On the morning of 27/12, at the 11th National Emulation Congress, shared stories from advanced individuals consistently received applause from Party and State leaders, and attending delegates.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Manh Linh, Deputy General Director of Viettel High-Tech Industries Corporation, was among the outstanding figures. He and his colleagues were tasked by the Ministry of National Defense to research and develop military communication products and high-tech electronic warfare equipment. This mission came with high technical requirements and a timeline shortened by half compared to the initial plan.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Linh, the research team overcame many obstacles. These were modern technologies mastered by only a few nations, such as security technology, adaptability, and automatic radar reconnaissance processing. The product range extended from handheld equipment for soldiers to systems on vehicles, ships, and fixed stations, creating organizational and deployment pressure.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Manh Linh speaking at the Emulation Congress. Photo: Giang Huy

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Manh Linh speaking at the Emulation Congress. Photo: Giang Huy

Embracing the soldier's spirit of "finishing the job, not just the hours", the team adopted a systematic approach. They focused on building common technology platforms, then developed products to meet various requirements. Concurrently, they applied computational simulation and conducted parallel research on new technologies to optimize algorithms and processes.

As a result, the mission was completed as required. Many products are now in use by military units. Some core dual-use technologies for both military and civilian applications received domestic and international patent protection. "These tasks help us grow and become more confident to continue research, making breakthroughs in science and technology," Lieutenant Colonel Linh shared.

Also at the Congress, the story of Senior Lieutenant Colonel Le Van Tho, Head of Dien Khanh Commune Police, Khanh Hoa province, brought silence to the hall. He recounted swimming nearly 2 km on the night of 19/11 to bring a canoe into an isolated area, rescuing residents during extreme floods in the South Central Coast.

From 17/11 to 22/11, the area experienced continuous heavy rainfall and floods. The commune police force maintained a 100% presence, adhering to the "four on-site motto." On the afternoon of 19/11, floodwaters rose rapidly, and police teams used small boats and floats to evacuate about 500 residents from vulnerable areas. By evening, the floodwaters continued to rise, and a support canoe could not reach the scene, being about 2 km away, with electricity and phone signals disrupted.

Facing this situation, Senior Lieutenant Colonel Tho and his teammates decided to swim out to guide the canoe in. After receiving support from Division 377, the rescue team continued evacuating residents from the isolated area, moving 10-12 people per trip, primarily the elderly and children.

Inventor Vu Huu Le with a drawing of a Soviet tea rolling machine. Photo: Giang Huy

Inventor Vu Huu Le with a drawing of a Soviet tea rolling machine. Photo: Giang Huy

Another story that drew significant applause was shared by Vu Huu Le, over 90 years old, from Lao Cai province. He brought a bag containing tools from his youth, such as set squares and drawings, which had accompanied him during road and bridge construction classes serving the resistance war.

Graduating from a university in the Soviet Union with a distinction degree, he once managed a provincial mechanical factory with 600 workers, manufacturing equipment for the resistance. When the nation entered the Doi Moi period, he retired early, collecting scrap metal to continue inventing machinery for farmers. The drawing he held at the Congress was a design for a tea rolling machine, which had helped many households increase productivity.

"I came from a farming background; the State enabled me to study, so I had to return and help farmers. I build machines for them, and they are the ones who tell me what needs improvement," Mr. Le stated.

Hoang Phuong