Gala “Viec Tu Te” Tet 2026 shines light on unsung heroes
Every Vietnamese can be a bearer of kindness, and when that spirit is expressed through everyday actions, “Mai la nguoi Viet Nam” becomes not just a slogan but a true source of living pride.
THE HANOI TIMES — Gala Viec Tu Te will air on VTV1 and VTVgo under the theme “Mai la nguoi Viet Nam” (Forever being Vietnamese) at 9 PM on February 18, 2026, the second day of the Lunar New Year.
Gala Viec Tu Te this year's theme "Mai la nguoi Viet Nam". Photos: VTV
The annual program gathers hundreds of exemplary citizens along with renowned artists, including People’s Artist Lan Huong, Prominent Artist Do Ky, People’s Artist Minh Hoa, Hoa Minzy, Quoc Thien, Trang Phap and Miss Ngoc Han.
Since its launch in 2014 by VTV Digital, Viec Tu Te (Good Deeds) has shared more than 2,500 stories of kindness across Vietnam. Each spring, the gala has become a familiar cultural highlight, offering audiences a moment to reflect on compassion and civic spirit.
This year, the phrase “nguoi Viet” takes center stage as it is presented not as a label on an identity card or passport but as a way of living. It is seen in how people stand by one another in hardship, share what little they have and quietly build better lives wherever they are in the world.
Singer Hoa Minzy at the performance.
The program unfolds in three chapters, described as three flags raised in pride, including volunteerism in disasters, compassion in daily life and Vietnamese pride beyond borders. Together they shape a portrait of national character defined by kindness.
The first chapter revisits powerful moments from 2025 when natural disasters tested communities across the country. A man stopped his motorbike in heavy rain to shelter a mother and child.
Meanwhile, thousands of residents on Ly Son Island welcomed home three fishermen who had drifted at sea for two days.
In another move, a drone was deployed to rescue flood victims in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak.
A father and son, Nguyen Thanh Tung and his child, surviving 13 hours adrift before being saved, is another touching story of reflecting good deeds by unsung heroes in the country.
After his rescue, Tung founded a volunteer rescue team with relatives and friends, returning to flood-hit areas to help others. His journey illustrates how gratitude can evolve into responsibility.
The gala also honors Nguyen Ngoc Nhat Hoang, head of the SOS 75 Hue volunteer team. Inspired by childhood memories of sheltering from floods in a plastic container, he created relief boxes filled with food, milk, instant noodles, flashlights and blankets for affected families.
On stage, former beneficiaries bring simple gifts from home to express thanks, highlighting the quiet bonds formed in adversity.
If disasters reveal courage, everyday life nurtures it. The second chapter focuses on ordinary people who choose to act out of compassion.
Five nurses in the central province of Nghe An honored for their efforts to protect newborns in dangerous incidents.
Five nurses in the central province of Nghe An, namely Nguyen Thuy Trang, Tran Thi Hong, Nguyen Thi Hong, Nguyen Thi Thu Hoai and Nguyen Thi Nhung are recognized for protecting newborns and patients’ families during a dangerous incident at Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital on October 23, 2025.
The appearance of a family whose child was treated in the neonatal ward underscores the value of professional dedication and humanity.
Students of teacher Nguyen Van Dien in the northern region.
In northern Vietnam, teacher Nguyen Van Dien has supported nearly 40 disadvantaged ethnic minority students from former Ha Giang province (now Tuyen Quang Province). Beyond teaching literacy, he guides them in daily habits and life skills.
More than 30 of his students travel to Hanoi for the first time to thank him on stage, demonstrating how compassion today shapes opportunity tomorrow.
Agricultural experts contribute to the project “Vietnam-Cuba rice production development.”
The final chapter extends this spirit beyond national borders. The gala highlights cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba through the project “Vietnam-Cuba rice production development.”
Agricultural engineers Pham Ngoc Tu of the Cuu Long Delta Rice Research Institute and Nguyen Trong Dai of the Field Crops Research Institute share their experience supporting Cuban farmers.
The CT16 rice variety introduced from Vietnam has been called a “seed of happiness” as it yields abundant harvests on Cuban soil. The project stands as a symbol of enduring friendship and quiet international solidarity.
Throughout the evening, performances such as “Giai dieu tu hao”, “Tet nha minh”, “Mai la nguoi Viet Nam” and “Viec Tu Te - Ai Cung Co The” connect the stories with music and emotion, performed by Hoa Minzy, Quoc Thien, Trang Phap, Hoang Yen Chibi and Quang Anh.
Produced by VTV Digital in cooperation with PSC Media and supported by Thaco Group, Gala Viec Tu Te Tet 2026 delivers a simple message.
Every Vietnamese can be a flag bearer of kindness. When those flags are raised through everyday actions, “Mai la nguoi Viet Nam” becomes not just a slogan but a living source of pride.
