Members of "For Beloved Hoang Sa and Truong Sa" Club Gather in Dong Thap
(DTO) On September 22, the "For Highland and Island Youth" Fund and the "For Beloved Hoang Sa and Truong Sa" Club hosted a member gathering at the Provincial Convention Center. The event marked the club’s 12th anniversary (August 1, 2014 - August 1, 2026), featuring scholarship awards for the 2026-2027 academic year and the handover of Great National Solidarity Houses in Dong Thap and Vinh Long provinces.
The gathering welcomed Ms. Truong My Hoa, former Secretary of the Party Central Committee, former Vice President of Vietnam, and Chairwoman of both the "For Highland and Island Youth" Fund and the "For Beloved Hoang Sa and Truong Sa" Club. Other key attendees included Mr. Huynh Minh Tuan, member of the Dong Thap Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee; Ms. Nguyen Thi Be Muoi, Vice Chairwoman of the Vinh Long Provincial People’s Committee; alongside leaders from both provinces, club members, sponsors, and business representatives.
Over its 12 years of operation, the club has expanded its network across 34 domestic provinces and cities as well as 12 countries, boasting approximately 6,000 individual members, 202 collective entities, and 82 member groups. On this occasion, the club welcomed its 6,000th member, Dr. Cao Nguyen Thi, Vice Rector of Tien Giang University, while admitting two collective organizations and 40 individual members from Dong Thap Province.
During the program, Lieutenant General Pham Van Dy, former Secretary of the Party Committee and Political Commissar of Military Region 7, and a club member, delivered a keynote briefing on current affairs in the East Sea and the global arena, focusing on maritime issues and national sovereignty. This session aimed to raise awareness, foster solidarity, and deepen members’ sense of responsibility toward the nation’s seas and islands.
To further support students in border and island areas, the Fund and the Club officially launched their participation in UpRace 2026 under the theme “Stride for a Soaring Vietnam.”
In response, 16 collectives from Dong Thap—including 11 member groups and five administrative units—registered a cohort of 3,110 runners, pledging a combined distance of 90,500 kilometers to raise funds for scholarships targeting students in border and island areas.
Addressing the event, Ms. Truong My Hoa expressed her delight at the strong turnout of club members from Dong Thap and Vinh Long, especially after the two localities completed their administrative restructuring under the new mechanism.
She noted that over the past 12 years, the club has successfully bridged the mainland with the nation's seas and islands. This has been achieved through scholarship presentations, human resource development, student support, and the construction of vital public infrastructure such as bridges, roads, schools, Great National Solidarity Houses, and charity homes.
Ms. Truong My Hoa emphasized that UpRace is not merely a fitness initiative, but a meaningful platform to spread the spirit of compassion and mobilize vital resources for underprivileged students. She urged the community to continue expanding the campaign, effectively linking physical health with social welfare.
Looking ahead, she expressed high expectations that the club's chapters in Dong Thap and Vinh Long will continue to flourish, attract more members and sponsors, and make greater contributions to maritime welfare and national defense.
On this occasion, the "For Highland and Island Youth" Fund and the "For Beloved Hoang Sa and Truong Sa" Club granted two Great National Solidarity Houses, worth 80 million VND each, to disadvantaged families in Tan Hao Commune (Vinh Long Province) and Tan Dien Commune (Dong Thap Province). They also distributed 355 annual scholarships to students in border, coastal, and island areas, as well as children of Border Guard personnel, alongside 28 "Compassionate Hearts" scholarships for students affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Additionally, the Dong Thap Provincial People’s Committee and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Dong Thap Province awarded Certificates of Merit to 18 collectives and individuals for their active contributions to supporting underprivileged residents and students in the province.
By H. THONG
Translated by X.QUANG
