state support to create a thrust for the country.

Citing the book Vietnam: Asia Rising Star, Ninh noted that many foreign scholars believe Vietnam will take off. “How is it that they believe so, yet we do not?” she questioned, while calling for Vietnamese people to express their ambition, determination, and action to create a launchpad for the future.

Closing her talking session, Ninh sent a direct message to the younger generation: “With determination, resolve, and a clear mind, we will succeed. Let’s make Vietnam take off!”

As an educator Dr. Luong Thi Phuong Nhi, Vice Rector of Van Lang University and Principal of Van Lang Global School, believes that higher education is facing a requirement for fundamental change in a volatile world.

“Education does not just impart knowledge but must develop the capacity and bravery of the learners,” Nhi said. She emphasized that the model of Van Lang Global School aims to help students learn to adapt, mature, and contribute value while still maintaining their identity.

Thuy Nga