On the afternoon of 21/3, in her stilt house in Vang Mon village, Nga My commune, Lo Thi Bao Vy sat quietly upon hearing the news of her election to the National Assembly. The joyful news arrived shortly after her family experienced a loss. Her 90-year-old grandfather, who raised Vy and her siblings while their parents worked away from home, had passed away. "It's a pity my grandfather is no longer here to witness this important new journey in my life", Vy said.

Bao Vy is currently a second-grade teacher at Quynh Lap A Primary School in Tan Mai ward (formerly part of Hoang Mai town). She was a candidate in electoral unit one of Nghe An province. The 24-year-old became the first O Du person to be elected to the National Assembly and is also the youngest representative of the 16th term.

Teacher Lo Thi Bao Vy. Photo: Provided by subject

Vy was born and raised in Vang Mon village, Nga My commune, where the O Du community is concentrated. Her family consists of four siblings; Vy is the eldest. Her parents farmed and engaged in small trading, meticulously saving income from each rice crop or from gathering bo bo (a type of fruit) in the forest. Due to economic difficulties, her parents had to leave their hometown to work elsewhere. Vy and her two younger sisters were raised by their paternal grandparents, while her youngest brother was sent to their maternal grandparents.

Like many children in remote areas, during their primary school years, Vy and her siblings walked more than one kilometer along the mountainside to school every day. The path was narrow; dusty red in the dry season and slippery in the rainy season. Some sections had landslides, requiring them to hold onto the embankment to pass. On days with heavy rain, water poured down from the mountains, turning the entire path muddy, leaving them covered in dirt from head to toe.

Bao Vy consistently encouraged her siblings to overcome adversity so they could support their parents and grandparents later in life. All four siblings excelled in their studies. Upon reaching junior high school and high school, they passed entrance exams to district and provincial boarding schools. State support alleviated some of the family's economic concerns. "My siblings successively went to boarding schools; the teachers all knew and liked them", Vy recounted.

Teacher Bao Vy teaching in class at Quynh Lap A Primary School. Photo: Provided by subject

Currently, her second and third younger sisters are studying early childhood education at Vinh University, and her youngest brother is in 10th grade at the Nghe An Provincial Ethnic Boarding High School.

From a young age, Vy was familiar with the image of dedicated teachers in remote villages, who not only taught but also cared for the children's meals and sleep. "I saw how dedicated and responsible the teachers were, so I wanted to be like that someday", Vy explained her reason for becoming a teacher. This aspiration also stemmed from her mother's story, who had once dreamed of becoming a teacher but had to give up due to difficult family circumstances.

In 2020, Vy passed the entrance exam for primary education at Vinh University, moving to Vinh City to pursue her dream of becoming a teacher and beginning a period of independence. With three younger siblings still in school, she did not want to add to her parents' financial burden. During the day, she attended lectures; in the evenings or on days off, Vy worked part-time at restaurants or sold clothes and shoes to earn extra income. Many nights, she returned to her rented room late, only having time for instant noodles before sleeping.

"If I didn't try harder, my parents would have an even greater burden", Vy explained.

Bao Vy speaking at a youth union activity meeting. Photo: Provided by subject

Graduating in 2024 with a good degree, Vy initially considered applying for an administrative contract position in Nga My commune, waiting for opportunities. Subsequently, she was hired as a contract teacher at Quynh Lien Primary School in Quynh Mai ward. She then registered for the civil servant exam, passed, and was assigned to Quynh Lap A Primary School in Tan Mai ward (formerly Hoang Mai town) in February 2025.

Vy said that when she first started teaching on contract, her salary was low. She had to cover rent, fuel, food, travel, and other living expenses, making it almost impossible to support her family. All her spending was frugal. After passing the civil servant exam, her income improved, allowing her to save a small amount to send home, helping her younger siblings.

When nominated as a candidate for the National Assembly, Vy said she was initially surprised and felt some pressure, as this was a new field for her. After learning more, Vy decided to transform her anxiety into strength, live more responsibly, and strive daily not to disappoint everyone's trust.

After her election, Vy stated she has not yet thought about grand ambitions. For now, she wants to continue enhancing her knowledge, listen to constituents' opinions, and especially focus on education in remote areas. For the O Du ethnic group, she hopes to preserve the community's language, as its use is declining, and many words are gradually disappearing. In daily life, young people primarily communicate in Thai, Kinh, or Kho Mu, only occasionally using O Du words. In her capacity as a National Assembly representative, Vy plans to propose measures to help preserve her ethnic group's language.

Serving simultaneously as a teacher and a National Assembly representative, Vy shared that she does not feel pressured but is full of energy. She believes she can perform well, as she has supportive colleagues and school leaders.

The O Du teacher with her students. Photo: Provided by subject

Teacher Bui Van Viet, Principal of Quynh Lap A Primary School, evaluated Bao Vy as a dynamic, competent, and responsible young teacher who always demonstrates effort. During her candidacy, despite a teacher shortage, the school facilitated Vy's participation in constituent meetings. The school will continue to support Vy in successfully fulfilling her teaching duties while also serving as a National Assembly representative.

Mr. Lo Thanh Nhat, Secretary of the Nga My Commune Party Committee, stated that Teacher Lo Thi Bao Vy's election marks a significant milestone for the O Du community, opening up more opportunities to reflect the difficulties and aspirations of the local people.

"In the list of National Assembly candidates, Vy was the first O Du person, and to date, she remains the only one elected", Mr. Nhat said. For a community of only a few hundred people, this is unprecedented.

The O Du ethnic group is one of Vietnam's smallest minority communities, also known as Tay Hat, belonging to the Mon-Khmer language group. This ethnic group currently has about 700 people, primarily residing in Vang Mon village, Nga My commune (formerly part of Tuong Duong district), with a small number marrying and settling in other remote communes within the province.

Duc Hung