Honoring exemplary citizens - Hanoi singularity

Special foundation

After working with  former Prime Minister Pham Van Dong  in 1992, the city launched the “Good persons, good deeds” movement, according to the Hanoi Department of Home Affairs. After nearly 20 years, in 2010, on the occasion of celebrating the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long - Hanoi,  the movement had yielded good results, creating positive impacts  on the community and contributed to the cultural development of Hanoi people.

The first award ceremony for Hanoi Exemplary Citizens title held in 2010

Under the context, the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee assigned the City Emulation and Commendation Committee to study a special activity to mark this important milestone. Accordingly, the title “Exemplary Citizen” was created.

It becomes the special quintessence and “specialty” of the "Good persons, good deeds" movement. "Special" means   the exemplary person could be either the one who makes  a long-term and regular contribution, or who achieves an outstanding feat in service of the country. The special title is as a "gift" to the meritorious persons in celebration of more than one thousand years of Hanoi, making it a singularity of the capital city.

Dedication to the capital

According to Deputy Head of the Emulation and Commendation Committee Dinh Viet Thang, after 10 years (2010 - 2019), 100 individuals who have been entitled as the excellent citizens are still continuing contributing in all areas of the socio-economic life of Hanoi.

Among them is journalist Tran Mai Anh, an "Exemplary Citizen" in 2010, who continues expanding clubs and volunteer groups to help disadvantaged people in society; People's Teacher Nguyen Thi Hien - Chairwoman of the Board of Directors and Principal of Doan Thi Diem Primary School, after being recognized this title in 2014, keeps opening more  schools and improve the education quality, or poet Bang Viet (Exemplary Citizen of the Capital in 2013), after retiring from the position of Chairman of the Hanoi Union of Literature and Arts Association, still contributes to the restoration of old documents about 1,000 years of Hanoi culture and with his writings about Hanoi culture and people; or  Labour Hero Hoang Vinh Giang, who after retiring from a government position, still work in a social organization as General Secretary of the Olympic Committee  of  Vietnam and the initiator of sport development of the country. 

Particularly, there are outstanding individuals in the health sector. For example, Professor and Hero of Labor Nguyen Anh Tri, former Director of National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, after retirement continuing to invest and expand his private hospital to serve the medical examination and treatment for everyone, especially during the Covid-19 epidemic this year. He also built the Vietnamese Cultural Heritage Preservation Centre which gathers all scientific documents and manuscripts, the country’s first heritage museum. Also  the People's Physician Le Anh Tuan - former Director of the Hanoi Department of Health, who still actively  involves in lecturing or Professor Tran Xuan Bach from Hanoi Medical University is a young person (born in 1984), after being recognized as an exemplary capital citizen in 2017,  continues to disseminate  about  healthy practices in life.

Besides, among these 100 excellent people, there are many artisans of the city where the number of craft villages in Hanoi is the largest in the country (more than 1,400). Up to now, they still continue to make unique products, preserve and spread the traditional craft to the next generations. 

They are, regardless of the area and the time of recognition, still continue dedicating themselves to the community and spreading a good effect. Therefore, Hanoi plans to keep this annual award to encourage more people to contribute to the growth of the city and the country.

"On the occasion of Capital Liberation Day 2013, I received the noble title of "Excellent Citizen of the Capital", which is a very special honor for me, an official who has worked in Hanoi for tens of years, occupying many positions. However, it also gives me, as well as to others with this title, a lot of responsibility, to always make an effort to fulfill it," said the poet Bang Viet, "Hanoi has developed dramatically, but its development faces many challenges. That is why I propose that the city give the excellent citizens the opportunity to express their ideas to contribute to the development of the country at the time of integration. It will encourage us never to stop dedicating ourselves to the country."