HÀ NỘI — Building on the success of its inaugural edition, the 2026 Ambassadors of National Progress Awards are returning for a second year, continuing their search for and recognition of individuals whose contributions are bringing positive change to communities and the country.
When talking about Việt Nam’s development, people often point to major achievements in the economy, science and technology. Yet the country’s progress is also shaped by individuals who quietly devote themselves to improving lives in their local communities, even if their efforts do not always receive widespread recognition.
Honouring these contributions is not only a way of celebrating those who give back, but also an opportunity to inspire more people to take positive action and contribute to society.
Speaking at the launch ceremony on October 16, Cao Xuân Thạo, Vice Chairman of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Central Committee, said: “Each of us, as individuals and members of our communities, can become a source of positive inspiration to others.”
This is the spirit behind the awards: bringing stories of dedication and community service from the local level closer to the public nationwide, while fostering a greater sense of responsibility and a shared aspiration to contribute to Việt Nam’s continued development.
Building on the success of the inaugural edition
Along with a long-term commitment to accompanying Việt Nam’s development, Saigon Beer–Alcohol–Beverage Corporation (SABECO) launched the the 2026 Ambassadors of National Progress Awards in 2025 to mark the 150th anniversary of the domestic brewing industry.
The initiative received the support of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Central Committee and was carried out by SABECO in collaboration with Đại Đoàn Kết (Great Solidarity) Newspaper under the committee’s direction. It aims to identify and honour individuals whose meaningful contributions have often gone unnoticed by the wider public.
The inaugural edition attracted nearly 300 nominations from 33 provinces and cities. Following a screening and assessment process, 150 outstanding individuals were shortlisted for public voting, before 15 exemplary figures were honoured at an awards ceremony in Hà Nội in December 2025.
Recipients of the award came from different generations, professions and regions, with contributions spanning education, community development, culture, environmental protection and science and technology.
Despite their diverse backgrounds and areas of work, they shared a common commitment to social responsibility, perseverance and making a positive difference in their communities.
The first edition also attracted nearly 20,000 online votes, demonstrating public interest in stories of dedication and community service. These early results not only laid a solid foundation for the awards, but also highlighted their potential to bring community contributions to a wider national audience.
The success of the 2025 edition has demonstrated that the awards can go beyond an annual ceremony to become a broader platform for connecting communities and amplifying positive contributions.
In their second year, the awards are further strengthening this role through cooperation with the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Central Committee, Đại Đoàn Kết Newspaper, SABECO and the Fatherland Front network across all 34 provinces and cities to identify and nominate outstanding individuals at the local level.
Through this network, the awards will continue bringing inspiring stories of ordinary people making meaningful contributions from across the country to a wider audience.
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| The 2026 Ambassadors of National Progress Awards have been launched with an expanded scope to recognise positive contributions from people of different generations and fields. |
Speaking at the launch of the 2026 awards, General Director of SABECO Tan Teck Chuan Lester said: “When we introduced the awards in 2025, our aspiration was to honour people across Việt Nam who are working to make society a better place.
“Despite coming from different generations, professions and regions, they share one common quality: a determination to create positive changes and make meaningful contributions to the country’s development.”
According to Lester, Việt Nam’s development should not be measured solely through economic and technological achievements, but also through progress in areas such as vocational education, community development, the environment, healthcare and culture.
These diverse contributions, he said, collectively shape a more comprehensive and meaningful development journey.
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| SABECO General Director Tan Teck Chuan Lester speaks about the importance of recognising and amplifying positive contributions to communities at the launch of the 2026 awards. |
For SABECO, continuing to support the awards is also a way for the company to strengthen its role in connecting people and communities.
Through cooperation with its partners, SABECO seeks to bring contributions made by people in their everyday lives closer to the wider public, while spreading positive values in support of Việt Nam’s overall development.
Expanding recognition and public participation in 2026
The 2026 awards continue to embrace a comprehensive view of national development, recognising that meaningful contributions extend beyond the economy and technology to many other aspects of everyday life.
The programme will focus on six categories: Balanced Lifestyle and Community Health, Education and Vocational Training, Community Development, Science and Technology for the Community, Environmental Sustainability and Culture and Arts for the Community.
It will also place greater emphasis on the participation of younger generations and innovative approaches to addressing practical challenges.
Alongside individuals with long-standing records of dedication, the awards aim to recognise contributions driven by fresh ideas and new approaches. These may include initiatives applying technology to everyday life, innovative solutions in agriculture or improvements in the design, materials and production methods of traditional handicrafts, demonstrating that community service can take many different forms.
In addition to online voting, the 2026 edition will introduce SMS voting to make participation more accessible to the public.
The final results will be determined through a combined scoring mechanism, with 70 per cent based on assessments by the evaluation council and 30 per cent on public votes.
These changes are expected not only to broaden opportunities to recognise outstanding individuals, but also to encourage the public to learn about and share stories of positive contributions. In doing so, the awards aim to strengthen connections among individuals, communities and those who share a commitment to the country’s development.
According to the organisers, public voting for the 2026 edition is scheduled to begin in late November. In the coming weeks, 150 nominees will be introduced to the public, offering an opportunity to discover inspiring stories from different localities, generations and fields.
Information about the nominees and voting activities will be updated through the programme’s official communication channels. — VNS
