On August 18, the Viet Nam Red Cross Society held the second and concluding day of the National Conference on studying, learning and thoroughly understanding the Resolution of the 12th National Congress of the Viet Nam Red Cross Society and implementing the Action Programme to realize the Resolution. After two days of work, the Conference successfully completed all scheduled activities, contributing to a common understanding and unified action throughout the Red Cross system and translating the Resolution of the 12th National Congress into practice.
The second day of the Conference focused on two thematic sessions. Ms. Lê Nữ Thùy Dương, Vice Chairwoman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of KN Holdings Group, and Non-Executive Vice President of the Viet Nam Red Cross Society, delivered Thematic Session 5: “Innovating communications, resource mobilization, people-to-people diplomacy and international cooperation; building a humanitarian culture and brand, and enhancing the position of the Viet Nam Red Cross Society.”
Thematic Session 6: “Implementing the Action Programme to realize the Resolution of the 12th National Congress for the 2026–2031 term and the responsibilities of Executive Committees at all levels in organizing the implementation of the Resolution” was presented by Mr. Nguyễn Minh Thông, Member of the Standing Committee and Deputy Head of the Inspection Department of the Viet Nam Red Cross Society. The session focused on translating the Resolution into concrete programmes, plans and tasks across the entire Red Cross system. The issues were further discussed during the plenary session, contributing to a shared understanding of how to implement the Resolution throughout the 2026–2031 term.
Learning to Transform the Way We Think and Act
In her closing remarks, Ms. Đỗ Thị Thu Thảo, President of the Viet Nam Red Cross Society, emphasized that while the Conference had come to an end, the implementation of the Resolution of the 12th National Congress was only just beginning. Studying and understanding the Resolution is not merely about grasping its contents; more importantly, it is about bringing about changes in the way the Red Cross thinks and acts, as well as in the results of its work.
The President called on each locality to introduce at least one concrete change following the Conference, each level of the Red Cross to deliver at least one tangible product, and each leader to undertake at least one new initiative. Most importantly, people must be able to see the results of these changes. Red Cross bodies at all levels should review their organizational structures and identify practical areas for innovation, from programme development, assignment of responsibilities, resource mobilization and utilization to implementation, inspection, supervision and evaluation. Red Cross activities should gradually become more proactive and systematic, with clear plans, designated responsibilities, timelines and measurable results.
Making Changes in People’s Lives the Measure of Impact
One of the key requirements emphasized by the President of the Viet Nam Red Cross Society was the need to innovate the way humanitarian impact is assessed. The Red Cross should not focus solely on the quantity of goods or the number of relief packages delivered, but should also assess the changes in people’s lives following assistance.
Accordingly, outcomes such as helping people restore their livelihoods after disasters, equipping communities with first aid skills, building a community-based volunteer force ready to respond to emergencies, supporting orphaned children, connecting people in need with humanitarian assistance, and helping vulnerable groups access essential services should become important measures of the Red Cross’s impact.
The President called on Red Cross leaders at all levels to have a clear understanding of the “humanitarian landscape” in their respective areas, identifying people and groups facing hardship and vulnerability, as well as those who have not yet been reached or connected with appropriate assistance. The Red Cross’s role as a core humanitarian force, bridge and coordinator must be demonstrated through concrete actions tailored to each locality and each individual circumstance.
For the volunteer force, the Red Cross should gradually build community-based networks that are trained, assigned specific responsibilities and regularly connected, rather than mobilizing volunteers only when programmes or disasters occur. Volunteers should be equipped to identify people in need, promote risk prevention, provide first aid, participate in responses to disasters, accidents and emergencies, and monitor humanitarian assistance beneficiaries. In this way, they can become the “extended arms” of the Red Cross in communities, helping put into practice the principle: “Wherever there is hardship, there is the Red Cross.”
Leaders Must Take Initiative, Not Wait for Instructions
Building on the need to innovate activities at the grassroots level, Ms. Đỗ Thị Thu Thảo emphasized that the Viet Nam Red Cross should make practical contributions to building compassionate, safe and resilient communities. Its role should go beyond organizing programmes and distributing relief items to strengthening communities’ capacity for prevention and response, while protecting vulnerable people.
Emphasizing the responsibility of leaders, Ms. Đỗ Thị Thu Thảo noted that the Viet Nam Red Cross Society at the central level is responsible for providing strategic direction and technical guidance, developing mechanisms, standards and models, facilitating connections, providing support, and conducting inspection and supervision. The central level should not do the work of localities, just as provincial-level Red Cross Societies should not do the work of commune-level organizations. Chairpersons of Red Cross Branches at all levels must proactively identify needs, develop plans and budgets, identify available resources, and advise competent authorities on solutions to address challenges.
The President emphasized that difficulties should not be a reason to stop moving forward. The more challenging the circumstances, the more proactive and creative leaders must be, making the best use of available resources. A commune-level Red Cross Chairperson does not necessarily need a large budget to achieve meaningful results. What matters is being able to identify what issues exist in the locality, who needs assistance, what the Red Cross can do, which forces and partners can be mobilized, and how to advise Party committees and local authorities appropriately.
“Chairpersons of Red Cross Branches at all levels must be leaders who provide direction, not people who wait for instructions. They must not simply sign documents; they must identify problems early, set goals early, provide advice early, mobilize resources, connect with partners, organize the necessary forces, and take responsibility for the final results,” the President emphasized.
Turning the Resolution into Concrete Tasks, Products and Results
The National Conference on studying, learning and thoroughly understanding the Resolution of the 12th National Congress of the Viet Nam Red Cross Society was held over two days, August 17–18, 2026. The Conference covered six thematic sessions, focusing on the core contents and new aspects of the Resolution; key priorities and three breakthrough areas; innovation in humanitarian action, governance and digital transformation; communications, resource mobilization, people-to-people diplomacy and international cooperation; and the organization of the implementation of the Resolution.
With the spirit of “learning to transform the way we think and act,” the Conference called for a decisive shift from studying and understanding the Resolution to putting it into practice, and from objectives set out in the Resolution to concrete tasks, products and results in each locality and at every level of the Red Cross. This will help bring about substantive changes in Red Cross activities, enabling people—especially those facing hardship and vulnerability—to more clearly experience the Red Cross’s role as a core humanitarian force, bridge and coordinator in humanitarian action in Viet Nam.
Some photos from the second day of the Conference:
“Trust is the most important resource… Transparency builds trust, professionalism sustains trust, effectiveness strengthens trust, and tangible results demonstrate that trust… This is also how the Red Cross can contribute to building a strong, compassionate and trust-based Viet Nam… Let us all remember: Do not let a humanitarian activity end when a relief item is handed over; let it end when people’s lives have genuinely changed.”
— Excerpt from the closing remarks by Ms. Đỗ Thị Thu Thảo, President of the Viet Nam Red Cross Society.