Nguyễn Tấn Dũng

“The people of Vietnam, will always be our people, never just the people,” That is the motto taught to me by my uncle, Nguyen Tan Dung, Vietnam’s current prime minister. This line constantly repeats itself in my head, whether I’m struggling through exams or stressing over responsibilities. Because of my uncle, the love for politics has long been deeply rooted inside me. For me, this man is not only the most passionate prime minister, but also a man who came from very little and paved his own road with nothing more than his passion for change and peace.

Vietnam is a small country in Southeast Asia, and it may not mean a lot to you or to the world but it means every thing to me. With the damages from the Vietnam war, my country has been rebuilding from infrastructures to our political system. And after decades of rebuilding, Vietnam has aimed its focus on becoming a striving force for growth on the global stage. A year into his term, my uncle pushed Vietnam into taking part in the World Trade Organization in 2007. From this prevailing push of action, Vietnam launched into the world’s international market and opened up trading relations to the West. Because of my uncle’s policies, millions of Vietnamese were pulled up and out of poverty. During his terms, Vietnam saw the greatest significance growth in our national GDP like never before.

But, of course, he did not forget the internal issues that needed fixing. In the first year of office, my uncle approved of a $8-billion budget needed for investments in infrastructures, allowing rebuilding to be be underway, creating highways as well as better roads. I remember my uncle always telling me stories about his upbringing and I remember specific details about the story he told me of how his mom would wake up early day at dawn to go harvest rice on the rice field, until it’s the dark out, just to be able to provide for her children. Because of how little he had growing up, my uncle knows the hopes and struggles of the impoverished class of our country. Because he had seen the hard work his mom put in every day, he believes that in order to thrive in the global market, our country must invest in agriculture and benefits for the farmers.

Aside from being the great leader that he is, the man has never neglected his duties to his family. Amidst of all the million things he has to remember and deadlines to catch, he has never once forgotten a birthday of his young ones. I remember that growing up, no matter how busy the agenda of the prime minister was, my uncle was never too busy to show up to holiday dinners. Every time I visit home from the States, as soon as my passport is scanned, I would never not receive a call from him, making lunch or dinner plans with me. I don’t think I have ever had a single birthday without a call or video call from him and a birthday present that is never late on delivery. Even though he is my politics teacher, economics tutor and academic advisor, his best and my personal favorite position will always be an uncle.

As a niece, a mentee, and a student who has acquired a tremendous amount of knowledge, wisdom and passion from him, I can truly say I have witnessed it first-hand how much the man cares for his people. And when a person is put in the spot to make tough executive decisions, it’s not easy for others to see the burdens he carries. 

Because of this man that I, along with millions other Vietnamese, am so proud to call our leader, I have learned how to love my people enough to use them as my motivation to strive. Because of the uncle that I, along with my other cousins, am so blessed to have, I have learned what it means to be a person of unconditional love. 

Unfortunately, my uncle has withdrawn his name from next election’s ballots, wanting a greater leader to take his place. But, it wasn’t long after that, that my uncle was presented with the “World Leader for Peace, Security and Development" award at Harvard University. So I know that the eminent impacts my uncle has made on our country’s development will be written down in history while the greater impacts on the many hearts and lives he has touched, will eternally shape those who look up to him.