Following President Ho Chi Minh’s teachings to foster civilized lifestyle

Practical and heartfelt teachings

During his visits to Hai Phong, President Ho Chi Minh always showed concern for people’s lives, production, education and the preservation of good cultural values. Through his practical and heartfelt guidance, he expressed his confidence in the people while setting out expectations for officials and residents in building their hometown: unity, responsibility, diligence, thrift and care for the community.

His call for Hai Phong to become a “model locality for the whole country” was closely linked to the requirement that officials remain close to the people, respect them and avoid bureaucracy and authoritarian practices. They were also expected to engage regularly in self-criticism and criticism, and place the common good above personal interests. These principles serve both as standards of public service ethics and as a foundation for building a healthy cultural environment, where the authorities are dedicated to serving the people, residents exercise their right to mastery, and the community shares responsibility for collective affairs.

Building a “model city” also reflects the goal of creating a new way of life that begins with people and concrete actions. This means working diligently and living thriftily, preserving the landscape, sharing with those in need, behaving responsibly and taking pride in the hometown’s traditions. These values continue to underpin the development of cultured families, civilized residential areas and united communities.

Bringing Uncle Ho’s teachings into modern life

Resolution No. 05-NQ/TU of the Hai Phong Party Committee is evidence of the application of Ho Chi Minh’s ideology to the city’s construction and development in practice. This resolution on building models of socialism associated with socialist citizens for the 2026-2030 period sets the goal of making Hai Phong a “Civilized and Happy” city.

With 11 key models, the resolution calls for coordinated development: a sustainable economy linked to social progress and equity; a modern urban environment accompanied by clean and healthy living conditions; effective governance measured by public satisfaction; and community development alongside the cultivation of humanistic values and cultural identity.

After 25 years of implementing the “All people unite to build cultural life” movement (2001 – 2025), Hai Phong has achieved many positive results. The annual rate of culturally recognized families has remained above 95%, with 95.2% of all households receiving the title of “Cultural Family”. Meanwhile, 83% of villages and residential groups have cultural houses, sports facilities or community gathering spaces. These figures reflect the movement’s broad impact and investment in shared spaces, creating opportunities for residents to socialize, exercise and strengthen community bonds.

Hai Phong also has thousands of models that help foster a civilized way of life. A notable example is the “Green House” model run by the Women’s Union of Hung Dao Ward, which raises environmental awareness while supporting disadvantaged people. The union maintains 15 “Green Houses” across 11 residential groups and has organized 117 recycling collection drives, raising nearly VND 60 million to support orphaned children and women in difficult circumstances.

The journey from President Ho Chi Minh’s teachings to the everyday way of life of Hai Phong residents continues through concrete actions. When heritage is preserved, the environment is protected, people in need receive support, and each village and residential group actively nurtures solidarity, his teachings remain a living part of everyday life. This is the foundation for the port city to develop not only through modern infrastructure but also through quality of life, a spirit of mutual care and enduring cultural values.

Vice Chairman of the Municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Minh Hung has emphasized the importance of making the development of socialist citizens in Hai Phong the central goal, with a focus on patriotism, compassion, discipline, responsibility, creativity and integration. This direction calls for a shift from expanding cultural movements in scope to improving their substantive quality, so that cultural titles are reflected in people’s lifestyles and everyday behavior.

TAM PHUC