Youth Month 2026 Seminar: “Culture as the Foundation - Youth as the Future: Diplomatic Youth and Cultural Identity in Cyberspace”

The seminar featured the participation of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Thanh Binh, former Minister Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Viet Nam in Norway, and former Dean of the Faculty of International Communication and Culture at DAV, as the guest speaker. Representing the DAV Youth Union was Mr. Pham Thanh Tung, M.A., Secretary of the DAV Youth Union and Lecturer at the Faculty of International Law, along with the board participation of students.

Opening the seminar, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Thanh Binh analyzed and clarified the role of youth in preserving and promoting Vietnamese cultural identity, as well as in shaping the image of diplomatic youth as competent and professional in the digital space. Drawing from his personal experiences, he expressed strong confidence in the capabilities and potential of the younger generation, while emphasizing the importance of proactively accumulating and systematizing foundational knowledge. In the context of rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, he further underscored that critical thinking and analytical capacity remain the core criteria reflecting individual value and competence in the digital era.

Continuing the program, Mr. Pham Thanh Tung provided orientations for DAV students, emphasizing that culture serves as a key foundation that enables individuals to maintain resilience amid the complexities of modern life. In light of the increasingly unverified and misleading information circulating on cyberspace, he highlighted that approaching issues from a cultural perspective - grounded in societal values and norms - would help students better identify, filter, and respond appropriately to online content. He reaffirmed the viewpoint that “Culture lights the way for the nation” and stressed its role as a guiding foundation for young people in preserving national identity and promoting Viet Nam’s image globally.

The seminar became more dynamic during the Q&A session, where students actively raised questions related to current issues in culture, communication, and cyberspace. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Thanh Binh emphasized that youth, particularly students of diplomacy, should proactively enhance their knowledge, strengthen political awareness, maintain a firm stance, and build a solid theoretical foundation to effectively identify and filter misleading viewpoints in the digital space. Regarding cultural communication, he also noted that students should pay attention to adopting engaging and audience-appropriate approaches, thereby maximizing the role of culture in promoting national image.

Within the framework of the seminar, the Organizing Committee also launched Round 2 of the competition “The Role of Diplomatic Youth in Building Awareness and Safe Behavior in Cyberspace,” including the announcement and selection of topics for the Top 30 contestants advancing to the next stage. Based on the discussions, scenario-based topics were designed to reflect real-world issues, enabling participants to apply their knowledge, enhance analytical thinking, and propose appropriate solutions to challenges in culture and communication in the digital space.

The seminar “Culture as the Foundation - Youth as the Future: Diplomatic Youth and Cultural Identity in Cyberspace” concluded in an open and engaging atmosphere. Through practical presentations and meaningful discussions, the event not only provided essential knowledge but also contributed to strengthening awareness and responsibility among the younger generation in preserving and promoting Vietnamese cultural values in the digital era.

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