Attending the Congress were General Trinh Van Quyet, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Party Central Commission for Communication and Mass Mobilization; representatives of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front, central ministries and agencies, diplomatic missions and international organisations; representatives of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC); along with 270 exemplary delegates representing all levels of the VNRC and enterprises nationwide who were commended and honoured.
Delivering the opening remarks, VNRC President Đỗ Thị Thu Thảo emphasized that the 6th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, held for the 2025-2030 period, coincides with the 79th anniversary of the first VNRC General Assembly at Thanh Am Communal House – the birthplace of Viet Nam’s revolutionary humanitarian movement. This special event is not only a big event of the patriotic emulation movement across the entire Red Cross system, but also a milestone that connects past, present, and future; an occasion to honour silent contributions and to powerfully spark the nation’s humanitarian spirit.
Reviewing the emulation movement of the previous period, the President stated that despite the COVID-19 pandemic and extreme natural disasters, the movement still achieved extraordinary achievements: Humanitarian activities reached over VND 29 trillion, assisting more than 102 million people – 45% higher than the last period, demonstrating the symbol of “the Vietnamese power of compassion”. Major programmes included Tet of Kindness, Humanitarian Month, Safety for the Community, and the Red Journey… Disaster preparedness and response, blood donation, organ donation saw strong growth, and international cooperation expanded.
Entering the 2025-2030 period, amid the challenges of climate change and digital transformation demand, VNRC is determined to further advance reforms in a more professional, modern, and people-oriented direction. The new patriotic emulation movement will focus on five priorities: Strengthening the capacity of the Society so each level becomes a trusted “humanitarian hub”; developing staff, members, and volunteers – “seeds of compassion” who act with heart and responsibility; ensuring each locality implements at least one exemplary humanitarian model such as safety for the community or smart first aid; promoting digital transformation to enhance transparency and ensure resources reach the right people, in the right place, and at the right time; and strengthening international cooperation to amplify Vietnamese humanitarian values and broaden community support initiatives.
In light of the severe flooding in Central Viet Nam, President Đỗ Thị Thu Thảo called for immediate action following the Congress. She expressed her hope that delegates, upon returning to their localities, will continue the tradition of mutual support, assisting the Society in mobilising humanitarian resources so affected people in the central region of Viet Nam can “have warm meals, safe shelter, and, more importantly, renewed confidence to rebuild their lives”.
Delivering the directive remarks at the Congress, General Trinh Van Quyet – Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Party Central Commission for Communication and Mass Mobilization – acknowledged and commended the dedication, creativity, and commitment of VNRC staff, members, and volunteers. He also warmly congratulated the significant and comprehensive achievements attained by the patriotic emulation movement of the Viet Nam Red Cross Society during the 2020–2025 period.
General Trinh Van Quyet stressed that the country is entering a new development phase with many challenges, namely population aging, climate change, natural disasters, disease outbreaks, and rising social welfare demands. In this context, he urged the VNRC to continue affirming its role as the core humanitarian organisation within the political system, serving as a bridge between the Party, the State, the people and international friends, while strongly promoting patriotic emulation rooted in Vietnamese humanitarian values.
He called on VNRC to focus on key priorities: Thoroughly grasping President Ho Chi Minh’s ideology on patriotic emulation; renewing the content and modalities of emulation in alignment with social welfare and sustainable development goals; accelerating digital transformation and expanding the volunteer network; strengthening humanitarian diplomacy and broadening international cooperation; working closely with the Viet Nam Fatherland Front to build a “nationwide humanitarian front”; and focusing on the development of a professional humanitarian workforce, especially among Red Cross youth – those who carry within themselves the aspiration to contribute and the flame of Vietnamese humanitarianism.
Mr. Elkhan Rahimov, Head of Country Cluster Delegation for Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam (Bangkok, Thailand), expressed his honour to attend the Congress and praised the important role of the VNRC within the International Movement. He affirmed that the Society is not only a strong national humanitarian organisation but also one of the solid pillars of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. From disaster relief, emergency response, community health care, livelihood support to sustainable development, “wherever hardship exists, there you will find the footsteps and the humanitarian heart of the VNRC”.
The representative of IFRC acknowledged VNRC’s the proactiveness, effectiveness, and strong sense of responsibility demonstrated by the VNRC in its humanitarian activities, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic and the severe natural disasters in Viet Nam. Mr. Rahimov emphasized that the IFRC will continue to support and accompany the Viet Nam Red Cross Society so that it not only grows stronger domestically, but also becomes a leading National Society in Southeast Asia which is fully capable of implementing more, and better humanitarian activities to assist vulnerable people in Viet Nam and in neighboring countries.
IFRC reaffirmed its commitment to accompany and support VNRC in four key areas including strengthening disaster response and climate adaptation, advancing digital transformation in humanitarian work, improving community health – mental health and sustainable livelihoods; while investing in Red Cross youth leadership – those who carry the compassion and humanitarian wisdom of Viet Nam.
At the Congress, General Trinh Van Quyet – Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Party Central Commission for Communication and Mass Mobilization – presented the Friendship Order of the State President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam to the IFRC and the ICRC. This represents the State of Viet Nam’s high recognition of the remarkable contributions made by the organisations and individuals of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in strengthening friendship and cooperation with Viet Nam. It also shows their valuable companionship and support for VNRC in humanitarian activities.
The Congress awarded Certificates of Merit from the Executive Committee of the VNRC HQs to 209 individuals for outstanding achievements in the VNRC patriotic emulation movement during 2020-2025, and honoured 19 exemplary enterprises for their notable contributions to the movement during the same period.
Over the past five years, VNRC’s patriotic emulation movement has demonstrated its core role in humanitarian work. The Society assisted more than 102 million people, with total humanitarian activities valued at VND 29.186 billion, a 45% increase from the previous period. Community-based humanitarian models – such as “Charity soup pot”, “Red Cross kitchens”, “House-to-house support”, “Red Cross rice jars”, and livelihood programmes – provided VND 21.676 billion in assistance to 56 million people. Humanitarian health services supported 40 million people; nearly 100,000 people received first aid training; and over 2 million people reached with injury-prevention communication.
Disaster preparedness and response achieved significant results, supporting 5.6 million people with assistance valued at VND 2.147 million. Many practical interventions have been expanded, including cash assistance, livelihood support, safe housing, clean water and early warning systems. International humanitarian resource mobilisation reached more than VND 1.359 million across 61 programmes and projects, contributing to expanding cooperation and enhancing the Society’s standing on the international stage.
Entering the 2025–2030 period, in the context of the country’s strong promotion of national innovation, digital transformation, green growth, circular economy, and climate change adaptation capacity, VNRC aims to continue to strongly modernise its patriotic emulation movement in line with the resolutions of the 11th and 12th National Red Cross Congresses and the VNRC Development Strategy to 2030, with a vision to 2045.
The emulation movement will focus on deepening the Society’s major campaigns; strengthening disaster preparedness and response, community health care, blood donation, and organ donation campaigns; and promoting resource mobilization, international cooperation, and social-humanitarian programmes aligned with the goal of “leaving no one behind”.
