Eight years after being named an "Outstanding Citizen of Da Nang," Trinh Nguyen Hong Minh, the champion of The Voice Kids Viet Nam 2015, continues to radiate positive energy and inspire others - not only through her singing and academic achievements but also through meaningful social activities.

Hong Minh has increasingly shone on her journey of academic excellence and community music projects.

The name Hong Minh became familiar to Da Nang audiences during her triumph on The Voice Kids. With a rich, soaring voice and outstanding song-handling techniques, the then-nine-year-old became a symbol of young musical talent in Vietnam. However, instead of frequenting the media, Minh dedicated most of her time to studying, winning academic awards, and participating in music events in her hometown, Da Nang.

Perhaps what makes this young singer so captivating is her ability to use music as a tool to connect people. In charity performances and community music events, her voice not only warms the audience's hearts but also conveys profound messages of love and sharing. Most recently, we saw Minh at the charity music event "Warm Winter," organised by a group of young people from Da Nang at Dreamer Coffee in Son Tra District, on a chilly, rainy late December day. She appeared with a radiant smile and a simple demeanour, far from the image of a child star who once captivated television audiences.

On the small stage, Minh performed several familiar songs with heartfelt and sincere emotion. When asked why she participated in the event, Minh said that for her, music is not just a passion but also an opportunity to connect and share. Events like these allow her to contribute in small ways to help the community, especially those less fortunate.

Since her victory on The Voice Kids, Hong Minh has gracefully stepped away from the "spotlight" to shine even brighter on her chosen path: pursuing knowledge and spreading positive energy to the community through music projects. Over the years, she has shown that the "Outstanding Citizen of Da Nang" title awarded by the city's People's Committee in 2016 is not just recognition but also a driving force for her to live better and spread positive values to the community, particularly among the youth.

A consistent honour student for 12 consecutive years, Minh has not hesitated to challenge herself in areas like youth informatics and science and technology, earning many prestigious awards. Notably, with her academic achievements, she was part of the national robotics team competing in Malaysia and the Philippines. Alongside this, the young singer has used her talent to contribute to society, serving as an ambassador for the "Connecting Love" project by the Viet Nam Children Protection Fund.

During her charity trips, Minh often takes time to talk with children, sharing her dreams and efforts to inspire them to believe in the value of perseverance. Reflecting on her involvement in community projects, Minh considers it fate, recalling how, at five years old, she sang Đứa Bé ("The Child") during the charity programme Only Love at Trung Vuong Theatre. From that moment, she promised herself never to decline an invitation to perform at charity events.

Recently, besides being a lead performer at major music programmes and events in the city, the young singer surprised audiences by becoming a first-year student in Dentistry at the city-based Duy Tan University with a full scholarship. Remarkably, while still in 12^th grade, Minh was honoured to join the Communist Party, becoming a standout young party member at Nguyen Khuyen Senior High School. Although her chosen field of study is not directly related to music, she affirmed that this path is her way of contributing to the community, as “medicine not only heals the body but also spreads love and makes life better.”

Reporting by TIEU YEN - Translating by TRUC VY