Technology becomes a bonding tool for families in Hanoi

THE HANOI TIMES — In today’s digital age, concerns have been raised over whether smartphones and tablets lead to emotional distance within families. Nevertheless, tech can function as a powerful tool for strengthening family ties when used with care, as many households in Hanoi demonstrate.

Nguyen Ba Dung, a police officer in Nhan Chinh Ward, Thanh Xuan District of Hanoi, told The Hanoi Times that his 13-year-old daughter always finds joy in using the internet to bond with her parents.

“She often learns new recipes with her mother or craft projects with me using online tutorials. It's not the internet that's bad, it's how we use it. When the whole family joins in, it’s even more fun. I believe in guiding my children's use of technology rather than restricting it,” said Dung.

He stressed that rather than banning phones or internet access, he sits with my daughter and teaches her how to use technology responsibly. 

This includes setting strong passwords, protecting personal information, and using social media positively.

“However, every evening at 7 PM, we put away our phones and switch off the television. We have dinner together and talk about our day,” said the policeman.

Dung and his wife also prioritize outdoor activities and life-skills training for their children over letting them spend hours on screens. These moments enrich the children’s experiences and offer valuable opportunities for parents to better understand and connect with their children.

Pham Thinh Phat, an information technology technician in Hanoi, said his daughter's school has organized workshops on topics such as "Digital Safety," "Communication Skills in the Digital Age," and "Family Values: Connecting Across Generations."

“These sessions help students balance screen time with real-life interactions, using digital tools for learning and connection through making videos or playing educational games, fostering learning and emotional bonds,” Phat told The Hanoi Times.

Psychologist Nguyen Thanh Van from the Hanoi Family Counseling Center noted that strengthening family bonds in the digital age doesn’t mean rejecting technology; rather, it means using technology to build stronger connections.

"A thoughtful message, a video call to grandparents, or a shared online photo album can transcend distance and time, reinforcing connections between family members," Van said.

Hanoi's outstanding families honored

The families of Dung and Phat attended the Vietnam Family Festival 2025, which runs until the end of June, and saw that in the digital age, family values ​​need to be respected more than ever. In celebration of the festival, the Hanoi People's Committee held a conference to honor exemplary families.

Recognized as one of Hanoi's model civil servant families for 2025, Nguyen Van Hien, from Hanel Plastic Sponges Joint Stock Company, shared with The Hanoi Times: “In the digital era, where everything changes day by day, family values must be upheld to keep all members together.”

Hien's wife is a doctor at the Long Bien District Medical Center. They have two sons. The couple is happiest when their children study hard and are polite and respectful to the elderly, especially their grandparents, who live with them.

At the commendation ceremony, Bach Lien Huong, Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, said that the role of the family becomes even more important in the process of building a modern capital that is still imbued with cultural identity.

"We need to continue promoting good traditional values in today’s digital age to contribute to the capital's sustainable development goals," said the director.

She added that the 80 families honored this time come from 30 districts and represent different social groups. All of them underwent a transparent evaluation process. "These families will serve as a source of inspiration, spreading positive values to the community," Huong emphasized.

Dinh Thi Hai Yen, from the Xuan Tao Ward in Bac Tu Liem District, said: "My family always cares for each other when it comes to studying, working, and developing a spiritual and cultural life."

"The family is the building block of society. When the building blocks are healthy, society can develop sustainably. Therefore, building a cultural family is a responsibility to society and a duty to one's family," she told The Hanoi Times.

The Vietnam Family Festival 2025, with the theme "Happy Families - Prosperous Nation," aims to honor families’ cultural values and raise awareness among various sectors of society about the role and position of families in the construction and protection of the nation.

The festival provided an opportunity for localities to share experiences in striving for sustainable family development during the period of industrialization, modernization, and international integration.

On this occasion, Hanoi organized many activities and cultural spaces. Parents and their kids could read books together at a reading corner themed "Family Reading: Strengthening Love," which featured books for children, students, and families.