On the evening of January 12, 2025, at the WeChoice Awards 2024 Gala and Awards Ceremony, the "Courageous Heart" award honored Lieutenant Nguyen Duc Tai, a Viettel Construction station technician. The award is a worthy recognition for his selfless act of saving people while on duty to rescue information.
Lieutenant Nguyen Duc Tai, a Viettel Construction station technician, is the symbol of a "Courageous Heart
Mr. Nguyen Duc Tai is a station technician of Viettel Construction Corporation, in charge of managing and operating 27 stations in the Bac Me Center, Viettel Ha Giang Construction Branch. His work not only requires high expertise but also needs strong will, courage and a high sense of responsibility. It is these qualities, honed through daily work, and also the spirit of a Viettel soldier - always taking the motto "serving the people" as a guideline for action, that led him to a challenging and proud turning point in his life.
In the early morning of July 13, 2024, at Km11, National Highway 34, Yen Dinh Commune, Bac Me District, Ha Giang, a terrible landslide occurred, killing 11 people and injuring 4 others. On that dark night, when he received a notice from the people about a broken fiber optic cable, Mr. Tai quickly set off to the scene. The most dangerous moment occurred when Mr. Tai discovered a 7-year-old girl crying in a pile of rubble.
Everyday work that is prone to danger has forged an extraordinary will in Lieutenant Nguyen Duc Tai
Knowing that doing so was no different from risking his life, he did not hesitate. The courage and good instincts of human beings urged him to rush into the danger zone to save the child's life. Between life and death, he thought of nothing but saving that little life. For him, saving people is not a responsibility but a choice, and he chooses in a moment of life and death to forget himself. After taking the girl to a safe place, Mr. Tai continued to return to the scene to participate in saving people.
While participating in supporting rescue, his motorbike was buried under a thick layer of rubble. “Assets can be earned back, but lost lives cannot be revived. Looking at the hopeful eyes and the joyful tears of the people when they saw the rescuers arrive, I could never forget it. And I just wish I could do more than that.” – He choked up at the event about the moments of life and death.
That courageous action not only saved a life but also left a deep impression on the people. To commend his noble spirit of saving people, the Ministry of National Defense decided to recruit Mr. Nguyen Duc Tai into the ranks of professional soldiers, awarding the rank of Lieutenant - a worthy recognition for a soldier with a courageous heart....
The story of "Courageous Hearts" like Mr. Nguyen Duc Tai or other characters has inspired everyone about a "That's my Vietnam" spirit
Speaking at the ceremony, Lieutenant Nguyen Duc Tai also emphasized: "I would like to thank the Leaders of the Viettel Military Industry - Telecommunications Group; The Leaders of Viettel Construction Joint Stock Corporation, who gave me this opportunity and honor, I will try to complete the assigned tasks and responsibilities and contribute more to the country."Tôi muốn gửi lời cảm ơn tới Ban Lãnh đạo Tập đoàn Công nghiệp – Viễn thông Quân đội Viettel; Ban Lãnh đạo Tổng Công ty Cổ phần Công trình Viettel, đã trao cho tôi cơ hội và vinh dự này, tôi sẽ cố gắng hoàn thành nhiệm vụ, trọng trách được giao phó và cống hiến cho đất nước nhiều hơn nữa”.
Receiving the "Courageous Heart" award at the WeChoice Awards 2024 has clearly portrayed the qualities of Uncle Ho's soldiers, the indomitable and resilient spirit of the "Viettel soldier". For Mr. Tai, saving people is not a task or job, but a sacred responsibility, a natural instinct of a person who is always ready to sacrifice himself for the benefit of the community. This award is like a thank you to Mr. Tai, who is willing to trade his safety to protect the lives of others.
The journey from a technical staff to a soldier with the rank of Lieutenant, from an ordinary person to become a symbol of courage, Mr. Tai is a role model of Viettel soldiers, not only good at expertise but also ready to "stand at the forefront", standing side by side with the people in dangerous times. At the same time, this is also the clearest proof of the core values that Viettel always strives for: Putting people first and being ready to contribute to the community.
“Hero” Nguyen Duc Tai and the moment of facing death
With the "Courageous Heart" award at the WeChoice Awards 2024, it can be said that Lieutenant Nguyen Duc Tai has affirmed and spread the vivid inspiration about a "That's my Vietnam" spirit - a Vietnam that always shines brightly in all adversities, though small but contains extraordinary powers and is always warmed by hearts that never stop beating.