Hanoi student festival unites universities, celebrates talents and energizes youth movement

THE HANOI TIMES — Students from more than 20 universities across Hanoi joined a large-scale program on December 28, creating a vibrant space that promoted skills development, strengthened connections and energized the student movement.

The activities marked the 76th anniversary of the Traditional Day of Vietnamese Students, honoring the movement’s legacy while giving students practical opportunities to interact, gain hands-on experience and grow.

Designed as an open and inclusive space, the festival encouraged students to take initiative and choose activities that matched their interests.

Early in the morning, the “Student Footsteps” run set an energetic tone, drawing strong participation and promoting physical fitness and a healthy, balanced student lifestyle.

The program then shifted to the “Connect Zone” campsite area, which brought together booths from 20 universities and stayed active from morning through the afternoon.

The area served as a networking hub where universities presented student movement models along with learning and research initiatives, allowing students to access information easily and exchange experiences.

Alongside these activities, the “Students of the New Era” exhibition ran throughout the day, portraying modern student life through study, scientific research, community engagement and international integration. A mix of images, materials and representative stories attracted strong interest from participants.

In the afternoon, the final round of the “Student Talent Contest” took place, featuring performances selected from the online preliminary round.

The performances highlighted the depth of student creativity and skill, making the contest one of the festival’s most anticipated highlights.

The evening ceremony became the focal point of the program, honoring national-level titles such as “Five-Good Student”, “Three-Good Student” and “Three-Reliant Student”, along with the presentation of the 2025 “January Star” Awards.

These honors recognized outstanding achievements in learning, training and service by students nationwide.

Lam Tung, Standing Vice Chairman of the Vietnam National Union of Students, said nationwide student movements continued to deliver strong results in the 2024–2025 academic year, attracting wide participation and earning public recognition.

“These achievements help shape a new generation of students with strong character, solid knowledge and patriotism, while gradually asserting a pioneering role in digital transformation and international integration,” he said.

Over the past year, Vietnam recorded 440 three-good students, 42 three-reliant students, 520 five-good students, 59 collectives with five-good students and 117 Youth Union and Student Union members who received the “January Star” Award.

Through training-oriented activities, students gained opportunities for well-rounded development, combining academic progress, physical fitness and a spirit of service.

Amid digital transformation, Vietnamese students increasingly apply science and technology in their studies and daily lives, while maintaining volunteerism and confidence in international integration.

Sharing her experience, Pham Linh Chi, a first-year student at the Academy of Public Administration and Governance, said the festival leaves a strong impression by allowing her to meet and interact with peers from many universities.

She said the campsite activities are lively and diverse, ranging from physical games to creative sessions, helping students connect easily and feel the program’s youthful energy.

Beyond the main event, the festival included a series of activities before, during and after the peak day.

Notably, the launch of the Student Technology Talent Network featured thematic workshops held from October 30 to November 30 across six localities including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Cantho, Danang, Haiphong and Dong Nai.

The official launch of the Student Technology Talent Network for the 2025-2030 period took place on December 27 at the Hanoi University of Science and Technology.

Meanwhile, the nationwide “Student Footsteps” race will run until January 10, 2026, combining in-person and online formats. As of December 21, 2025, more than 22,000 students in Vietnam and abroad had joined.

The “Student Talent Contest” ran from November 15 to December 28 in online and offline formats. A total of 106 performances competed in the online preliminary round, generating more than 300,000 interactions on social media.

In addition, the online experiential activity “Five-Good Challenge” from December 27 to January 9, 2026 on the Vietnam National Union of Students’ social media platforms will promote the “Five-Good Student” movement among young people.