Singer Tùng Dương once gave a brilliant performance of the song Khát vọng Tuổi trẻ (The Aspiration of Youth) by Vũ Hoàng. In it, the verse that resonated deeply with him was like a reminder of civic duty:
“Do not ask what your country has given you,
But what you have given your country today.”
A momentous national anniversary is drawing near – especially for the South: 50 years of liberation and reunification. Everywhere, the image of the red flag with its golden star flutters in the wind – radiant, solemn, and sacred. That color was dyed with the blood and tears of countless silent sacrifices.
Above, military squadrons rehearse tirelessly. Roads are temporarily blocked to prepare for the grand celebration. The Independence Palace has never been as “heated” as in these days leading up to April 30th. People everywhere eagerly await the dazzling fireworks display. In the mornings, revolutionary anthems echo from loudspeakers – stirring pride, awakening memories of a glorious history. Events like this carry a truly sacred meaning.
The press has often spoken of a ““bleeding of minds”: talented people go abroad to study, to work – and sometimes, to settle for good. That is a matter of individual choice, protected by the Constitution and law. Yet countless overseas Vietnamese still hold their homeland in their hearts, sending back money, resources, and expertise to help build the nation. They send back not only money, but longing, effort, and love. In 2023, remittances reached 16 billion dollars – a figure rich in meaning.
In business, people often speak of mission and vision. Every enterprise proclaims lofty goals, proving what values they bring beyond paying taxes: do they create real, positive change for society? Do they inspire?
And so must each of us ask ourselves:
“What is the mission of my own life?”
A famous man once said: “Think Big.” That is not just a slogan – it is a reminder for us to live with aspiration.
We travel far to see how vast the world truly is. We travel far so as not to remain a frog at the bottom of the well. And ultimately, we travel far in order to return – bringing back what we have learned, to give in return.
Oh homeland, wait for me…
Saigon 30/4/2025
