Top 6 Inspirational Figures of 2017 at the WeChoice Awards

"The Queen of Action Movies" Ngo Thanh Van was one of the 6 honorees at the recent WeChoice Awards. 2017 was a year of intense activity for her in every role she undertook. As an actress, she played supporting roles in two major Hollywood blockbusters, *Bright* and *Star Wars: The Last Jedi*. Though her screen time was minimal, her performances catapulted her 4000 spots up the IMDb rankings, landing her in the top 50, surpassing Hollywood heavyweights like Harley Quinn, Kate Winslet, Jennifer Lawrence, Hugh Jackman, and The Rock. As a producer and director, her team completed three films last year, including *Cô Ba Sài Gòn*, which was released at the end of the year and created a sensation both locally and internationally. Two other projects, *Về quê ăn Tết*, which is set for release during the Lunar New Year, and a Cai Luong film titled *Song Lang*, are both in the works, with the latter scheduled for release in May. Despite numerous opportunities in Hollywood, Ngo Thanh Van is committed to transforming Vietnamese cinema. When asked to choose between Hollywood and the Vietnamese film industry, she stated: "If I don’t continue to lead, no one else will take my place. That’s why I choose Vietnam, my homeland, not only to build my own career but also to contribute to the future of Vietnamese cinema." With relentless effort, Ngo Thanh Van has become a source of positive inspiration for young people pursuing their dreams. She exemplifies passion, perseverance, dedication, and the courage to face challenges.

You surely remember the electric atmosphere that swept the nation at the end of January and early February, when the Vietnam U23 team made history at the *AFC U23 Championship 2018*. The entire country was filled with red flags and the chant: 'Vietnam will win'. Although they had never appeared in the WeChoice rankings before, the courage and contributions of the U23 players in the Asian U23 final earned them a special recognition as the 5+1 Inspirational Ambassadors at the 2017 WeChoice Awards—a first in the history of this event. Though they finished second in the final match of the AFC U23 Championship, players like Van Thanh, who led the team into the final; Quang Hai, with his powerful goals; Tiến Dũng, who made accurate decisions in every play; and captain Xuân Trường, who shielded his teammates from the cold with his own jacket, all became symbols of unity and pride for millions of Vietnamese. Despite not winning the final match, U23 Vietnam remains the true 'National Champions' in the hearts of the people.

With a total of 36,594 votes from the audience and consideration from the panel, the story of actor Quoc Tuan's silent battle to treat his son Bom's illness became one of the most inspirational stories of the year. It is a story of love, perseverance, sacrifice, and passion. Quoc Tuan, a well-known actor in Vietnam through his iconic role in *Người vác tù và hàng tổng*, faced many personal hardships after discovering that his son, Bom (Nguyễn Anh Tuấn), had Apert syndrome (a condition causing early bone fusion). For 15 years, Quoc Tuan worked tirelessly to find treatments for Bom, all while instilling in him a love for music, self-confidence, and optimism. Now 16 years old, Bom has been playing the piano for over a year and recently passed the entrance exam to the Hanoi Conservatory of Music, living a life full of his father's love and his own musical passion. Last year, their touching story was featured on the show *Điều ước số 7*, moving many to tears. Even months after airing, Quoc Tuan and Bom are still regarded as symbols of love, passion, and unshakable optimism, even in the face of adversity.

Nguyen Thi Xuan (94 years old, Vinh Thanh Village, Vinh Ngoc Commune, Dong Anh, Hanoi) spent over 50 years waiting, believing her Japanese husband had been lost in the war. When they finally reunited, he had a new family. Her decision to face the tragedy of love with forgiveness, holding on to beautiful memories instead of resentment, inspired many young people to realize that forgiveness is the cure for all wounds, allowing love to continue in our hearts. Sadly, not long ago, Nguyen Thi Xuan passed away due to old age before she could witness her inspiring story being shared further. At the WeChoice Awards, a performance that reenacted her life and the trials of her love story moved many to tears.

On the same day that the nation mourned the Vietnam U22 men's football team’s defeat at SEA Games 29, the Vietnam women's football team immediately lifted the spirits of fans by defeating Thailand to clinch the Gold Medal. The decisive 6-0 victory over the host country Malaysia became a source of immense pride for the entire nation, marking another glorious achievement for the Vietnamese women’s team. This wasn't the first time the team had brought glory to the nation. They had previously reached the finals of the Asian Women's Football Championship seven times and had been champions of the Southeast Asian Women's Football Championship twice. The SEA Games 29 victory marked their fifth gold medal. With numerous accomplishments, the Vietnam women's football team has played a significant role in narrowing the gap between Vietnamese sports and the international stage, inspiring dedication and relentless effort to represent the nation's colors on the global field.