1. Topic: Sense of Responsibility
- In response to the destruction of 6,700 trees, Hanoi residents launched a campaign, tying yellow ribbons around trees to show their civic responsibility toward the environment.
- When plans were announced to build a cable car in Son Doong, the world's largest cave, putting the site at risk of damage, Vietnamese netizens created a campaign to protect the cave, raising awareness of its value and urging everyone to safeguard this invaluable natural wonder.
- Despite cracks in the steel bars, workers at the Hanoi Metro construction site continued to use a crane to move the bars, resulting in the collapse of a 9-meter, 600 kg steel pile onto the road. This shows the irresponsibility in construction, which poses serious risks to public safety.
- Numerous tragic traffic accidents occur due to drivers falling asleep at the wheel or intentionally speeding and violating traffic laws. Irresponsibility on the road can lead to severe consequences, causing pain and loss to many.
Topic: Sense of Responsibility
Topic: Sense of Responsibility
2. Topic: Honesty and Dishonesty
- In India, hundreds of parents throw exam papers into classrooms for their children, causing authorities major headaches. This is a consequence of the lack of genuine learning and the societal pressure for individual academic success.
- Lê Doãn Ý, a 23-year-old student from Hanoi Open University in Da Nang, found and returned over 1.3 billion VND to its rightful owner. He shared, 'Finding a lost item and returning it is just the right thing to do. But the recognition feels great and motivates me to live better.'
- Abraham Lincoln is revered for his unwavering honesty. In a letter to his son's teacher, he wrote: 'Please teach my son that a dollar earned through honest labor is far more valuable than five dollars found on the street.'
- At six years old, George Washington accidentally chopped down a cherished cherry tree his father loved. When confronted by his father, Washington, overwhelmed with fear, tearfully admitted, 'I cannot lie, Father! I cut down the tree with my small axe.' His honesty shaped his character, and Washington went on to become the first president of the United States.
- Chu Văn An (1292 – 1370), a Confucian scholar, philosopher, and educator in the late Trần dynasty, was known for his integrity. When serving as an official under King Trần Dụ Tông, amid political corruption and sycophants, he submitted a petition to execute seven corrupt officials (the 'Seven Beheadings Petition'). When it was rejected, he resigned, returned to his hometown, and dedicated himself to teaching, writing, and candidly criticizing his students who lacked respect.
Topic: Honesty and Dishonesty
Topic: Honesty and Dishonesty- Malala Yousafzai, known for her advocacy of women's rights, particularly in the Swat Valley where the Taliban had previously banned girls from attending school, courageously fought for girls' right to education despite threats from the terrorist group. Malala became the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. In her Nobel acceptance speech, she emphasized, 'No matter the color of our skin, the language we speak, or the religion we follow, we should see each other as human beings, respect each other, and fight for our rights—rights for children, women, and for everyone.'
- Nguyễn Văn Nam, a 12th-grade student from Đô Lương 1 High School in Nghệ An, demonstrated incredible bravery when he saw a group of students struggling in the Lam River. Without hesitation, he jumped into the water to save them. After rescuing four students, he noticed one still drifting toward drowning. Nam used every ounce of his strength to get the student to shore, but sadly, he exhausted himself and was swept away by the current.
Topic: Courage
Topic: Courage- Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, was remarkably skilled at putting himself in others' shoes to understand their motives and desires. This empathetic ability allowed Lincoln to form one of the most unusual cabinets in American history, gathering his political rivals and assigning them roles based on their talents and abilities.
- Despite personal grievances with Trần Khánh Dư, when the Mongol Yuan forces invaded Đại Việt for the third time, Trần Hưng Đạo set aside his personal feelings and trusted Trần Khánh Dư, who had been reinstated to his position, with the critical task of managing the border defense. Additionally, when composing the famous military text 'Vạn Kiếp Tông Bí Truyền Thư,' Trần Hưng Đạo selected Trần Khánh Dư to write the preface for the book.
- Renowned physician Lê Hữu Trác once received a request to treat an illness from a noble family. Upon arriving late, he explained that while the noble's illness was minor and could be treated later, he had stopped to treat a poor person who had a much more severe condition. His response demonstrated his commitment to fairness, prioritizing the needs of those in greater distress.
Topic: Fairness
Topic: Fairness- There is a story about Lê Hữu Trác, who treated a poor fisherman’s son suffering from severe smallpox. The boy’s body emitted a strong stench, so every time Lê examined him, he had to leave his clothes on the shore and stuff cotton in his nose to reduce the unbearable smell. Despite this, Lê continued to visit and treat the boy for months. When the child recovered, not only did Lê refuse any payment, but he also gave the boy’s family rice, firewood, oil, and lanterns.
- Mother Teresa devoted over 40 years to caring for the poor, sick, orphans, and the dying, while leading the Missionaries of Charity, which expanded across India and other countries. She did everything she could to ease the world’s “thirst” for peace, love, and joy. Through her work, everyone witnessed her selfless love and compassion.
- The mothers and aunts at the SOS Children’s Village in Nghệ An have dedicated their lives to raising orphaned children who have no blood ties to them but whom they love as if they were their own. One shared, 'Watching the children grow up happy is a source of great joy for us. That joy motivates us to continue caring for these less fortunate kids, giving them smiles and hope.'
- The SOS Children’s Village in Quy Nhơn is home to 13 mothers, most of whom are women from rural areas, aged between 30 and 40, in good health, without husbands or children of their own. They have chosen to sacrifice their lives to care for 10 or more orphaned children. They are responsible for raising, educating, and preparing these children to be independent when they reach adulthood. Like all mothers, they foster emotional bonds and unity among the families in the village.
Topic: Compassion
Topic: Compassion
6. Topic: Creativity and Seizing Opportunities
- The famous dancer Anna Pavlova was known to endure severe foot pain during her performances. To ease the discomfort, she modified her shoes by adding a piece of hard leather to the sole and flattening the inside of the shoe. This innovation alleviated the pain, enabling her to move more freely and creatively on stage.
- In his youth, Pablo Picasso was a penniless, unknown artist in Paris. With only 15 coins left, he decided to take a final gamble. He hired students to visit art shops and ask, 'Do you have any paintings by Picasso?' Within a month, Picasso’s name was recognized throughout Paris, and his works began to sell. This moment marked his rise to fame, proving that if you don't create opportunities for yourself, you'll never have any.
- Nearly every soldier from the Vietnam War knew about Hoàng Cầm’s smokeless stove. During the war, even a small wisp of smoke could lead to detection, resulting in airstrikes. Hoàng Cầm invented the smokeless stove, which effectively neutralized the American air force's detection methods, giving the soldiers a significant tactical advantage.
Topic: Creativity and Seizing Opportunities
Topic: Creativity and Seizing Opportunities
7. Topic: Giving and Receiving
- Trần Phước Hòa, from Bình Tân district, established a system of vegetarian restaurants offering meals for just 5,000 VND to help people facing hardship. 'It has become a habit for me to observe and chat with the customers at my restaurant. I feel a sense of warmth when I see them leaving satisfied,' he shared (according to Tuổi Trẻ News).
- One heartwarming image of Saigon’s compassion is the free iced tea stands placed on sidewalks. This simple act of kindness represents the warm, welcoming, and friendly spirit of Saigon.
- For many years, the sight of volunteers in their green shirts has become a familiar one during university entrance exam season. The green shirts symbolize care, sharing, and selfless enthusiasm for the community. Despite the scorching summer heat, the volunteers have been present at every exam location to assist students and their families. Well-prepared in advance, they provide information on affordable or free accommodations, exam locations, and bus routes. Some volunteers even offer to house students and their families, while others volunteer to drive them to the exam venues.
Topic: Giving and Receiving
Topic: Giving and Receiving- Defender Lê Văn Xuân - Vietnam Men's Football: During the SEA Games 31 men's football final, as soon as Vietnam's team won, Xuân limped onto the pitch with crutches to celebrate with his teammates. Phan Tuấn Tài, the player who replaced him, put on the shirt Xuân had hoped to wear that night. After the victory, Xuân shared candidly in an interview: “I regret not being able to play in the final, but what matters is that U23 Vietnam won the gold medal. Whether I played or not is not important because my teammates stepped up in my place.”
- “Tears of a Father”: Lê Văn Thắng, father of defender Lê Văn Xuân, was moved to tears after hearing of his son's injury following the semifinal match against Malaysia. He went to encourage his son but couldn’t hold back his emotions: “It breaks my heart to see my son in pain, walking on crutches.”
- Team Captain Huỳnh Như - Vietnam Women's Football: Ten years ago, at 21, this young woman was cut from the Southeast Asia Championship final squad... It felt like the sky had fallen for her. But she rose stronger than ever. At 31, the typical retirement age for female footballers, she is still the captain of the national team, a sharp and persistent striker, one of the rare female players with long hair on the field... Today, she shines again, leading the Vietnamese women's football team to successfully defend their SEA Games gold medal.
- Athlete from TIMOR LESTE: Although he couldn’t reach the top of the podium at the SEA Games, Timor-Leste’s athlete Felisberto, who has a proud Olympic history, couldn’t contain his emotions. He enthusiastically joined Nguyen Văn Lai (Gold) and Lê Văn Thao (Bronze) to celebrate by running around Mỹ Đình stadium. He also surprised everyone by holding a small Vietnamese flag alongside his own Timor-Leste flag. Felisberto's resilience is even more impressive considering that just before SEA Games 31, he tragically lost his sister, yet continued his journey to Vietnam with his team. Despite the hardships, Felisberto remained optimistic, ready to compete and overcome all odds to leave his mark at the international level.
- Lò Thị Hoàng - Thai ethnic athlete sets SEA Games javelin record: Lò Thị Hoàng, from a poor Thai ethnic family, found great motivation in her struggles, helping her push through tough times, including long battles with injuries. On May 18, her miraculous throw of 56.37m broke the 15-year-old SEA Games javelin record of 55.97m set by a Thai athlete.
- Swimmer Nguyễn Huy Hoàng - Making waves in the pool: At SEA Games 2019, Huy Hoàng won the Gold Medal in the 400m freestyle with a time of 3 minutes 49.08 seconds, breaking the SEA Games record. Before the event, he confidently stated: “On May 16th, I will compete in the 400m freestyle and my goal is to break my own record.” And indeed, he did, setting a new SEA Games record of 3 minutes 48.06 seconds. After his double Gold medal win, the 22-year-old swimmer shared that for him, the true achievement lies not in the competition but in the months and years of diligent preparation, a reward for consistent training and determination to go further.
- Efren Reyes, the billiards legend from the Philippines, achieved victory in the hearts of Vietnamese fans: Efren Reyes, the oldest athlete at SEA Games 31 at 67, didn't rely on past glories but competed with full effort. Though he only won a Bronze medal, the greatest victory for him was the love and admiration from the Vietnamese fans. He shared with the press: “The people here are such big fans of mine. Even when I lose, many still support me, and I want to thank all of you very much.”
- Weightlifter Hoàng Thị Duyên - The Giày ethnic girl wins World Weightlifting Gold: Despite a difficult family background and lacking transportation to training, Duyên’s perseverance and unwavering effort allowed her to achieve a historic hat-trick of Gold medals for Vietnam’s women’s weightlifting team at the 2020 World Weightlifting Cup in Rome. Not stopping there, Hoàng Thị Duyên continued to conquer personal challenges. At SEA Games 31, she successfully clinched another Gold in the women’s 59kg weight class.
- Victory of the U23 Men's Football Team: On May 22, we witnessed the incredible moment when Vietnam’s U23 national men’s football team successfully defended their gold medal at SEA Games 31. This victory was a result of effort, intelligence, resilience, unity, discipline, and the pride of every team member. It was also a triumph of solidarity and unity.
- How the people celebrated the victory when the U23 Men’s Football Team retained their “crown”: Every Vietnamese person experienced an indescribable surge of emotions when striker Nhâm Mạnh Dũng scored in the 83rd minute of the match. Immediately after, millions of fans waving the national flag formed a “forest” of red flags across the country, chanting “Vietnam is the champion.”
Topic: SEA Games 31
Topic: SEA Games 31
9. Topic: Forgiveness and Redemption
- Instead of punishing the defeated (the Southern Confederacy supported slavery), during the ceremony following the end of the American Civil War, Abraham Lincoln delivered a powerful speech: "We harbor no malice toward anyone. Let us do our part in healing this nation."
- Phan Thị Kim Phúc, known as the "Napalm Girl" in the iconic photograph from the Vietnam War, endured deep physical and emotional scars. As she grew older, Kim Phúc chose to forgive those on the opposing side of the conflict, even those directly responsible for her suffering. Kim Phúc stated: "Forgiveness freed me from hatred. Though I still bear scars, and the pain lingers, my heart is now at peace."
- John Wast, a U.S. war veteran, after the conflict, returned a memento to the family of Bùi Đức Hưng, a North Vietnamese soldier who had fought against him. Upon seeing a carefully etched dove on the inside of the bullet-riddled helmet, Wast was struck by the immense love for peace in the heart of his adversary. For 46 years, he kept that memento on his bookshelf as a constant reminder of the value of peace, eventually returning it to Hưng’s family as an act of contrition.
- Alfred Nobel, the brilliant scientist who invented dynamite, later expressed profound regret for his invention's use in war, which caused immense suffering and loss. In his will, Nobel devoted his entire fortune to establishing the Nobel Prizes, honoring contributions to humanity, as a way of atoning for his past mistake.
Topic: Forgiveness and Redemption
Topic: Forgiveness and Redemption
10. Topic: Living with Passion
- Steve Jobs, the CEO of Apple, was a man with an unwavering passion for computer technology. Despite facing many challenges, including being fired from Apple, his passion kept him motivated. He persevered and rebuilt his career, creating groundbreaking innovations. Steve Jobs once said, "Sometimes life will throw bricks at your head. Don’t lose faith." He also shared, "We don’t have the opportunity to do many things, and everything we do must be exceptional because it’s our life. Life is short, and then you die. We all have the choice to make something great with our lives. So, make it worthwhile."
- For Susan Boyle, the angelic voice from Britain, her love for singing was the driving force behind her life. Born to a mother who was 47 years old, Susan faced a difficult birth that caused brain damage and led to learning challenges. She was often bullied and ridiculed for her appearance. Yet, she never gave up on her passion for music. Her rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream" captured the hearts of millions, proving that passion can overcome adversity.
- Famous ballerina Anna Pavlova nurtured her passion for dance until her final breath. Before passing away, she requested to be dressed in the same costume she wore during her performance of The Dying Swan. At her next performance in The Hague, a single spotlight was shone on an empty stage, symbolizing the immense loss the ballet world experienced when they bid farewell to its queen.
- Born into poverty in Odense, Denmark, Hans Christian Andersen faced many hardships, including having little food to eat and being mocked for his appearance. Despite these challenges, he dreamed of becoming an artist. He wandered to Copenhagen, taking on small acting roles and doing menial work. Eventually, his determination and passion for the arts led to his success. Today, his fairy tales continue to inspire readers, bringing joy to children and sparking beautiful dreams. His resilience and love for the arts were the keys to his success.
Topic: Living with Passion
Topic: Living with Passion
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